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UniversityMicrohms
International300 N. Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Ml 48106
8418942
Foulk, R o b ert C arl, J r .
CHILD MALTREATMENT: AN EXAMINATION OF MODELS OF CAUSATION AND THE ISSUE OF STANDARDIZED MEASUREMENT
The Ohio State University Ph.D. 1984
UniversityMicrofilms
International 300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106
Copyright 1984
byFoulk, Robert Carl, Jr.All Rights Reserved
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C h ild M a ltr ea tm en t: An E x a m in a tio n o f H o d e ls o f C a u sa t io n
and t h e I s s u e o f S ta n d a r d iz e d M easurem ent
DISSEBTATiON
P r e s e n t e d i n P a r t i a l F u l f i l l m e n t o f t h e R e q u i r e m e n t s f o r
t h e d e g r e e D o c t o r o f P h i l o s o p h y i n t h e G r a d u a t e
S c h o o l o f T h e O h i o S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y
By
R o b e r t C a r l F o u l k , J r . , B . S . S . H , M-S.W.
* * * * *
B e a d i n g C o m m i t t e e :
B e v e r l y Toomey
N o l a n R i n d f l e i s c h
R o b e r t W a s h i n g t o n
T h e O h i o S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y
1984
A p p r o v e d By
A d i^so r C o l l e g e o f Social Work
ACKNOHLEDGHEHIS
T h i s d o c u m e n t r e p r e s e n t s a s i g n i f i c a n t m i l e s t o n e i n my
f o r m a l e d u c a t i o n — a m i l e s t o n e w h i c h w o u ld h a v e l i k e l y n o t
b e e n a c h i e v e d had i t n o t b e e n f o r t h e h e l p a n d s u p p o r t o f
many fisva- p e o p l e - A l t h o u g h I c a r r y w i t h me a s e n s e o f
g r a t i t u d e t o w a r d s a l l s u c h i n d i v i d u a l s , I m u s t a c k n o w l e d g e
s e v e r a l i n p a r t i c u l a r .
F i r s t , i t s h o u l d b e known t h a t D r . J o h n B e h l i n g , b y
p e r m i t t i n g me t o p u r s u e my own i n t e r e s t s a n d s u p p o r t i n g me
b o t h p e r s o n a l l y a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l l y , i s l a r g e l y r e s p o n s i
b l e f o r my h a v i n g p u r s u e d g r a d u a t e e d u c a t i o n . He w a s ,
i n d e e d , my f i r s t m e n t o r .
S e c o n d l y , I o f f e r s i n c e r e t h a n k s t o my r e a d i n g c o m m i t
t e e . My a d v i s o r . D r . B e v e r l y T o o m e y , p r o v i d e d a d v i s e a n d
a s s i s t a n c e w h i c h a l l o w e d t h e d i s s e r t a t i o n p r o c e s s t o b e
e d u c a t i o n a l , b u t n o t t h r e a t e n i n g . D r . R o b e r t R a s h i n g t o n
i n i t i a t e d my i n t e r e s t i n t h i s s t u d y a n d c o n t i n u e d h i s s u p
p o r t o f my e f f o r t s e v e n t h o u g h h e moved t w o s t a t e s a w a y
d u r i n g t h e s t u d y ' s c o u r s e - D r . N o l a n R i n d f l e i s c h , b y v i r
t u e o f h i s own c o n s i d e r a b l e r e s e a r c h i n t h e a r e a o f c h i l d
w e l f a r e , a s s i s t e d i n my g a i n i n g a c c e s s t o t h e v a r i o u s c o u n -
t y a g e n c i e s f o r d a t a c o l l e c t i o n a n d p r o v i d e d c o n c e p t u a l
g u i d a n c e t h r o u g h o u t t h e p r o j e c t - They a r e m o d e l s o f s c h o l
a r s h i p , who c o l l e c t i v e l y , made t h e d i s s e r t a t i o n p r o c e s s a
t r u e l e a r n i n g e x p e r i e n c e .
T h i r d , I w o u l d b e t o t a l l y r e m i s s i f I d i d n o t a c k n o w l
e d g e t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n o f t h e o v e r t w o h u n d e r d c h i l d w e l f a r eI
w o r k e r s i n t h e t w e n t y - o n e c o u n t i e s t h a t p a r t i c i p a t e d i n
t h i s s t u d y - L i t e r a l l y , w i t h o u t t h e i r c o n t r i b u t i o n , t h i s
s t u d y w o u ld n o t h a v e b e e n p o s s i b l e .
F o u r t h , t h e man w i t h whom I h a v e w o r k e d a s a g r a d u a t e
r e s e a r c h a s s o c i a t e f o r t h e p a s t t w o y e a r s . D r . R i c h a r d
M i g u e l , d e s e r v e s a s p e c i a l t h a n k s . H i s f r i e n d s h i p a n d s u p
p o r t h a v e b e e n t r u l y h e l p f u l .
