Page 72 - Preventing Youth Violence

could be attributed to having less time to spend with families or friends who would be

considered protective factors as most of the adult beneficiaries in the sample spent most
of their time at CSJP training site. Acceptance into the programme means spending time

with peers who by virtue of being at risk also may not be considered a protective factor.
Further research could reveal the specific qualitative changes noted in the responses to

this factor on the initial assessment and later the reassessment instrument.

Differences in Protective Factors Across Genders
As with the previous factors there was no significant difference noted between the genders

for changes in risk level for this domain.

DISCUSSION

The CSJP III has been able to reference the data from the evaluation done of the

reassessments as at June 2019 as evidence of the success of the case management
approach. This is in light of the fact that the initial objectives, as follows, were met:

1. Objectively identify and target those at highest risk
2. Identify the specific risks

3. Respond appropriately to the criminogenic needs
4. Scientifically measure the impact of the intervention (i.e. the reduction in risk)

Two factors are important to the discussion of the achievements. These are the limitations

that may have influenced the results and the implications for future practice/practitioners.
One such limitation is the one-group pre- and post-test design of the evaluation. This

design is most popular in the field of Education, and while it is often considered the quasi-
experimental approach with the least power it is undoubtedly able to yield important

results and indicate correlational relationships.

“A quasi-experimental research design is the use of methods and procedures to make
observations in a study that is structured similar to an experiment, but the conditions and

experiences of participants lack some control because the study lacks random assignment,
includes a pre-existing factor (i.e., a variable that is not manipulated), or does not include

a comparison/control group” (Privitera & Ahlgrim-Delzell, 2018, p 334).

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