ERIC ED339556: Assessing the Impact of the Wilderness Alternative for Youth Program: An Outward Bound Program for Adjudicated Youth.

21 Pages·1991·0.43 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 339 556
RC 018 146
AUTHOR
Sakofs, Mitchell; Schuurman, Donna
TITLE
Assessing the Impact of the Wilderness Alternative
for Youth Program: An Outward Bound Program for
Adjudicated Youth.
INSTITUTION
Outward Bound, Inc., Greenwich, Conn.
PUB DATE
91
NOTE
21p.
PUB TYPE
Reports - Evaluative/Feasibility (142)
EDRS PRICE
MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
DESCRIPTORS
*Adolescents; *Adventure Education; Behavior Change;
Delinquency; *Delinquent Rehabilitation; Program
Effectiveness; Program Evaluation; *Psychological
Evaluation; Psychological Patterns
IDENTIFIERS
Community Service; *Outward Bound; *Wilderness
Education Programs
ABSTRACT
Wilderness Alternative for Youth (WAY), conducted by
the Pacific Crest Outward Bound School, is a treatment program for
adjudicated youth that integrates wilderness or adventure therapy
with a community-based component. Participants were 115 boys and
girls, aged 13-18, recommended by court counselors and screened for
appropriateness by Outward Bound representatives. Subjects were
randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The
experimental group participated in a 3-week program involving
adventure activities and community service activities. The control
group did not participate in these activities. Both groups completed
a battery of psychometric tests four times: pre-course, post-course,
and 3-month and 1-year follow-ups. Parents, teachers, and court
counselors completed behavioral data forms at follow-ups. Repeated
measures technique was used to analyze the data. There were no
significant differences between groups over time on drug use, alcohol
use, discipline problems in school, or criminal allegations pending.
However, the experimental group had significantly more positive
results than the control group on 10 of 33 psychometric scales and
behavioral assessments: locus of control, asocial orientation,
manifest aggression, values orientation, immaturity,
withdrawal-depression, social anxiety, repression, parent assessment
of child's dependency, and counselor assessment of child's peer
relations. Participants, parents, and county caseworkers reported
very positive opinions of WAY. (SV)
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-
Assessing the Impact of the
Wilderness Alternative
for Youth Program:
Program
An Outward Bound
for Adjudicated Youth
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Mitchell Sakofs, Ph.D.
c.0
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"PERMISSION TO
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144
MATERIAL HAS
Sakers
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Mit-At U
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For information about Outward
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Copyright, ©, 1991
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All rights reserved
3
Abstract
This is a synopsis of the results of
a three year research effort designed to assess the impact of the
WAY
Program conducted by the Pacific Crest Outward Bound
School.
WAY is an acronym for "W ihkrness Alternatives for
Youth," and it icpresentell a newly conceive(l
treatment program for adjudicated youth which
was designed to integrate an iotervention strategy known
as
Wilderness or Adventure 'therapy, with
a community-based componeut. The term "Wilderness" in the WAY title
refers to the wilderness/adventure clement of the
program; "Alternative" refers to the fact that participation in this
program represented one of several options available to the pool of
youth offenders from which these subjects
were selected, and "Youth" refers to the population for which this
program was designed to serve, i.e., young-
people 14 to 17 ycars of age.
The 115 participants in this study
were randomly assigned to either die Control or Experimental
group.
Data on thcsc subjects were gathered through four basic
strategies. i.c., 1) a battery of self-report instruments
administered prior to and several times after the WAY
experience. 2) collateral measures in the form of question-
naires administered to parents, teachers and counselors.
3) a review of school and court records (or specific
and
official behavioral data, and 4)
a formal qualitative investigation of all aspects of the
program.
Complementing the interview process associated with
the qualitative component, SPSS/PC+ Repealed
Measures analyses mid Crosstab analyses
were used to examine data extracted front the self-report, collateral
and
behavioral instruments.
The results of the SPSS/PC+ Rcpeated Measures
analyses revealed statistically signil leant interactims,
at or beyond the .05 level, between the Control and Experimental
group subjects f(Pr the following scales:
1.ocus of control,
I maturity,
Asocial orientation,
Withdrawal-depression,
Manifest aggression.
Social anxiety,
Values orientation,
Repression,
Parental wisessment of their child's dependency, and
Counselor assessment of thier client's
peer relations.
Though SPSS Crosstab procedures revealed
rio statistically siguilleant dif ferences between the Control
and Experimental groups on
a vat iely of behavioral Illeaslires, the results of the stinctured interviews
which were
conducted with more than 17 individuals associated
with the project, did provide important insight into
the global
impact of the WAY program and these behavioral
measures.
