EVALUATION OF A COLLEGE-LEVEL EDUCATION PROGRAM IN A PRISON - METHODOLOGY AND DATA BASE - 1ST PROGRESS REPORT

• NCJ Number: 12168
• Author(s): A BLUMSTEIN; B PAHL
• Date Published: 1971
• Length: 77 pages
• Corporate Author: Carnegie Mellon University
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation

Annotation

PROBLEMS OF CONDUCTING INITIAL STAGES OF PROGRAM EVALUATION, SPECIFICALLY THE SELECTION OF A VALID CONTROL GROUP, AT A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION IN PITTSBURGH.

Abstract

ALLEGHENY COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE HAS CONDUCTED THE PROGRAM AT PENNSYLVANIA STATE CORRECTION INSTITUTION AT PITTSBURGH. THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN APPROACH TO SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF SEPARATING TREATMENT FROM SELF-SELECTION EFFECTS. BECAUSE OF THE INCLUSION OF ALL INTERESTED INMATES IN THE PROGRAM, IT WAS THOUGHT THAT SELECTION OF A CONTROL GROUP FROM REMAINING INMATES WOULD BE INVALID, SINCE THOSE INMATES WITH CHARACTERISTICS COMPARABLE TO THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP WOULD ALREADY BE INCLUDED IN IT. THE REPORT DESCRIBES HOW THE PROBLEM IS BEING RESOLVED, FIRST BY DEFINING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SELF-SELECTED 'IN-GROUP' AS DISTINGUISHED FROM THE NON-SELECTED 'OUT' POPULATION, AND THEN BY TRYING TO IDENTIFY A COMPARABLE 'PSEUDO-CONTROL GROUP' FROM THE POPULATION OF INMATES IN THE INSTITUTION IN 1965 BEFORE INITIATION OF THE COLLEGE PROGRAM. LIMITED EVALUATION RESULTS ARE PRESENTED.