Challenges of Conducting Empirically Rigorous Intervention and Evaluative Research in Juvenile Correctional Facilities: Suggestions for the Field

• NCJ Number: 244808
• Journal: Journal of Correctional Education Volume: 64 Issue: 2 Dated: September 2013 Pages: 37-50
• Author(s): Kristine Jolivette
• Date Published: September 2013
• Length: 14 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2010-RQ-BX-001
• Sponsoring Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
• Corporate Author: Rand Corporation
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Technical Assistance; Instructional Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The purpose of this guide is to provide new researchers and evaluators with an overview of the possible challenges they may encounter when conducting research in juvenile correctional facilities so that they may be prepared to address as many as possible a priori and to have pians to address challenges that emerge once a study begins.

Abstract

Researchers and evaluators have encountered a number of challenges in conducting empirically rigorous research within juvenile correctional facilities. The purpose of this guide is to provide new researchers and evaluators with an overview of the possible challenges they may encounter when conducting research in juvenile correctional facilities so that they may be prepared to address as many as possible a priori and to have plans to address challenges that emerge once a study begins. Specifically, the guide discusses potential challenges to conducting research and evaluations within juvenile correction facilities in terms of (a) facility-level challenges, (b) educational/school-level challenges, and (c) participant-level challenges. This guide is part of a series of practice guides developed by practitioners and academic researchers as part of a larger study being conducted by the RAND Corporation on the effectiveness of correctional education. The guides represent the perspective of the individual authors on key issues in the field of correctional education. For more information about the RAND study, see http://www.rand.org/jie/projects/correctional-education.html. (Published Abstract)