Multiple factors in the assessment of firesetters' fire interest and attitudes. (12th July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ó Ciardha, Caoilte; Barnoux, Magali F. L.; Alleyne, Emma K. A.; Tyler, Nichola; Mozova, Katarina; Gannon, Theresa A.
• Is Part Of: Legal and criminological psychology. Volume 20:Number 1(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 37
• Page End: 47
• Publication Date: 2014-07-12
• Subjects: Law -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Criminology -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 340.19
• DOI: 10.1111/lcrp.12065
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1355-3259

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="lcrp12065-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="lcrp12065-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Purpose</title> <p>The number of measures available to practitioners to assess fire interest and other fire‐related attitudes is limited. To help establish the utility of such measures, this study explored whether three fire measures contained multiple factors and whether such factors related to firesetting behaviour.</p> </sec> <sec id="lcrp12065-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Method</title> <p>The Fire Interest Rating Scale, the Fire Attitude Scale, and the Identification with Fire Questionnaire were administered to 234 male prisoners (117 firesetters, 117 non‐firesetters) and results were factor analyzed. To determine the relationship of the resulting factors with firesetting behaviour, their ability to discriminate firesetters from controls was examined and compared to the original scales.</p> </sec> <sec id="lcrp12065-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Responses were best represented by five factors, four of which discriminated firesetters from non‐firesetters. One factor demonstrated significant accuracy in discriminating single offence firesetters from repeat firesetters. Taken together the factors offered more clarity than using the original scale outcomes and showed equivalent predictive accuracy.</p> </sec> <sec id="lcrp12065-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>The five factors identified may aid practitioners in helping to formulate the specific treatment needs of identified firesetters.</p> </sec> </abstract>