The complexities of measuring change in prisoners with sexual offence histories

Assessing change in incarcerated sexual offenders is critical to release decision-making and risk management. This study measured change in a group of treatment completers from a custody-based treatment program. Change was determined through comparison of pre- and post-treatment psychological testing and structured therapist assessment. Data were analysed at the group and individual levels. Multiple complexities were evident when examining the psychometric test results; many participants were considered ‘functional’ (within the normal range) according to extant test norms prior to treatment, and many who were regarded as ‘dysfunctional’ pre-treatment remained in this range post-treatment. Tests measuring constructs from the same risk factor domain often produced inconsistent results and, for most participants, change was only evident on some tests. Psychometric assessment results and therapist ratings were associated. These results highlight the complexities inherent in the evaluation of change. Clinical implications for the measurement of change and test selection are discussed.

Adolescent Girls in Guatemala: Can an Empowerment Program Change Perceptions of Gender Equity, Aspirations, and Communication?

While Guatemala has made great strides towards gender equality, it remains a country with vast disparities. Gender sensitization and empowerment programs during adolescence when gender attitudes are formed have the potential to diminish gender inequities. The Girl Rising Pilot Program (GR) is a 24-week curriculum designed for adolescent girls living in the Sololá region where 95% of the total population is indigenous and Mayan. The present pilot study evaluated outcomes of the GR Guatemala pilot program. Specifically, the evaluation examined whether there were differences between baseline and follow-up on perceptions of gender equity, aspirations, and communication for adolescent girls who participated in the GR program. A quasi-experimental study design with a one group pre- and post-test was implemented. The pilot evaluation study included all 265 participants at baseline who participated in the GR program. after controlling for significant variables, it was found that the gender equitable attitudes score and communications scale still significantly increased between baseline and follow-up. The results of this evaluation prove that gender sensitization programs play a key role in forming and changing gender attitudes during adolescence, and have the potential to alter their short and long-term attitudes and beliefs.

Signification and Performance Measurement: Making Sense of Mandated Performance Objectives

Understanding performance measures’ place in effecting program change requires examining them in relation to other structural program elements and the interpretive meanings attached to them. Framed using structuration theory, this paper utilizes interviews with professionals in the homelessness field to analyze how administrators make sense of performance objectives associated with federally-funded permanent supportive housing (PSH). Findings illustrate that when the meaning of a performance objective is unclear and contradictory to funder requirements and program norms, administrators do not value nor use the performance data. Conversely, when the meaning of a performance objective is clear, reinforcing funder requirements and program norms, administrators use the performance data for various purposes. In the context of PSH, professionals conveyed using a single performance objective to benchmark against peer programs, to confirm they are meeting other program norms that are not reliably tracked, and to build a performance-based advocacy argument without collecting additional performance data.

A Scrutiny of Preservice English Teachers’ Lived A/Synchronous Distance Education Experiences: Can Distance Education Not Replace Face-to-Face Education in Preservice English Language Teacher Education?

This cross-sectional survey research explores 249 preservice English teachers’ (PSETs) conceptions of their lived synchronous and asynchronous distance education (DE) experiences and if their preferences for the mode of education in the program change significantly according to their year of study. The findings revealed the participants did not conceive the initial English language teacher education could be provided effectively through asynchronous DE; instead, they favored either face-to-face education or a combination of synchronous DE and face-to-face education. In addition, participants’ preferences for the type of education in the program did not change significantly in accordance with their year of study.

Pengaruh Program Hutan Kemasyarakatan terhadap Sistem Tenurial dan Pendapatan Petani

