Friendship (2002) treatment of offenders - cognitive skills (men)

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To evaluate the success of cognitive skills programmes for prisoners

Question 2

Method

Answer 2

Natural experiment - experimental group had cognitive skills programme but this wasn’t manipulated by the researcher.

Question 3

Participants

Answer 3

670 adult male offenders serving 2+ yrs who volunteered for the cognitive skills programme.

Question 4

Procedure

Answer 4

programme focused on correcting faulty thinking patterns linked to offending behaviour.

P’s received either 20 session (40hrs) or 36 sessions (72 hrs). the main aim being the development of skills that helped men gain:

• self control
• interpersonal problem solving skills
• social perspective taking
• understanding the rules which govern behaviour

Question 5

Results

Answer 5

there was a significant drop in reconviction rates after 2 years - 14% lower than comparison group.

Question 6

Conclusions

Answer 6

Cognitive skills programmes are successful in reducing reconviction rates - cost effective way to reduce prison population