Journal Article Questions

Chapter 7: Psychological/ Trait Theories of Crime

Article 1: Caruso, J., Witkiewitz, K., Belcourt-Dittloff, A., & Gottlieb, J. (2001). Reliability of scores from the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire: A reliability generalization study. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 61(4), 675-689. Retrieved from
http://journals.sagepub.com/stoken/default+domain/dUhNMxE7jwXmAqhavEGn/full

A reliability generalization study was conducted on data from 69 samples found in 44 studies that employed the Psychoticism (P), Extraversion (E), Neuroticism (N), and Lie (L) scales of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) or EPQ-Revised. The reliability of the scores varied considerably between scales, with P scores tending to have the lowest reliability. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that a larger standard deviation of scores was associated with higher score reliability for all four EPQ scales. More variability in age was associated with higher score reliability for the P scale and the L scale. Samples composed of students provided scores with higher reliability than those composed of other types of individuals for the P scale. Several other potential predictors (form, language of administration, average score, average age, gender composition, and number of items per scale) were not significantly related to score reliability

Questions that apply to this article:
1. How did the authors go about answering their research question?
2. What predictors were used to test the research question?
3. Is the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire reliable?

Article 2: Myers, W., & Vo, E. (2012). Adolescent parricide and psychopathy. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 56(5), 715-729. Retrieved from
http://journals.sagepub.com/stoken/default+domain/wyHPcUyuE2kxsB39Ztas/full

Most cases of juvenile parricide are believed to be the result of child abuse, yet the vast majority of abused children do not kill their parental abusers. This study explored the role of psychopathy in 10 adolescent parricide offenders tried in adult court who were referred for pretrial psychiatric evaluation. In addition, psychopathological findings, crime-related behaviors, and judicial outcomes are described. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders diagnoses, most commonly posttraumatic stress disorder, and chronic, severe child abuse were prevalent. Psychopathic traits were not found to have played a role in the traumatized youths' parricidal behavior. Killings occurred in the family homes, usually through a surprise attack with parent-owned firearms. There was an average of 1.7 victims per event, with fathers being the most likely victim. Bodies were commonly covered or wrapped and moved postmortem. Confessions were often incredible in quality. One half received sentences of 40+ years, and the modal sanction was a life sentence, despite 90% premorbidly described as good youth. Further studies of adolescent parricide are needed to better understand this unusual population.

Questions that apply to this article:
1. Describe the sample used in this study.
2. What is the hypothesis of this study?
3. Do the findings support the authors' hypothesis? Explain.

Article 3: Lurigio, A. (2011). People with serious mental illness in the criminal justice system: Causes, consequences, and correctives. The Prison Journal, 9(3). 66S-86S. Retrieved from
http://journals.sagepub.com/stoken/default+domain/ZnJsne63phj3wjHbtsU4/full

This article examines the rising number of people with serious mental illness (PSMI) in the criminal justice system and suggests remedies for improving care and services for this troubled population. Of note, mental illness is not the primary cause of criminal behavior nor is deinstitutionalization principally responsible for the disproportionate criminal justice system representation of PSMI. Rather, harsh crime control policies and draconian drug laws, in particular, account for the apparently large numbers of PSMI who are arrested and incarcerated. Recommendations are offered for service providers to focus on the amelioration of criminogenic factors, not simply on treating mental illness among PSMI in the criminal justice system. Furthermore, larger investments should be made in treating co-occurring disorders and funding aftercare services, which are essential to maintaining treatment gains and sustaining recovery

Questions that apply to this article:
1. According to the author, what part did/does deinstitutionalization play in the disproportionate representation of those with serious mental illnesses in the criminal justice system?
2. What attempts have been made to deal with the high number of PSMI in the criminal justice system?
3. One of the recommendations the author proposes to deal with the number of PSMI in the criminal justice system is to end the criminalization of PSMI. Explain how this could lead to lower numbers of PSMI in the criminal justice system.