Evaluation of a cognitive skills programme for male prisoners – exploring treatment effectiveness
Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice
ISSN: 2056-3841
Article publication date: 5 December 2016
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide an evaluation of a cognitive skills programme (Enhanced Thinking Skills) with adult prisoners.
Design/methodology/approach
A pre- and post-treatment design with 171 male prisoners, using self-report psychometric measures.
Findings
Significant differences were found in the direction expected. Clinical recovery using stringent methods was not indicated, although improvement/partial response was across a number of domains.
Practical implications
Expectations for treatment outcome for short-term interventions should be more realistic; cognitive skills programmes may be best considered as precursors to longer term therapies; treatment outcome should focus on improvement and not recovery.
Originality/value
This study represents the first prison study to distinguish between levels of positive change. It questions previous interpretations of treatment outcome.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and not the NI Prison Service.
Citation
Ireland, J.L., Bates-Gaston, J., Markey, K., Greenwood, L. and Ireland, C.A. (2016), "Evaluation of a cognitive skills programme for male prisoners – exploring treatment effectiveness", Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice, Vol. 2 No. 4, pp. 244-249. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-06-2016-0011
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited