Preliminary Evaluation of a Computer Assisted Counseling Program (COASCON) for Delinquent Youth Correction

• NCJ Number: 69617
• Author(s): A Y Chiu
• Date Published: 1969
• Length: 202 pages
• Grant Number(s): NI-69-137
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee - masters thesis

Annotation

The effectiveness of COASCON, a computer-assisted counseling program developed to aid delinquent boys learn ego-ideals compatible with U.S. culture, was evaluated.

Abstract

The hypothesis was that if institutionalized delinquent boys were given an automated counseling program (COASCON) on ego-ideal and conscience development, they would score significantly higher on their posttest than those delinquent boys who were not given such a program. Sixty-two delinquent boys were selected by stratified sampling from the Wisconsin School for Boys at Wales, Wisconsin, on the basis of their pretest scores. They scored either average, or (1SD) OR 2SD) below the average of the norm group. These subjects were matched on their test scores and randomly assigned to two groups with 29 in each. The experimentals received two sessions of about 30 minutes each of computer-assisted counseling (COASCON). A posttest was given to all subjects at the end of COASCON testing, and a t-test for matched group was applied to compare the differences on the posttest of the two groups and also between partial scores on the parallel pre- and posttest forms of the control group. Findings indicated that the institutionalized delinquent boys given an automated counseling program on ego-ideal and conscience development scored higher than those delinquent boys who were not given such a program. Study implications were provided for the following categories: (1) Implications for further research and development of COASCON, (2) implications for experimental implementation of COASCON in correctional institutions, (3) implications for experimental implementation of COASCON in local schools, and (4) implications for other related research and development concerned with automation in counseling and guidance. A bibliography of about 300 entries, as well as a separate references section with 149 entries, are provided. Four multiple choice test modules of the computer-assisted counseling program are displayed in a 90-page appendix. Seven data tables are provided in the text.