Juvenile Delinquency Treatment: A Meta-Analytic Inquiry Into the Variability of Effects (From Meta-Analysis for Explanation: A Casebook, P 83-127, 1992, Thomas D. Cook, Harris Cooper, et. al., eds.)

• NCJ Number: 150406
• Author(s): M W Lipsey
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 45 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH39958; MH42694
• Sponsoring Agency: Russell Sage Foundation; US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Sale Source: Russell Sage Foundation
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This meta-analysis focused on the variability of delinquency treatment effects found in the research literature and identifies the major sources of that variability.

Abstract

Reports eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis had to meet certain criteria: describe a treatment or intervention designed to reduce, treat, or prevent delinquency; concern itself with offenders under the age of 21; present measurable outcome variables with quantitative results; use a random treatment versus control comparison design; maintain some homogeneity in cultural context and social meaning of delinquency; and use data obtained post-1950. The findings show a variability among these studies far in excess of what would result from mere sampling error, where some studies showed impressive effects in juvenile delinquency prevention and treatment, while others showed insignificant and even apparently negative effects. The circumstances that contributed most significantly to the effects of delinquency treatment studies appeared to be method and treatment. 7 tables and 1 appendix