A Quasi Experimental Evaluation of Thinking for a Change: A Real-World" Application

Christopher T. Lowenkamp; Dana Jones Hubbard; Mathew D. Makarios; Edward J. Latessa

doi:10.1177/0093854808328230

A Quasi Experimental Evaluation of Thinking for a Change: A Real-World" Application

Christopher T. Lowenkamp, Dana Jones Hubbard, Mathew D. Makarios, Edward J. Latessa

University of Cincinnati

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Due to the popularity of cognitive behavioral interventions, programs that follow this model are often assumed to be effective. Yet evaluations of specific programs have been slow in coming. The current investigation seeks to bridge this gap by evaluating the effectiveness of Thinking for a Change (TFAC), a widely used cognitive behavioral curriculum for offenders. Furthermore, this evaluation provides a “real-world” test of TFAC, because it was implemented by line staff in a community corrections agency as opposed to being a pilot project implemented by program developers. The results of the analyses indicate that offenders participating in the TFAC program had a significantly lower recidivism rate than similar offenders that were not exposed to the program.

Original language	American English
Journal	Criminal Justice and Behavior
Volume	36
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0093854808328230
State	Published - Feb 1 2009

Keywords

Cognitive behavioral interventions
Community corrections

Disciplines

Cognitive Psychology
Social Control, Law, Crime, and Deviance
Social Psychology and Interaction
Sociology

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10.1177/0093854808328230License: CC BY

A Quasi Experimental Evaluation of Thinking for a Change A Real-Final published version, 763 KBLicense: CC BY

http://journals.ohiolink.edu/ejc/article.cgi?issn=00938548&issue=v36i0002&article=137_aqeotfac

Cite this

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abstract = " Due to the popularity of cognitive behavioral interventions, programs that follow this model are often assumed to be effective. Yet evaluations of specific programs have been slow in coming. The current investigation seeks to bridge this gap by evaluating the effectiveness of Thinking for a Change (TFAC), a widely used cognitive behavioral curriculum for offenders. Furthermore, this evaluation provides a “real-world” test of TFAC, because it was implemented by line staff in a community corrections agency as opposed to being a pilot project implemented by program developers. The results of the analyses indicate that offenders participating in the TFAC program had a significantly lower recidivism rate than similar offenders that were not exposed to the program.",

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N2 - Due to the popularity of cognitive behavioral interventions, programs that follow this model are often assumed to be effective. Yet evaluations of specific programs have been slow in coming. The current investigation seeks to bridge this gap by evaluating the effectiveness of Thinking for a Change (TFAC), a widely used cognitive behavioral curriculum for offenders. Furthermore, this evaluation provides a “real-world” test of TFAC, because it was implemented by line staff in a community corrections agency as opposed to being a pilot project implemented by program developers. The results of the analyses indicate that offenders participating in the TFAC program had a significantly lower recidivism rate than similar offenders that were not exposed to the program.

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A Quasi Experimental Evaluation of Thinking for a Change: A Real-World" Application

Abstract

Keywords

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