Examination of convergent validity of START: AV ratings among male juveniles on probation

Abstract

The Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability: Adolescent Version (START: AV, Viljoen, Nicholls, Cruise, Desmarais, & Webster, 2014) provides a structural professional judgement on the risk of adverse outcomes related to harm to others and rule violations. The advantage of START: AV is in that it includes the assessment of both strengths and vulnerabilities. As it is a relatively new assessment tool, the questions related to psychometric properties of the measure are still topical, especially in intercultural context. The reliability and convergent validity of START: AV ratings were examined in a sample of 159 male juveniles (M age = 16.97, SD = 0.81) on probation. Information about the psychosocial functioning of the minors was collected during the interviews with probation officers and rated by the researchers according to the START: AV User Guide. The Subtypes of Antisocial Behaviour (STAB; Burt & Donnellan, 2009), the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (TriPM; Patrick, 2010), and the Criminal Sentiments Scale-Modified (CSS-M; Shields & Simourd, 1991) were used as convergent measures in this study. The results provided evidence for the reliability of the START: AV ratings and associations between behavioural variables, psychopathy constructs and START: AV are in favour of its concurrent validity. Pro-criminal attitudes were not associated with START: AV ratings, and further research is needed to test the manifestation of pro-criminal attitudes among juvenile offenders on probation. These findings support for further testing the START: AV on its predictive validity as well as utility in work with juvenile offenders.

Taking “the boss” into the real world: Field interrater reliability of the Short‐Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability: Adolescent Version

“…To our knowledge, this study was the first to assess the interrater reliability of the START:AV completed by professionals in a secure youth forensic mental health setting as part of their day‐to‐day responsibilities. Consistent with emerging research on field reliability, we found lower interrater reliability than studies that examined the START:AV for research purposes only (Klimukienė et al., 2018; Viljoen et al., 2012). We first discuss our findings in light of previous research, and then describe factors that could have contributed to these lower interrater reliability findings.…”

“…The START:AV items are combined into overall ratings of “strengths” and “vulnerability,” and total scores for both can be calculated for research purposes. With half a dozen publications, research on the psychometric properties and utility of the START:AV is still in its infancy (Desmarais et al., 2012; Klimukienė et al, 2018; Sellers et al, 2017; Sher et al, 2017; Singh et al., 2014; Viljoen et al., 2012). Moreover, most of these studies have used the pilot version of the instrument.…”

“…More recently, the START:AV was evaluated in a Lithuanian juvenile probation sample (Klimukienė et al., 2018). Similar to the study by Viljoen et al.…”

“…Klimukienė et al. (2018) also analyzed the interrater reliability of the items. The ICCs for vulnerabilities ranged from 29 to 86 (average ICC = 67), with lowest agreement for external triggers (ICC = 29), parental functioning (ICC = 37), and social support from peers (ICC = 39).…”

Nuteistųjų adaptaciją pataisos įstaigose prognozuojantys veiksniai

“…Iš pradžių adaptacijos pataisos įstaigoje tyrimai buvo vykdyti iš sociologinės perspektyvos, analizuojant, kaip nuteistieji asimiliuojasi su pataisos įstaigos kultūra, perima jos normas ir t. t. (Clemmer, 1950). Vėliau ilgą laiką tyrimuose adaptacija buvo vertinama pagal nuteistųjų pataisos įstaigoje padarytus nusižengimus, laikant, kad kuo daugiau režimo pažeidimų padarė nuteistasis, tuo jo adaptacija yra blogesnė (Holland & Holt, 1980;Harrington, 2012). Tačiau akivaizdu, kad vien daromi nusižengimai nepakankamai gerai atspindi tokį sudėtingą reiškinį kaip adaptacija pataisos įstaigoje.…”