NCJ Number
56131
Date Published
1977
Length
167 pages
Annotation
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ON HOW TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT ARE FIELD TESTED IN FIVE INDIANA CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.
Abstract
THE SECURING EMPLOYMENT MODULE IS PART OF A SERIES AVAILABLE THROUGH THE U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. IT IS A SELF-CONTAINED, NONGRADED, COMPETENCY-BASED CURRICULUM THAT REQUIRES NO SPECIAL TRAINING FOR TEACHERS AND IS RELATIVELY SIMPLE TO FOLLOW. THE PURPOSE OF THE TEST WAS TO SEE WHETHER THE MODULE, WHICH ALREADY HAD BEEN TESTED IN OTHER SETTINGS, WOULD PROVE EFFECTIVE FOR INMATES. A CONTROLLED EXPERIMENT WAS CONDUCTED AT FIVE CORRECTION SITES IN INDIANA: A MAXIMUM-SECURITY STATE PRISON, A STATE REFORMATORY, A MEDIUM-SECURITY PRISON FARM, A WOMEN'S PRISON, AND A MINIMUM-SECURITY YOUTH CENTER. ALL 112 SUBJECTS WERE PARTICIPANTS IN PRISON EDUCATION PROGRAMS. DIFFERENCES IN KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, SELF-CONCEPT, JOB APPLICATION PERFORMANCE, AND JOB INTERVIEW PERFORMANCE BETWEEN SUBJECTS WHO USED THE MODULE AND THOSE WHO DID NOT WERE EXAMINED, TOGETHER WITH RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN INMATE CHARACTERISTICS AND LEARNING ACHIEVEMENTS. THE FINDINGS INDICATE THAT INMATES WHO USED THE MODULE ARE BETTER PREPARED TO FIND JOBS THAN THOSE WHO DID NOT. THOSE WHO USED THE MODULE EXHIBITED GREATER KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED TO GET A JOB, BETTER SELF-CONCEPTS, AND BETTER INTERVIEW PERFORMANCE. THERE WERE NO RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE SUBJECTS' COGNITIVE ACHIEVEMENTS, SELF-CONCEPT, OR PERFORMANCE LEVEL, AND THEIR SEX, AGE, MARTIAL STATUS, LENGTH OF SENTENCE, TYPE OF CRIME, OR PAROLE RELEASE DATE. TEACHERS' OPINIONS OF THE MODULE RANGED FROM GOOD TO EXCELLENT, VARYING SOMEWHAT WITH THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THEIR STUDENTS. SUGGESTIONS FOR ENHANCING THE MODULE'S UTILITY FOR PRISONERS, INCLUDING THE INTRODUCTION OF CHANGES THAT WOULD ENABLE LEARNERS TO USE THE MODULE AT THEIR OWN PACE AND CONVENIENCE, ARE OFFERED. SUPPORTING DATA, STUDY INSTRUMENTS, AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)