e-wata

[e-wata]

Milestone Assignment 2 Methods Section

SAMPLE

The sample included N equal 476 parolees recently released in the last 3 months who were required as part of their parole to participate in a 12 week drug addiction treatment program. And the participating Research Centers and sites included: Providence, Rhode Island, the lead center, Bridgeport, Connecticut, Hartford, Connecticut, Wilmington, Delaware, Richmond, Virginia and Portland, Orego.

Futhermore, the target population for inclusion of the parolees considered parolees with pre-incarceration substance disorders who are at moderate-to-high risk of recidivism, at least 18 years of age, English speaking, and probable Drug Dependence immediately prior to incarceration as determined by a score of 3 or higher on the TCU drug screen || (Knight, Simpson, & Hiller, 2002) or mandated or recommended condition of parole; moderate-to-high risk of drug relapse and/or recidivism as determined by a lifestyle criminality screening form (LCSF) score of a greater (Walters & McDonough, 1998), or a history of two or more prior episodes of drug abuse treatment or drug-related conventions. Exclusions criteria included any psychopatic symptoms on a SCID screener (First, 2002); and correctional or supervision conditions that prohibit them from participating in the study, including failure to leave prison on parole or probation; mandate to a special parole casebad; or transfer to a non-participating supervision office.

MEASURES

Based on the Step N Out Nine month Timeline Follow Back (TLFB) our main variable is Parolees arrested on Committed Illegal Drugs/Offense to try and ascertain our suggestion of the importance of reinforcement of desired behavior (treatment) for Drug use/abuse parolees and dependency.

Predictor variables used include; 1) Your drug use is a problem for you. 2) You need help in dealing with your drug use. 3) You have serious drug-related health problems. 4) Time arrested lifetime. 5) Number of times arrested while using/getting drugs. 6) Number of nights in jail hospital substance use past 6 months. 7) Number of times individual substance abuse session during incarceration past 6 months. 8) Number of times group substance abuse session during incarceration past 6 months. 9) Most serious drug before treatment. 10) Times quit on own. 11) Times quit in community treatment. 12) Times quit in jail (no treatment) 13) Times quit in jail treatment. 14) Number of times quit other way. 15) Number of times in substance abuse treatment program. 16) Importance of substance Abuse treatment after release.

ANALYSES

The distributions for the predictions of the choosen variables were evaluated by creating Univariative graphs of each of our explanatory & response variable one at a time both categorical variable and quantitative variable. The aim was to show each variable in visual form examining the number of peaks or mode that the distributions have while calculating the measures of center of spread for quantitative variables.

Bivariate graphs were used to test bivariable association between individual predictor variables that is the categorical to quantitative bar charts.

This was done to try and show the importance of the research and treatment at the end of the program, and the influence on the parolees.

[e-wata]

MILESTONE ASSIGNMENT 1: TITLE AND INTRODUCTION TO THE RESEARCH QUESTION

PROJECT TITLE: IMPORTANCE OF REINFORCEMENT OF DESIRED BEHAVIOR ON ILLEGAL DRUG/SUBSTANCE OFFENDERS, IN CONTRAST TO PUNISHMENT OF UNDESIRED BEHAVIOR

Research Hypothesis: It is hypothesized that reinforcement of desired behavior on illegal drug/substance offenders can ascertain to a positive change, in contrast to punishment of undesired behavior.

Discipline and Sub-Discipline:

Law(Criminal Justice): Psychology(Behavioral psychology)

Hypothesis as a question: Does the reinforcement of desired behavior on illegal drug/substance offenders ascertain to a positive change, in contrast to punishment?

Cases committed on illegal drug/substance use and disorders are common among prisoners and parolees. In 2002, 68% of inmates had substance abuse or dependence prior to incarceration( Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2005). And of drug involved offenders, only 13% to 32% report receipt of additional treatment in prison( Belenko & Peugeot, 2005; Mumola, 1999).

Based on this research, most criminal offenders return back to the community without receiving treatment and most return back to prison within three years of release.

Addition treatment during the transition back to the community can reduce substance use and criminal behavior, but newly released offenders have limited motivation for treatment (Sung, Belenko, & Feng, 2001).

