NCJ Number
52438
Journal
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology Volume: 46 Issue: 4 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE (AUGUST 1978) Pages: 727-746
Date Published
1978
Length
20 pages
Annotation
METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES CONFRONTING PSYCHOLOGISTS WHO CONDUCT RESEARCH WITH CORRECTIONAL POPULATIONS ARE EXAMINED, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADDRESSING THE ISSUES ARE OFFERED.
Abstract
THE DISCUSSION OPENS WITH AN EXAMINATION OF THE INTRUSION OF CERTAIN VALUE ASSUMPTIONS ON RESEARCH IN CORRECTIONS, WITH REFERENCE TO THE METHODOLOGICAL STAGNATION THAT HAS RESULTED. INVESTIGATORS ARE URGED TO RECOGNIZE THAT VALUE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING THE DEFICITS AND DISCRIMINATING TRAITS OF OFFENDERS UNDERLIE MUCH OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH BEING DONE IN CORRECTIONS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT FUTURE RESEARCH FOCUS ON STRENGTHS AS WELL AS WEAKNESSES, AND THAT EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES AND PERSON-SITUATION INTERACTIONS. THE DISCUSSION THEN TURNS TO THREE SHORTCOMINGS FOSTERED BY TRAIT-DERIVED METHODOLOGY: INADEQUATE CONSTRUCT VALIDITY, THE PROBLEM OF IGNORING ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES, AND THE PROBLEM OF IGNORING THE SUBJECTS THEMSELVES. INVESTIGATORS ENGAGED IN PERSONALITY RESEARCH WITH OFFENDERS ARE URGED TO GIVE INCREASED ATTENTION TO THE PROCESS OF CONSTRUCT VALIDATION, AT LEAST TO THE EXTENT OF INCLUDING MULTIPLE MEASURES FOR EACH ATTRIBUTE OR CONSTRUCT UNDER INVESTIGATION, WITH EACH MEASURE REFLECTING AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT METHODS. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS RELATE TO RECOGNIZING AND CONTROLLING FOR THE FACTOR OF INSTITUTIONALIZATION, AND TO TAKING SERIOUSLY THE ROLE OF THE OFFENDER AS AN EXPERT WITH REGARD TO THE RESEARCH TOPIC AT HAND. A THIRD PROBLEM AREA CONCERNS EXTERNAL VALIDITY PROBLEMS STEMMING FROM THE FAILURE TO INCORPORATE NATURALISTIC DIMENSIONS IN RESEARCH DESIGNS. TO INCREASE EXTERNAL VALIDITY (THE EXTENT TO WHICH FINDINGS CAN BE GENERALIZED BEYOND THE SPECIFIC DOMAIN OF THE STUDY), RESEARCHERS SHOULD INCLUDE NATURAL TREATMENTS, BEHAVIORS, AND SETTINGS, TOGETHER WITH EFFORTS TO DEVELOP NONREACTIVE, UNOBTRUSIVE MEASURES, SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED. OTHER MEHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS HAVE TO DO WITH THE MEASUREMENT OF RECIDIVISM. INVESTIGATORS ARE URGED TO DEFINE RECIDIVISM OPERATIONALLY WHENEVER THE CONCEPT IS USED, AND TO IDENTIFY THEIR DATA SOURCES. WHEN USED AS A MEASURE OF POSTINSTITUTIONAL ADJUSTMENT, RECIDIVISM SHOULD BE SUPPLEMENTED BY OTHER MEASURES OF ADJUSTMENT IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND FAMILY LIFE. WHEN POSSIBLE, RECIDIVISM MEASURES SHOULD BE BASED ON MULTIPLE GRADATIONS OF SUCH FACTORS AS EXTENT OF CONTACT WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, FREQUENCY OF LAW-VIOLATING BEHAVIOR, AND TYPE AND SERIOUSNESS OF OFFENSE. THE FINAL PROBLEM AREA CONCERNS THE ETHICS OF RESEARCH WITH CORRECTIONAL POPULATIONS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT RESEARCHERS NOTE IN ARTICLES SUBMITTED FOR PUBLICATION THAT ETHICAL SAFEGUARDS (INFORMED CONSENT, ETC.) HAVE BEEN USED. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)