Follow-up on behavioral intervention with troublesome adolescents

When helping hurts? Toward a nuanced interpretation of adverse effects in gang-focused interventions.

“…Several studies in our review ran multiple statistical tests without clearly accounting for the type 1 error rate, which would have increased the rate of false-positive results in either direction (i.e., adverse or beneficial; Benjamini & Hochberg, 1995). This was particularly the case in unpublished reports and older journal articles (e.g., Arbreton & McClanahan, 2002; Spergel et al, 2006; Wodarski, Filipczak, McCombs, Koustenis, & Rusilko, 1979). For example, Wodarski and colleagues (1979) ran separate t tests on every item of a self-report questionnaire, and several of the Spergel Model program evaluations reported dozens of statistical comparisons between treatment and control groups (e.g., Spergel et al, 2005a).…”

“…This was particularly the case in unpublished reports and older journal articles (e.g., Arbreton & McClanahan, 2002; Spergel et al, 2006; Wodarski, Filipczak, McCombs, Koustenis, & Rusilko, 1979). For example, Wodarski and colleagues (1979) ran separate t tests on every item of a self-report questionnaire, and several of the Spergel Model program evaluations reported dozens of statistical comparisons between treatment and control groups (e.g., Spergel et al, 2005a). The 15 adverse effects out of 560 total effects across all studies, or 2.68%, are similar to the 2.5% expected by random chance.…”

“…Several studies in our review ran multiple statistical tests without clearly accounting for the type 1 error rate, which would have increased the rate of false-positive results in either direction (i.e., adverse or beneficial; Benjamini & Hochberg, 1995). This was particularly the case in unpublished reports and older journal Agopian (1990) % incarcerated Peters et al (1996) Time to recidivate Spergel et al (2002;Mesa) Property arrest changes Spergel et al (2005b;Riverside) % with drug arrests Spergel et al (2005b;Bloomington-Normal) Total arrests; violence arrests; property arrests; other arrests; drug arrests Willman and Snortum (1982) Total crimes against persons; total robberies Wiebush et al (2005;Las Vegas) % with major institutional misconduct Wodarski et al (1979) Engaging in aggressive behavior to achieve goals articles (e.g., Arbreton & McClanahan, 2002;Spergel et al, 2006;Wodarski, Filipczak, McCombs, Koustenis, & Rusilko, 1979). For example, Wodarski and colleagues (1979) ran separate t tests on every item of a self-report questionnaire, and several of the Spergel Model program evaluations reported dozens of statistical comparisons between treatment and control groups (e.g., Spergel et al, 2005a).…”

Toward a Technology of Prevention of Disruptive Behaviour Disorders: The Role of Behavioural Family Intervention

“…Although the amount and type of parent involvement in programs has varied across studies, those programs which do provide parent training and support to participants have been effective in reducing levels of obstinate, aggressive, immature, and destructive behaviour in selected groups of children (Johnson & Breckenbridge, 1982;Johnson & Walker, 1987). Parent training has also been incorporated into school-based prevention programs (e.g., Hawkins, VonCleve, & Catalano, 1991;Wodaski, Filipczak, McCombs, Koustenis, & Rusilko, 1979). Parents have been trained in monitoring and supervising children's behaviour, the consistent use of discipline, and the appropriate use of rewards.…”

“…Parents have been trained in monitoring and supervising children's behaviour, the consistent use of discipline, and the appropriate use of rewards. Again, with selected populations, these programs have been effective in reducing the levels of aggressive and externalising behaviours in program children (Hawkins et al, 1991;Wodaski et al, 1979). Patterson (1982; has shown some effectiveness with his parent training program when using middle class low-to medium-risk children; although its effectiveness with high risk school-age children who have already developed signs of conduct disorder is limited.…”