Disconfirmation of the Predictive Validity of the Self-Appraisal Questionnaire in a Sample of High-Risk Drug Offenders

• NCJ Number: 215195
• Journal: Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 33 Issue: 4 Dated: August 2006 Pages: 449-466
• Author(s): Ojmarrh Mitchell; Doris Layton MacKenzie
• Date Published: August 2006
• Length: 18 pages
• Grant Number(s): BYRN-2002-1286
• Sponsoring Agency: Maryland Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Utilizing a sample of drug dealing offenders, this study examined the measurement properties and predictive validity of the Self-Appraisal Questionnaire (SAQ).

Abstract

Findings cast considerable doubt on the reliability, factorial validity, and predictive validity of the Self-Appraisal Questionnaire (SAQ). Where the SAQ demonstrated adequate concurrent validity, it failed to predict recidivism. The failure of the SAQ to predict recidivism in this sample is vastly different from the results of two previous assessments, which begs the question, “why.” Potential explanations for the discrepancies in the results included: (1) the sampling procedure used in this study attenuated variability in SAQ scores, thereby reducing the magnitude of the relationship between SAQ scores and recidivism and (2) the sample differed sharply in terms of social context and personal characteristics from previous samples. The latter was considered the more plausible explanation. This study provided an assessment of the psychometric properties of the SAQ utilizing a sample of 159 drug dealing offenders. The study utilized self-report data, as well as recidivism and criminal history data for each participant. Tables, notes, and references