More speLifically, the stmetured interviews
not only revealed a great deal ol support for the WAY
program among participants, signifiumt others of
program participants, and county caseworkers, but in addition,
a
powerful and critical overarching treatment effect
which suggested that though Experimental
group members may
have reverted to old patterns of behavior
upon returning from WAY, because they had experienced
success on
Outward Bound while doing constructive, positive
and extraordinary things, and simultaneously learned
alterna-
tives to their dysfunctional behaviors, they
now knew 1) that they could change if they so cksirul, and 2) that
there
was a boer world available to them. Thus, the statistically significant
changes recorded on the various psychom-
etric instruments seem to be indicative of profound
and fundamental changes which have taken place in
the hearts
and minds of the WAY participants, i.c., changes
which arc essential precursors to behavioral changes.
In summary, it appears that the impact of WAY
was real, positive, appreciated by those who partici,
pated, and butdamental to future psycho-emotional
growth and behavioral changes for the population served.
4
Introduction
Design: Members of both the experimental
and control groups were administered a battery of
33 scales from the following six psychometric in-
struments: The Self-description Questionnaire4,
"Most reformatories fail to reform
they
...
the Jesness Inventory', Thc Student Attitude Ques-
make no appreciable reduction in the very high
tionnaire6, Nowicki Locus of Control', the PRF
recidivism rates that arc expected for chronic of-
Achievement motivation scale. They subjects were
fenders."
Yet the. authors of these words also
administered these instrument at four times during
suggest that program* options which hold great
the study: 11Pre-course, T2-1mmediate post-
potential in the treatment of these difficult popula-
course, VThree month post .course, and T4
tions arc those which utilize ;u1venture in their
One year post-course. Additionally, parents, teach-
treannent program.
ers and court counselors were asked to complete a
behavioral data form discussing behaviors such as
Support for this assertion can be found in Ille
drug and alcohol use and school attendance, as well
research literature, tliouglithe value of many of the
as the Child and Adolescent Adjustment Profile9 at
studies cited in these anthologies have been ques-
!hell and 1*4 data points.
tioned on the integrity of their research designs.
To address these design concerns, a compre-
Research Results
hensive research effort on the Wilderness Alterna-
tive for Youth (WAY) program, developed by the
Pacific Crest Outward Rotund School, was devel-
SPSSPC4-1° repeated measures were per-
oped. This research effort incorporated both quan-
formed on the forty, 13 to 18 ycar old boys and girls
titative and qualitative components.
for whom complete Ti through 14 data-sets were
available. For these indivkluals, statistically sig-
nificant treatment by scale interactions at or beyond
the .05 level were revealed for the following 10
Research StructurQ
scales: Locus of control, Asocial orientation, Mani-
fest aggression, Values orientation, Immaturity,
Subjects: All individuals who volunteered
Withdrawal -depression, Social anxiety, Repression,
to participate in WAY, and who were recommended
Parental assessments of their child's dependency
by court counselors, were screened by an Orth!ard
and Counselor assessments of their client's peer
Bound representative for apprwria !mess, e.g., those
Hations. Below, discussion is presented on these
on psychotropic med ica t it ms or with a recent history
scales.
of suickle ideation were not permitted toparticipate.
Those inuividuals accepted into the program were
then randomly assigned into a control or ex perimental
Locus of control: Figure I graphically rep-
Members of the Experimental group
group.
resents mean score data 11 through T4 for both the
participated in a three week wilderness program
Experinimital and Control groups. The higher the
which utilized adventurous activities, such as
score on this scale, the inure the individual is
camping, hiking, mountaineering, caving and rock
externally oriented. Growth, i.e., maturation, would
climbing, along with community service activities.
thus be indicated by a lowering of I'le score.
as part or the treatmein modality; those assigned to
the Control group (lid not participate in this pro-
grant.3
f-
t)
4
Figure 1
Locus of control
12
11
10
9 -
8
7
Experimental
6
Control
5
4
74
13
12
T1
Test Administration
DI
MS
1 rea intent by
SS
Locus of control
4.37
41.23
.001
123.68
3
and families proved to be a challenge, by r, the
An examination ol Figure I suggests that,
Experimental group readjusts to those realities and
over the course of the year, both the Experimental
enjoys a reaffirmation ()Nick increasing orientation
and Control group members indicated an increasing
orientation to an internal orientation. Though this
toward internal controls.
bc tnle, the pattern of change evidenced in Figure 1
suggests that at T2 the Experimental group
Asicial Orientation: Figure 2 graphically
experienced something which caused a greater shift
represents mean score data Ti through T for both
away from an external orientation than was experi-
enced by the Control group. This shift might be
the Experimental and Control groups. The higher
the score on this scale, Me more the individual
interpreted as an impact of Outward Bound in terms
Growth, i.e.,
of personal empowerment. Though by 1'3 the
behaves in an asocial manner.