Behavioral science suggests that sustainable positive change is more likely to follow reinforcements of desired behavior than punishment of undesired behavior. And based on this suggestion, I will look closely on the importance of such reinforcements of desired behavior and its ability to bring out a positive change or outcome in an individual/offender in contrast to punishment.

[e-wata]

WEEK 4

VISUALIZING DATA

UNIVARIATE GRAPHS

Based on my research and hypothesis on Drug abuse/Dependence(Medicine experiences) in relation to Family Drug Abuse/Dependence, I created Univaritive graphs shown above on my variables;

1) Medicine/Drug use ever interfered with taking care of Home or Family

2) Happen in last 12 months

3) Blood/Natural Father ever had problems with drugs

4) Blood/Natural Mother ever had problems with drugs

5) Number of Natural Sons who ever had problems with drugs

6) Any Natural Sons who ever had problems with drugs

7) Number of Natural Daughters who ever had problems with drugs

8) Any Natural Daughters who had problems with drugs

The results on all the individual graphs showing Uniform distribution, skewing-left with an exception of variables(Number of Natural Sons who ever had problems with drugs and Number of Natural Daughters who ever ha problems with drugs) which skewed right but with the same Uniform distribution.

BIVARTIVE GRAPHS

On my Bivariate graph, I showed two variables (Number of Natural Sons who ever had problems with drugs and Number of Natural Daughters who ever had problems with drugs) , depicting them to if Happen in the last 12 Months.

Both showed Uniform distribution.

[e-wata]

BEHAVIORAL PSYCHOLOGY WEEK 3

WEEK 3 ASSIGNMENT SAS-PROGRAM

Based on my research on my Family Drug Abuse/Dependence and its association with Drug Abuse/Dependence, my data management program analysis include;

Identifying and setting out the missing data on the variables, Medicine/Drug use ever interfered with taking care of Home or Family, Blood/Natural Father ever had problems with drugs and Blood/Natural mother ever had problems with drugs. And as a result, having Natural Sons ever had problems with drugs and any Sons ever had problems with drugs,and Natural Daughters ever had problems with drugs and any Daughters ever had problems with drugs while depicting the occurrence happened in the last 12 months.

To complete my data management on my program, I had to code out some left out valid data on Blank Responses and Unknown Responses respectively on the two variables Medicine/Drug use ever interfered with Home or Family and the variable if it happened in the last 12 months. Thus coding out the Blank responses from missing data on the program while separating unknown responses out.

[e-wata]

WEEK 2 ASSIGNMENT SAS -PROGRAM.

Assignment question was based on my Nesarc study on the section Drug abuse/Dependence and its association with Family History of drug abuse.

Based on this case study I took an inner look on Family History of drug use on Blood/Natural father ever had problems with drugs and Blood/Natural mother ever had problems with drugs, and as a result has Medicine/Drug use ever interfered with taking care of Home or Family.

As a result causing or having Number of Natural Sons having a problem with drugs OR Any Sons having a problem with drugs and Natural Daughters having a problem with drugs OR Any Daughters having a problem with drugs.

All looking at the impact that Happen in the last 12 months.

[e-wata]

Data analysis and Visual management (WEEK ONE)

Based on the code book for the NESARC (US National Epidemiology survey on Alcohol and related conditions, I have decided that I am particularly interested in the topic DRUG ABUSE/DEPENDENCE(MEDICINE EXPERIENCES).

I have created personal code book from this Section of the code showing the difference types of drugs of abuse such as inhalants etc. Then i went further as asked on my week one assignment and choose a second topic which I believe is in relation to my first topic (Drug Abuse/Dependence). My second topic is on Family History of drug abuse , which I believe and argue is associated with drug abuse/dependence. I have added questions, items and variables on my personal code book in regard to this second topic and I have performed a literature review on this topic and performed a research developing to my hypothesis of what I believe is the association between drug abuse/dependence and Family History of drug abuse.

Eugene Wata

Research Hypothesis: It is hypothesized that family history of drug use can ascertain to drug abuse dependence of an individual.

Discipline and Sub-Discipline

Medicine(Research) : Psychology(Behavioral psychology)

Hypothesis as a question: Does the family History of Drug abuse ascertain to drug abuse/dependence of an individual.

Paper Title: Behavioral Psychology: Family History of Drug Abuse Dependence