TY - JOUR
T1 - A preliminary evaluation of the adaptation of four assessments for offenders with special needs
AU - Keeling, J
AU - Rose, John
AU - Beech, Anthony
PY - 2007/6/1
Y1 - 2007/6/1
N2 - BACKGROUND: Appropriate assessment is an essential part of treating sexual offenders. Few assessments exist that can be used with offenders who have lower levels of intellectual functioning and/or literacy deficits. METHOD: This study describes the adaptation of four self-report assessments for sexual offenders with special needs: (i) the Social Intimacy Scale (SIS: Miller & Lefcourt, 1982); (ii) the Relationship Scales Questionnaire (RSQ: Griffin & Bartholomew, 1994a); (iii) the Criminal Sentiments Scale (CSS: Gendreau, Grant, Leipciger, & Collins, 1979); and (iv) the Victim Empathy Distortion Scale (QVES: Beckett & Fisher, 1994). Each scale was adapted in an effort to simplify content and language and to improve readability. Preliminary data are presented on the comparability of each adapted measure to the original, as well as the internal consistency, reliability, and concurrent validity of the adapted tests. RESULTS: The SIS and the QVES were identified as appropriate assessment measures, comparable to the original with good reliability and validity. One subscale of the RSQ had fair reliability and validity, while the remaining subscales had varied psychometric properties. The adapted CSS had poor psychometric qualities and the adaptation of this test appears not to have been successful. CONCLUSIONS: The relevance of these findings to our understanding of offending by this population is discussed.
AB - BACKGROUND: Appropriate assessment is an essential part of treating sexual offenders. Few assessments exist that can be used with offenders who have lower levels of intellectual functioning and/or literacy deficits. METHOD: This study describes the adaptation of four self-report assessments for sexual offenders with special needs: (i) the Social Intimacy Scale (SIS: Miller & Lefcourt, 1982); (ii) the Relationship Scales Questionnaire (RSQ: Griffin & Bartholomew, 1994a); (iii) the Criminal Sentiments Scale (CSS: Gendreau, Grant, Leipciger, & Collins, 1979); and (iv) the Victim Empathy Distortion Scale (QVES: Beckett & Fisher, 1994). Each scale was adapted in an effort to simplify content and language and to improve readability. Preliminary data are presented on the comparability of each adapted measure to the original, as well as the internal consistency, reliability, and concurrent validity of the adapted tests. RESULTS: The SIS and the QVES were identified as appropriate assessment measures, comparable to the original with good reliability and validity. One subscale of the RSQ had fair reliability and validity, while the remaining subscales had varied psychometric properties. The adapted CSS had poor psychometric qualities and the adaptation of this test appears not to have been successful. CONCLUSIONS: The relevance of these findings to our understanding of offending by this population is discussed.
U2 - 10.1080/13668250701378538
DO - 10.1080/13668250701378538
M3 - Article
C2 - 17613677
SN - 1469-9532
VL - 32
SP - 62
EP - 73
JO - Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability
JF - Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability
IS - 2
ER -