NCJ Number
53189
Journal
Home Office Research Bulletin Issue: 6 Dated: (1978) Pages: 9-13
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE POLICY-RELATED STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF DESCRIPTIVE, PREDICTIVE, COMPARATIVE, QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL, AND TRUE EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE DISCUSSION FOCUSES ON BRITISH HOME OFFICE RESEARCH UNIT STUDIES THAT EXEMPLIFY EACH TYPE OF RESEARCH. FACTORS THAT HAVE INFLUENCED THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE STUDIES HAVE AFFECTED POLICYMAKING AND PRACTICES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE NOTED. THE LIMITATIONS OF DESCRIPTIVE STUDIES AS POLICYMAKING TOOLS ARE POINTED OUT. THE HOME OFFICE RESEARCH UNIT'S EXPERIENCE IS SAID TO INDICATE THAT ONLY RESEARCH AIMED DIRECTLY AT PREVENTING CRIME (AS OPPOSED TO RESEARCH CONCERNED WITH THE REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS) SEEMS LIKELY TO CONTRIBUTE TO A REDUCTION OF CRIME IN THE SHORT RUN. IT IS NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT RESEARCH CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE QUALITY OF REHABILITATIVE SERVICES. THE POSSIBILITY IS RAISED THAT RESEARCH, FOCUSING ON SHORT-TERM OUTCOMES RATHER THAN ON LONG-TERM OBJECTIVES, MIGHT HAVE A FAR MORE DIRECT EFFECT ON POLICY. PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN MOVING FROM DEMONSTRATION TO GENERAL IMPLEMENTATION OF ANY SOCIAL PROGRAM ARE NOTED. IT IS OBSERVED THAT, WHILE PRACTITIONERS MAY HAVE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE FORMULATION AND EXECUTION OF RESEARCH IF RESEARCH FINDINGS ARE TO BE UTILIZED, THE PROBLEM ARISES AS TO HOW OBJECTIVITY CAN BE ACHIEVED WHEN RESEARCHERS ARE THEMSELVES PRACTITIONERS. THE DISCUSSION THAT FOLLOWED PRESENTATION OF THESE COMMENTS AT AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IS SUMMARIZED. DISCUSSANTS POINT OUT WAYS IN WHICH DESCRIPTIVE STUDIES CAN BE USED IN POLICYMAKING, NOTE THE NEED TO CLARIFY THE OBJECTIVES OF PENAL POLICY, AND CALL FOR GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH AND FOR GREATER ATTENTION TO THE PROCESSES INVOLVED IN MOVING FROM RESEARCH FINDINGS TO POLICY CHANGES. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)