An examination of potential biases in research designs used to assess the efficacy of sex offender treatment. Issue 4 (12th October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Louise Dixon, Professor Leam Craig and Professor Stephen Wormith, Dr; Beech, Anthony; Freemantle, Nick; Power, Caroline; Fisher, Dawn
• Is Part Of: Journal of aggression, conflict and peace research. Volume 7:Issue 4(2015)
• Page Start: 204
• Page End: 222
• Publication Date: 2015-10-12
• Subjects: Aggressiveness -- Periodicals; Conflict management -- Periodicals; Family violence -- Periodicals; Peace building -- Periodicals; 362.8292
• DOI: 10.1108/JACPR-01-2015-0154
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1759-6599

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Purpose</title> <p> – The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential biases in research designs used to assess the efficacy of sex offender treatment. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Design/methodology/approach</title> <p> – In all, 50 treatment studies (<italic>n</italic>=13, 886) were examined using a random effects meta-analysis model. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Findings</title> <p> – Results indicated a positive effect of treatment for both sexual (OR=0.58, 95%, CI 0.45-0.74, <italic>p</italic> < 0.0001), and general recidivism (OR=0.54, 95%, CI 0.42-0.69, <italic>p</italic> < 0.0001), indicating that the likelihood of being reconvicted after treatment was around half compared to no treatment. RCTs showed no significant effect for sexual or general, recidivism. Significant effects were found for non-RCT designs (i.e. incidental cohort, completers vs non-completers designs). Assignment based on need (i.e. giving treatment to those who were high-risk) indicated a negative effect of treatment. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Practical implications</title> <p> – The results highlight the importance of considering study design when considering treatment efficacy. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Originality/value</title> <p> – The current research reports studies identified up until 2009, and examined both published, and unpublished, research originating from a variety of samples employing a random effects model. Consequently, it can be argued that the results are both original and are reflective not only of identified studies, but are also representative of a random set of observations drawn from the common population distribution (Fleiss, 1993). The results of the study suggest that what is required in future research is methodological rigour, and consistency, in the way in which researchers measure the effectiveness of sexual offender treatment.</p> </sec> </abstract>