Spohr Stephanie A, Taxman Faye S, Walters Scott T
University of North Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, Fort Worth, TX, USA.
George Mason University, Department of Criminology, Law and Society, Fairfax, VA, USA.
Eval Program Plann. 2017 Apr;61:144-149. doi: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2017.01.001. Epub 2017 Jan 6.
The criminal justice system tends to emphasize external contingencies (e.g., fees, jail time) to motivate offender compliance. However, people's reasons for desistance vary considerably. This study evaluated the acceptability, utility, and predictive validity of questions that ask about people's reasons for wanting to successfully complete probation. Substance-using probationers (N=113) participated in a web-based computer intervention that targeted substance use and treatment initiation. Questions around seven dimensions of reasons for completing probation were developed to provide tailored feedback during the web-based program. A principle components factor analysis found that survey items loaded onto two distinct factors. Factor one, "Tangible Loss" focused on external and present-focused reasons. Factor two, "Better Life" focused on internal and future-focused reasons. There was a significant negative association between Better Life scores and days of substance use after two months (β=-0.31, SE=0.13, p<0.05). There was a significant positive association with Better Life scores and days of treatment attendance (β=1.46, SE=0.26, p<0.001). Tangible Loss scores were no associated with substance use and treatment attendance. These findings may help to create more effective motivational tracks in e-health interventions, and may complement traditional motivation measures with an explicit focus on people's stated reasons for wanting to complete probation.
刑事司法系统倾向于强调外部偶然性因素（如费用、监禁时间）来促使罪犯遵守规定。然而，人们停止犯罪的原因差异很大。本研究评估了询问人们希望成功完成缓刑原因的问题的可接受性、效用和预测效度。使用毒品的缓刑犯（N = 113）参与了一项针对毒品使用和治疗启动的网络计算机干预。围绕完成缓刑原因的七个维度设计了问题，以便在网络程序中提供个性化反馈。主成分因子分析发现，调查项目加载到两个不同的因子上。因子一，“有形损失”，侧重于外部和当前关注的原因。因子二，“美好生活”，侧重于内部和未来关注的原因。两个月后，“美好生活”得分与毒品使用天数之间存在显著负相关（β = -0.31，标准误 = 0.13，p < 0.05）。“美好生活”得分与治疗出勤天数之间存在显著正相关（β = 1.46，标准误 = 0.26，p < 0.001）。“有形损失”得分与毒品使用和治疗出勤无关。这些发现可能有助于在电子健康干预中创建更有效的激励路径，并可能以明确关注人们表示的完成缓刑的原因来补充传统的激励措施。
