NCJ Number
49350
Date Published
1970
Length
103 pages
Annotation
DEMOGRAPHIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAITS OF DISABLED CLIENTS WHO DROPPED OUT OF A REHABILITATION CENTER PROGRAM ARE COMPARED WITH TRAITS OF CLIENTS WHO COMPLETED THE PROGRAM, AND A PREDICTIVE MODEL IS DEVELOPED.
Abstract
DEMOGRAPHIC DATA AND MOTIVATIONAL ANALYSIS TEST SCORES WERE OBTAINED FROM 123 MENTALLY OR PHYSICALLY DISABLED CLIENTS ENROLLED AT THE HOT SPRINGS (ARK.) REHABILITATION CENTER, A COMPREHENSIVE, RESIDENTIAL FACILITY OFFERING DIAGNOSTIC, MEDICAL, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, COUNSELING, SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND OTHER SERVICES TO PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS. OF THIS GROUP, 54 SUBSEQUENTLY DROPPED OUT OF THE PROGRAM. COMPARISON OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC AND MOTIVATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DROPOUTS AND COMPLETERS (AS MEASURED BY THE MOTIVATIONAL ANALYSIS TEST) REVEALS THAT INFORMATION REGARDING PREVIOUS REHABILITATION SERVICES AND GOALS AT THE TIME OF ENROLLMENT IS THE BEST PREDICTOR OF WHETHER AN INDIVIDUAL CLIENT WILL COMPLETE THE PROGRAM OR DROP OUT. CLIENTS WHO HAD RECEIVED COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OR VOCATIONALLY ORIENTED DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES WERE LESS LIKELY TO DROP OUT THAN WERE CLIENTS WHO WENT DIRECTLY INTO VOCATIONAL TRAINING. AN EQUATION EMPLOYING SIX DEMOGRAPHIC AND THREE MOTIVATIONAL VARIABLES PREDICTED PROGRAM COMPLETION WITH 73.59-PERCENT ACCURACY. IMPLICATIONS OF THESE AND OTHER FINDINGS ARE DISCUSSED. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT SOME PERSONS WILL BENEFIT MORE FROM REHABILITATION PROGRAMS OUTSIDE OF THE INSTITUTIONAL ATMOSPHERE OF A REHABILITATION CENTER. GUIDELINES TO ASSIST IN THE RECOGNITION OF PERSONS WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM REHABILITATION CENTERS SHOULD BE DEVELOPED. STUDY INSTRUMENTS, SUPPORTING DATA, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED.