Quantitative Design

Indicator Construction

Jamisha Riddick

WaldenU

09/30/2020

Running head: INDICATOR CONSTRUCTION 1

Indicator Construction

Introduction

The economic hardship people face in society due to the poverty levels in the world today has pushed people into crime as a way of looking for a better life. In today's world, the unemployment level is so high which indicates that most of the young people or the youth in the society do not have a sustainable job which they can depend on to give them enough money to cater to their needs. The issue of unemployment results in the youths getting into criminal activities which results in imprisonment. The logical model or log framework is an effective strategy that aims at promoting a restorative type of system where ex-prisoners are given a chance to redeem themselves from the life of crime and become better members of the community (Mbatha et al., 2020). Through the log frame strategy to ensure that ex-prisoners are made better and are easily reintegrate with the community. They need to be trained in skills that will enable them to be employable and have a healthy relationship with other members of the community.

Logical Framework or Model of Training Ex-Prisoners

The training process or program for ex-prisoners will entail both social and technical training where they will be impacted with skills that will give them a chance in the job market and also enhance their social kill to enable them to blend with the community easily. The training will be mostly on manual skills such as tailoring, carpentry, plumbing, and carving, weaving, and drawing. These skills will help them employ themselves lead a sustainable quality life that will keep them away from crime and drugs (Ahmad et al 2017). The training will also entail counseling where the ex-prisoners will be imparted with social skills which will enable them to become better people and get along with others which will make their reintegration process in the community easy. The program has expected inputs, outputs, and outcome indicators which are as follows.

Inputs Indicators

The input indicators are defined as the necessary steps, resources, and systems that should be put in place to ensure the success of the program. In the case of training the ex-prisoners the first input indicator that is the most important finance. With finances, the program will have a chance to get all the resources that it requires to ensure that the ex-prisoners receive the best training to enable them to have an easy reintegration process. The staffs are also an important input as they are the ones who will ensure that the ex-prisoners are well trained and counseled to attain the desirable skills they need (Ganapathy, 2018). The other input is key partners such as the government and non-governmental agencies or organizations that will support the program with all the needed resources and help create awareness in the society helping the ex-prisoners be accepted back in the community and reduce the stigma towards them. Finally, is the proper infrastructure which will enable the ex-prisoners can get employed and have a quality life that will enable them to stay away from prison and crime.

Outputs Indicators

Out putt indicators are the results that the framework or program will produce after taking the ex-prisoners through the training process. The outcomes expected or projected if this framework is fully affected with the support that it needs from all sectors to provide it with all resources or inputs it requires will be as follows. Produce reformed and rehabilitated ex-prisoners who are productive members of society (Duwe, 2017). Provide the ex-prisoners with skills they can use to acquire a quality lifestyle that is not related to crime or drugs. The process will create changed individuals who will relate well with their fellow community members and do everything according to the law staying out of trouble.

Outcome indicators

The outcome is defined as the quantifiable results that are a product of the process of training ex-prisoners (Urban Institute, 2014). The expected or projected outcome is a reduction in crime levels which will be measured by the people who have been experiencing violent crimes. If the number of people experiencing violent crime reduces by a huge margin then the program is effective and if the numbers are still high them the program is not achieving its goal (McDavid et al., 2019). The other expected outcome will be the perception of the public on the ex-prisoners as this process aims at showing the public that the ex-prisoners are changed, and they should be accepted back to the community. It is expected that the ex-prisoners will have essential skills that will get them employed fast and the stigma towards them will be reduced.

Research Data, Variables, Data Collection Method, and Survey Sample

Although the training of ex-prisoners is a method that has benefits it is clear from the research data available that not all prisons in the country and the world that have adopted this program. The reason behind prisons not implementing this program is because it is expensive and it costs the correctional system a huge amount of money to train every offender (Economics, 2018). The training ensures that when they are released from prison they keep off illegal activities and depend on their skills which they acquired during the training to care for themselves and their families. Due to these factors then the levels of ex-prisoners going back to jail are high.

The variable that the project or research will be focusing on is the personal condition, support, employment, social environment, and network of the ex-prisoner. Their readiness to change, obtaining employment, mandatory reporting staying away from illegal activities, and having stable housing and financial status are also variables that will be looked at in the project and how they affect the reintegration process. These factors influence the success of the reintegration as if one gets all that they need they change for the better and if they do not they go back to crime. In this project, the data collection method that will be used will be a semi-structured interview that will be conducted on 5 ex-offender, and a total of 8 professionals from the criminal justice system and employers who employ ex-prisoners in the community.

INDICATOR CONSTRUCTION 2

Reference

Ahmad, T., Ashraf, H., & Ahmad, M. (2017) Challenges Faced to Ex-Prisoners in Social Reintegration (A Study of Union Council Kunda). http://www.uoswabi.edu.pk/data/downloads/598.pdf

Duwe, G. (2017). The use and impact of correctional programming for inmates on pre-and post-release outcomes. US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice.

Economics, L. (2018). Evaluation of prisoner learning: Initial impacts and delivery.

Ganapathy, N. (2018). Rehabilitation, reintegration, and recidivism: a theoretical and methodological reflection. Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development, 28(3), 154-167.

Mbatha, C. M., Kerre, B. W., Ferej, A., Kitainge, K. M., & Fred, K. C. (2020). Learning Strategies Employed in Vocational Education Training on Integration of Prisoners into the Society. American Journal of Educational Research, 8(5), 353-359.

McDavid, J. C., Huse, I., & Hawthorn, L. R. L. (2019). Program evaluation and performance measurement: An introduction to practice (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Urban Institute. (2014). Outcome indicators project. Retrieved from http://www.urban.org/center/cnp/projects/outcomeindicators.cfm