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis pengaruh program Hutan Kemasyarakatan terhadap perubahan sistem tenurial, strategi nafkah, dan pendapatan petani sebagai peserta program. Penelitian ini dilakukan pada Hutan Kemasyarakatan (HKm) yang dilaksanakan di dalam kawasan Hutan Lindung Bukit Daun Register 5, khususnya Kelompok Tani Hutan Kemasyarakatan (KTHKm) Hutan Lestari, Desa Air Lanang, Bengkulu. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif (metode sensus) yang didukung oleh data kualitatif. Data kuantitatif diperoleh dengan cara melakukan wawancara menggunakan kuesioner terstruktur kepada seluruh anggota kelompok. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan, pertama, program HKm mengubah sistem tenurial petani sebelumnya, terutama pada aspek status penguasaan lahan (hak), lama penguasaan lahan, dan pola bagi hasil. Kedua, program HKm mengubah strategi nafkah petani. Sebelum program HKm, sektor off farm dan non farm merupakan nafkah utama petani terutama mereka yang penguasaan lahannya terbatas/sempit di luar kawasan hutan. Namun, setelah program berjalan sektor on farm merupakan nafkah utama. Ketiga, program HKm mengubah secara signifikan pendapatan rumah tangga petani. Rata-rata pendapatan meningkat dari Rp18.390.000/rumah tangga/tahun sebelum mengikuti program, menjadi Rp31.683.000/rumah tangga/tahun setelah mengikuti program HKm.Kata kunci: Hutan Kemasyarakatan, sistem tenurial, strategi nafkah, pendapatan rumah tangga=============ABSTRACTMUHAMMAD ALDY ILHAM PRATAMA. The Effect of Community Forest Program on Tenurial System and Farmer’s Income. Supervised by SOERYO ADIWIBOWO.This study aims to analyze the effect of the Community Forestry Program on the tenurial systems, livelihood strategies, and farmers' household income. The above-mentioned effect is observed at the Community Forest Farmer Group (KTHKm) namely Hutan Lestari located at the Bukit Daun Protected Forest Register 5, Bengkulu. A quantitative approach (sensus method) supported by qualitative data collection is applied. The data obtained through interviews using a structured questionnaire to all member of the mentioned farmer group. The results show that, first, the HKm program change significantly the land tenure system, in particular the land rights, length of tenure, as well as the profit sharing. Secondly, the program changes significantly the livelihood strategy of the farmers. Before the program, the livelihood of the farmer rest upon the non farm and off farm sectors particularly the small farmers. After the HKm, the livelihood of the small farmers shifts to on farm sector. Third, the average farmer’s income increased significantly from Rp. 18,390,000/household/year before the program; to Rp. 31,683,000/household/year after follow the HKm program.Keywords: Community Forest Program, tenurial system, livelihood strategy, income

Pengaruh Program Hutan Kemasyarakatan terhadap Sistem Tenurial dan Pendapatan Petani

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis pengaruh program Hutan Kemasyarakatan terhadap perubahan sistem tenurial, strategi nafkah, dan pendapatan petani sebagai peserta program. Penelitian ini dilakukan pada Hutan Kemasyarakatan (HKm) yang dilaksanakan di dalam kawasan Hutan Lindung Bukit Daun Register 5, khususnya Kelompok Tani Hutan Kemasyarakatan (KTHKm) Hutan Lestari, Desa Air Lanang, Bengkulu. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif (metode sensus) yang didukung oleh data kualitatif. Data kuantitatif diperoleh dengan cara melakukan wawancara menggunakan kuesioner terstruktur kepada seluruh anggota kelompok. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan, pertama, program HKm mengubah sistem tenurial petani sebelumnya, terutama pada aspek status penguasaan lahan (hak), lama penguasaan lahan, dan pola bagi hasil. Kedua, program HKm mengubah strategi nafkah petani. Sebelum program HKm, sektor off farm dan non farm merupakan nafkah utama petani terutama mereka yang penguasaan lahannya terbatas/sempit di luar kawasan hutan. Namun, setelah program berjalan sektor on farm merupakan nafkah utama. Ketiga, program HKm mengubah secara signifikan pendapatan rumah tangga petani. Rata-rata pendapatan meningkat dari Rp18.390.000/rumah tangga/tahun sebelum mengikuti program, menjadi Rp31.683.000/rumah tangga/tahun setelah mengikuti program HKm.Kata kunci: Hutan Kemasyarakatan, sistem tenurial, strategi nafkah, pendapatan rumah tangga=============ABSTRACTThis study aims to analyze the effect of the Community Forestry Program on the tenurial systems, livelihood strategies, and farmers' household income. The above-mentioned effect is observed at the Community Forest Farmer Group (KTHKm) namely Hutan Lestari located at the Bukit Daun Protected Forest Register 5, Bengkulu. A quantitative approach (sensus method) supported by qualitative data collection is applied. The data obtained through interviews using a structured questionnaire to all member of the mentioned farmer group. The results show that, first, the HKm program change significantly the land tenure system, in particular the land rights, length of tenure, as well as the profit sharing. Secondly, the program changes significantly the livelihood strategy of the farmers. Before the program, the livelihood of the farmer rest upon the non farm and off farm sectors particularly the small farmers. After the HKm, the livelihood of the small farmers shifts to on farm sector. Third, the average farmer’s income increased significantly from Rp. 18,390,000/household/year before the program; to Rp. 31,683,000/household/year after follow the HKm program.Keywords: Community Forest Program, tenurial system, livelihood strategy, income