Predicting offending in prison: the predictive validity of the Prison Behaviour Rating Scales

The Prison Behaviour Rating Scales were developed to measure three forms of disturbed behaviour, namely, anti-authority, anxious-depressed and dull-confused. Prison officers rated 220 adult male prisoners on these dimensions and offences against prison discipline in the subsequent six months were re...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Cooke, David J. 1952- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 1996
In: Legal and criminological psychology
Year: 1996, Volume: 1, Issue: 1, Pages: 65-82
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Description
Summary:The Prison Behaviour Rating Scales were developed to measure three forms of disturbed behaviour, namely, anti-authority, anxious-depressed and dull-confused. Prison officers rated 220 adult male prisoners on these dimensions and offences against prison discipline in the subsequent six months were recorded. The anti-authority scale showed utility as a predictor of those who offended and those who did not offend. The combination of the anti-authority and dull-confused scales improved prediction. The relative value of a range of predictive statistics is discussed, it is concluded that the misuse of the variance explained statistic can lead to undue pessimism regarding the utility of psychometric instruments.
ISSN:2044-8333
DOI:10.1111/j.2044-8333.1996.tb00307.x