PSYCHOLOGY OF THE PAROLE DECISION PROCESS - A JOINT APPLICATION OF ATTRIBUTION THEORY AND INFORMATION-PROCESSING PSYCHOLOGY (FROM COGNITION AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOR, BY J S CARROLL & J W PAYNE - NCJ-45906)

• NCJ Number: 45907
• Author(s): J S CARROLL; J W PAYNE
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 20 pages
• Corporate Author: Lawrence Erlbaum Assoc
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

PATTERNS OF INFORMATION USE IN PAROLE DECISIONMAKING ARE EXPLORED IN AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF ATTRIBUTION BIAS AND INFORMATION SEARCH IN PAROLE DECISIONS.

Abstract

FORTY-ONE COLLEGE STUDENTS COMPLETED THE INTERNAL-EXTERNAL (I-E) LOCUS OF CONTROL SCALE, WHICH MEASURES A PERSON'S TENDENCY TO FEEL IN CONTROL OVER LIFE EVENTS, AS OPPOSED TO FEELING AT THE MERCY OF OUTSIDE FORCES. PROCESS-TRACING TECHNIQUES WERE EMPLOYED TO EXAMINE THE ORDER IN WHICH EACH STUDENT USED 24 CATEGORIES OF INFORMATION TO ARRIVE AT DECISIONS REGARDING 2 PAROLE APPLICATIONS. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN I-E SCORES AND INFORMATION USE WAS EXAMINED. STUDENTS CATEGORIZED AS INTERNALS EXAMINED INFORMATION CONCERNING THE CRIME (CRIME DESCRIPTION, COOPERATION WITH POLICE, TIME SERVED, TIME LEFT ON MAXIMUM SENTENCE) AND THE PERSON (AGE, PRIOR ARRESTS, PREVIOUS PAROLE REVOCATIONS, EDUCATION LEVEL, SUSCEPTIBILITY TO INFLUENCE). STUDENTS CATEGORIZED AS EXTERNALS EXAMINED INFORMATION ON ENVIRONMENT (RELEASE JOB PROSPECTS, RECENT EMPLOYMENT HISTORY) AND THE PRISON INSTITUTION (DISCIPLINARY PROBLEMS, CHANGES IN ATTITUDE, PRIOR CONVICTIONS). DETAILS OF A PAROLE DECISIONMAKING MODEL BASED ON THE TENETS OF ATTRIBUTION AND INFORMATION-PROCESSING THEORIES ARE PROVIDED. IMPLICATIONS OF STUDY FINDINGS FOR THE APPLICATION OF SOCIAL AND COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY IN THE STUDY OF THE PAROLE PROCESS ARE DISCUSSED.