TY - JOUR
T1 - Challenges of conducting field experiments in correctional settings
T2 - Boot camp prison study as an example
AU - MacKenzie, Doris Layton
N1 - Funding Information:
Once we had completed planning the design, methodology, and procedures, we applied to and were funded by the State of Maryland, Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention from money provided to them from the US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs. Most likely, the support from the higher levels of administration of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services and the Parole Commission together with our carefully planned research procedures were important in assisting us in obtaining funds for the research. The Governor’s Office continued to financially support our efforts when we needed additional money to continue the study past the original end date. The reason for this was that the flow of eligible cases was less than we had expected and therefore random assignment and data collection continued for a least a year longer than expected.
PY - 2012/9
Y1 - 2012/9
N2 - Objectives: The challenges of conducting a field experiment in a correctional setting. Methods: This paper discusses the issues related to planning, design, and completion of a randomized control study of a correctional boot camp including the difficulties confronted and how these were or were not overcome. Results: At the beginning, correctional administrators were interested in and supportive of the study and this greatly facilitated our initial work. However, as described in this paper, during the course of the research obstacles and difficulties arose. Using the boot camp experiment as an example, we review the trials and tribulations of trying to do a field experiment in corrections. The importance of collecting quantitative and qualitative in order to understand the experiences of both the control and experimental groups is emphasized, as is the need to examine the theoretical mechanisms hypothesized to lead to changes in outcomes. Conclusion: Some of the challenges confronted in this randomized control trial are those facing anyone attempting to conduct a field experiment, others relate to the particular issues faced by those who are conducting experiments in correctional settings. The paper concludes with a discussion of the issues confronting researchers who are doing field experiments in corrections.
AB - Objectives: The challenges of conducting a field experiment in a correctional setting. Methods: This paper discusses the issues related to planning, design, and completion of a randomized control study of a correctional boot camp including the difficulties confronted and how these were or were not overcome. Results: At the beginning, correctional administrators were interested in and supportive of the study and this greatly facilitated our initial work. However, as described in this paper, during the course of the research obstacles and difficulties arose. Using the boot camp experiment as an example, we review the trials and tribulations of trying to do a field experiment in corrections. The importance of collecting quantitative and qualitative in order to understand the experiences of both the control and experimental groups is emphasized, as is the need to examine the theoretical mechanisms hypothesized to lead to changes in outcomes. Conclusion: Some of the challenges confronted in this randomized control trial are those facing anyone attempting to conduct a field experiment, others relate to the particular issues faced by those who are conducting experiments in correctional settings. The paper concludes with a discussion of the issues confronting researchers who are doing field experiments in corrections.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84864540677&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84864540677&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11292-012-9149-9
DO - 10.1007/s11292-012-9149-9
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84864540677
SN - 1573-3750
VL - 8
SP - 289
EP - 306
JO - Journal of Experimental Criminology
JF - Journal of Experimental Criminology
IS - 3
ER -