Experimental group rebounds to a level similar to
maturation, would thus be indicated by a lowering
the Control group, thus indicating, perhaps, that the
of the score.
participants' reintegration into their comnmnities
Figure 2
Asocial orientation
25
24
23
22
21 -
20
19 7
18 -
Experimental
17 -
Conhol
16
15
T2
T3
T4
T I
Test Administration
Treatment by
MS
DC
Sig.
SS
F
Asocial orientation
227.04
75.68
3.58
3
.005
of the Experimental group found the reintegration
Statistically equivalent at the start of the study (11),
into their home-lives somewhat frustraling and
members of the Experimental group seem to exhibit
dissatisfyinghence the increasing levels aasocial
increasing levels of asocial feelings from the T2
In turn, this may imply that the
perspectives.
through V test administrations over the Control
Experimental group members found their Outward
group. Interestingly, at the T2 data point, Control
Bound experience positive by contrast to their home-
group members repotted feel ings of asocial attitudes
in the decline yet at T' through T4 they arc
life. Building on this, the dramatic drop in asocial
perspectives evident at the T4 for the Experimental
characterized by increasing levels of asocial
group may indicate that though they were frustrated
perspectives. This stands in contrast to the T4 data
upon their return front Outward Bound, they were
point for the Experimental group at which point Orr
able to draw upon the attitudes and pmsocial per-
Asocial score drops dramatically. One pos ;ible
spectives taught while on WAY and activate them
interpretation of these findings is that upon return
in their lives by 14.
IronitheirOutwardliountlexpotience,the members
7
6
Manifest Agzsmian:
Figure 3 graphi-
mine whether lower levels indicate a lessening of
cally represents mean score data Il through
anxiety or greater denial,
T4 for
feelings of
or conversely,
both the Experimental and Control groups. The
whether a higher scorc reveals growing levels of
aggression or simply an increased awareness of
higher the score on this scale, the more thc individual
is aware of feelings of anger and hostility. As this
feelings of aggression.
scale measures awareness, it is difficult to deter-
Figure 3
Manifest aggression
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
3
13
Experimental
4 Control
12
11
10
12
TI
T3
T4
Test Administration
Treatmem by
F
MS
DI:
SS
Sig.
Aggression
233.28
77.76
5.30
.002
3
With
these caveats in wind, the pattems oh
interpretatkni does not seem likely given the con-
change evidenced in Figure 3 suggest that something
comitant reduction on the Repression scale. Thus a
happened on the Outward Bound experience which
more Ikely interpretation may be that feelings of
caused thc Experimental group to report reduced
aggression were actually reduced for the Experi-
feelings of manifest aggression. Though it may bc
mental group, and reduced in such a way as to be
argued that the reduction of such feelings could be
durable over time.
indicative of increasing levels of unawareness, this
8
7
Values oricntstior Figure 4 graphically
characteristic of the lower socioeconomic classes,
represents the mean score data for the Values
e.g., "including the trouble, luck and thrill motifs; ...
orientation sub-scale. A higher score on this scale
gang orientation; the toughness ethic; and the desire
indicates a tendency to share opinions and values
for early or premature adulthood.""
Figure 4
Values orientation
22
21
20
19
18
17
Experimental
16
+-- Control
15
14
I
I
T2
T4
T3
T1
Test Administration
IR
Sig.
Treatment by
MS
SS
6.09
Values Orientation
.001
357.17
119.06
3
socioeconomic classes, it appears that something
The pattern ol change evidenced in Figure
happemd on the Outward Bound course which
4 suggests that, though both the Experimental and
caused a more dramatic and durable shift.
Control groups seem to be shifting their value
orientation away from those associated with lower
9
Immaturity: Figure 5 graphically repro-
The higher the score the more immature the attitudes
held by the respondents.
scuts the mean scores for the Immaturity sub-scale.
Figure 5
immaturity
-0-- Experimental
Control
12
T4
T3
T1
Test Administration
Treatment by
MS
SS
Immaturity
34.79
104.36
.05
2.61
3
It is interesting to note that, though both
tudes, and 2) at the '14 tlata point, Experimental
the Experimental and Control group members ex-
group members appear to be reporting scale scores
hibit increasing levels of immaturity during the
fully 2 points less than those reported by Control
course of the study, two distinct differences appear
group members. Thus, though both groups seem to
between the two groups. More specifically: 1)at the
be reporting greater innnaturity levels, the Experi-
12 data point, the Experimental group appears to mental group is exhibiting less of a decline in this
exhibit more mature attitudes while thc Control
arca than Control members.
group members report increasingly immature atti-
1 0
9