howells Flashcards
aim
howells aimed to investigate if AMP was more effective than no treatment
whether improvments with AMP can be predicted from pre-treatment charachterisitics, looking at the level of readiness/ motivation with regards to the treatment
A01.1-sample
- 418 males, australian prision, commited violent crimes and have high risk of reoffending
- sentance ranged from one month to 26 years and 4 months
14% community based referals 86% prison based referrals - crimes without causing bodily harm 42%
-crimes causing death 6%
-73% sample never completed AMP before, controls taken from AMP waiting list
A03.1
strength- larg esample 418 males- increases internal validity, anomalies averaged out as well as large sample to base conclusions off
- range different types of offenders and lengths of sentance varies, thereofre high gen more reprensntive of a wider range of criminals - link - and how effective AMP is to them.
weakness- although, andro and ethnocentric- link to A01- as well as only based on violent criminals therefore findings on AMP not representitive of a wider range of criminals and how they would respond to AMP
A01.2- procedure
- of the original 418 285 took part in the programme and completed the post intervention assesment
consited of 10X2 hour sessions. individuals identified their triggers,anger provoking situations and distorted thought patterns and learned to replace with relaxation techniwues- becomes automatic
kept an anger diary to monitor agression, completed questionaires post and pre- MAOS- anger knowledge and SCQ- readiness for AMP.
also ones on control and arousal
A03.2
strenght: standerdised procedure uses same amount of sessions same relaxation methods, same standerdised questionaires- replicable consistency
weakness: social desirability questioanures- likely in prisons to get early release therefore not rep of acual effectivness of AMP, lacks VAL
strenght: uses 6 questionaires gathering lots of detail to baxk up conclusions- more credible and valid
weakness: island goes aginst howells suggests that using AMP found that 92% showed improvment in atleast one behaviour on the questionaire and behaviour checklist, most improvments were thoes judged to be most violent pre treatment
A01.3
facilatator checked that everythiing was covered during sessions so that everything in manual was provided.
used oveservartions from staff and police in the prision as well as questionaires and data bases to log incidents 6 montgs after
A03.1
strength: used triangulation- methods- to gather quant and qual data more valid and detailed conclusions can be formed based in effectivness if AMP
- also measured ppts longitudinally giving temporal validity as we can see the LT effects of AMP - 6 months later
- eco val high mundane realism, naturally occuring treatment and techniques real tasks, relaxation
A01.4- results
found that the most signidficant improvments were from the individuals with the most motivated to change and thoes with the most intense anger issues and least control in the beginning.
found that controls had improved + outcomes due to questionaire
SCQ= readiness AMP, pre- control =2.31 treatment = 2.8
post - control = 3.12
treatment 4.32
not significant difference
Degree of improvement was predictable from pre treatment measure of anger and treatment readiness
A03.4
weakness: control had to wait 2 weeks until treatment over to recieve treatment, could have caused distress while waiting for treatment
strength: objective data lacks researcher bias
weakness: prehaps findings due to only 10x2 sessions - CALM 34X2 hour sessions may have been more effective
application
initial improvment will maintian over time but overall results are small
must be motivated - do questionaires to select appropriate candidates prevent loss of funding
