MEASURING PERCEPTIONS OF ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE

• NCJ Number: 15118
• Journal: Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: (JULY 1974) Pages: 180-194
• Author(s): S J MILLER; S DINITZ
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 15 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Ohio State University
• Corporate Author: National Council on Crime and Delinquency
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS STUDY MEASURED THE EFFECTS OF ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES TAKING PLACE OVER A SIX-YEAR PERIOD ON RESIDENTS' PERCEPTIONS OF A MAXIMUM SECURITY JUVENILE INSTITUTION.

Abstract

FOUR OF SIX SCALES MEASURING INSTITUTIONAL IMPACT WERE ABLE TO DISCRIMINATE SIGNIFICANTLY BETWEEN THREE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONAL TIME PERIODS AND ALSO BETWEEN SIX DIFFERENT YEARS OF RELEASE OF 426 RESIDENTS. STAFF PERCEPTIONS OF THE INSTITUTION'S IMPACT ON THE RESIDENTS MOVED IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS THOSE OF THE RESIDENTS, BUT NOT AS STRONGLY. EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT THE CONSTRUCTION OF IMPACT SCALES TO MEASURE INSTITUTIONAL CLIMATE MAY HAVE A POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT INPUT TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF OUR INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THEIR CLIENTS. THE EFFICIENCY OF SUCH IMPACT SCALES, HOWEVER, WOULD APPEAR TO DEPEND ON FACTORS NOT NOW CONSIDERED IN THEIR CONSTRUCTION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)