NCJ Number
65627
Date Published
1975
Length
18 pages
Annotation
AN EXPERIMENT WAS CONDUCTED IN A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION TO TEST THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT DEGREES OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE PLANNING OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE PROJECTS.
Abstract
RECIPIENT PARTICIPATION WAS BASED ON THE ASSUMPTIONS WOULD BE MORE LIKELY TO ACCEPT, FAVOR, OR SUPPORT THE PROGRAM WHEN IMPLEMENTED; THEY WOULD BE MORE LIKELY TO ASSIST IN CARRYING OUT THE PROGRAM AND BRINGING ABOUT PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION AND MAINTENANCE; AND THEIR INPUTS COULD SHARPEN THE FOCUS OF A PROGRAM, REDIRECT ITS EFFORTS, AND IN GENERAL IMPROVE IT. OF 100 PERSONS RECOMMENDED FOR PARTICIPATION FROM A MAXIMUM SECURITY, ALL-MALE FACILITY IN A MIDWESTERN STATE, 40 PERSONS WERE INVOLVED IN AN ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING PROJECT. THE PROJECT INCLUDING USING SUPERGRAPHIC DECORATION ON PRISON WALLS, CONSTRUCTING INMATE-DESIGNED SCULPTURE, COVERING GROUNDS WITH ASTROTURF, USING PICTORIAL-DIRECTIONAL SIGNS, PLACING TREES AND SHRUBS ON THE GROUNDS, AND LOCATING BENCHES FOR SITTING. THE 13 GROUP DISCUSSION SUBJECTS DISCUSSED ACTUAL PROPOSED CHANGE PROJECTS; THE 11 GROUP INFORMATION SUBJECTS TALKED ABOUT THEIR DAILY ROUTINES WITH THE RESEARCHERS, BUT DID NOT DISCUSS THE PROJECT (AND THUS ACTED AS A CONTROL FOR THE HAWTHORNE EFFECT) AND THE 16 CONTROL SUBJECTS MET TO INDICATE THEIR PREFERENCE FOR EACH ASPECT OF THE PROJECT (AN ATTITUDINAL EXERCISE UNDERTAKEN BY ALL THREE GROUPS). SUBJECTS WERE ALSO ASKED TO IDENTIFY AREAS FOR WHICH THEY WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER LABOR NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT THE PROJECTS. SUBJECTS IN THE GROUP DISCUSSION CONDITION WERE MORE WILLING TO WORK ON PROPOSED PROJECTS THAN THE OTHER SUBJECTS. HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES AMONG THE GROUPS IN TERMS OF ATTITUDINAL ACCEPTANCE (THUS SHOWING THAT THERE WAS NO HAWTHORNE EFFECT). MAXIMUM INVOLVEMENT PRODUCED A SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER DEGREE OF BEHAVIORAL COMMITMENT. UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF A LACK OF FUNDS, THE PROJECT HAS NOT YET BEEN IMPLEMENTED AT THE PRISON. TABLES AND REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (MHP)