L a s t l y , b u t e v e r s o f a r f r o m t h e l e a s t i m p o r t a n t , my
w i f e , R a c h e l A l e x a n d e r , m u s t b e r e c o g n i z e d f o r u n e n d i n g
s u p p o r t . H e r f a i t h i n me, h e r w i l l i n g n e s s t o a l l o w o u r
l i v e s t o b e l a r g e l y d o m i n a t e d by my e d u c a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s
o v e r t h e p a s t s e v e r a l y e a r s , a n d h e r e v e r p r e s e n t o p t i m i s m
a n d g o o d c h e e r a r e a c o n t i n u i n g s o u r c e o f i n s p i r a t i o n t o
me.
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S e p t e m b e r ,
1975
1 9 7 5 - 1 9 7 8
1 9 7 5 - 1 9 7 8
1 9 7 6 - 1 9 8 4
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1 9 8 0 - 1 9 8 1
1 9 8 1 - 1 9 8 2
1 9 8 2 - 1 9 8 4
1948 B o r n — N e w a r k , O h i o
B - S . S . W - , The O h i o S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y , C o l u m b u s , O h i o
A s s i s t a n t D i r e c t o r o f B e s i d e n t i a l T r e a t m e n t , B u c k e y e Y o u t h C e n t e r , C o l u m b u s , O h i o
B e s e a r c h A d v i s o r , C o l l e g e o f S o c i a l W ork , The O h i o S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y , C o l u m b u s , O h i o
P r i v a t e B e s e a r c h C o n s u l t a n t , W o r t h i n g t o n , O h i o
H - S . W . , The O h i o S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y , C o l u m b u s , O h io
T e a c h i n g A s s o c i a t e , C o l l e g e o f S o c i a l W ork , The O h i o S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y , C o l u m b u s , O h i o
D i r e c t o r o f CETA F o l l o w - u p S t u d y ,T h e C o l u m b u s , O h i o U r b a n L e a g u e , C o l u m b u s , O h i o
B e s e a r c h A s s o c i a t e , The C o l l e g e o f S o c i a l Work , T h e O h i o S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y , C o l u m b u s , O h i o
B e s e a r c h A s s o c i a t e , T h e N a t i o n a l C e n t e r f o r B e s e a r c h i n V o c a t i o n a l E d u c a t i o n , T h e O h i o S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y ,C o l u m b u s , O h i o
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T&BLE OF CONTENTS
P a g e
ACKKQRLEDG2SE5TS............................................................................................................. i i
f i t a ................................................ x v
L i s t o £ F i g u r e s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i z
L i s t o f T a b l e s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . z i
C h a p t e r
I . I NT BOD OCT 1 0 5 1
I s s u e s o f C o n c e r n f o r C h i l d W e l f a r eP r a c t i c e a n d B e s e a r c h . . . . . . . . . 4
D e f i n i t i o n a l C o n f u s i o n . . . . . . . . . . 6P r o b l e m s v i t h K n o w l e d g e B a s e . . . . . . . 7I d i o s y n c r a t i c D e c i s i o n M o d e l s . . . . . . 10
C l a s s i f i c a t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11C r i t e r i a f o r E v a l u a t i n g a
C l a s s i f i c a t i o n S y s t e m . . . . . . . 13S t a n d a r d i z e d A s s e s s m e n t I n s t r u m e n t s . . . . 15D i f f e r e n t T h e o r i e s , D i f f e r e n t M o d e l s o f
C a u s a t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16B e s e a r c h T a s k s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17I m p o r t a n c e o f S t u d y t o S o c i a l Work . . . . . 18
I I . LITER AT ORE BEVIES ............................................................ 2 0
T h e o r e t i c a l P e r s p e c t i v e s o n M a l t r e a t m e n t . . 21P s y c h o d y n a m i c M o d e l s . . . . . . . . . . 22P s y c h o d y n a m i c C o n s t r u c t s a s I n d i c a t o r s
o f C h i l d N e g l e c t . . . . . . . . . 24
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S o c i a l L e a r n i n g M o d e l s . . . . . . . . . 26S o c i o l o g i c a l M o d e l s . . . . . . . . . . . 28S o c i a l P s y c h o l o g i c a l M o d e l s . . . . . . . 31
R e v ie w o f P o l a n s k y * s I n s t r u m e n t a t i o n Work . 32A L i t a n y o f P r o b l e m s . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
P r a g m a t i c C o n s i d e r a t i o n s . . . . . . . . 34V a l u e C o n t a m i n a t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . 35M e t h o d o l o g i c a l C o n s i d e r a t i o n s . . . . . . 37S t a t i s t i c a l C o n s i d e r a t i o n s . . . . . . . 40W e i g h t i n g C o n s i d e r a t i o n s . . . . . . . . 43
Summary C o m m en t s on P o l a n s k y * s Work w i t hC L L ...........................................................................- - - 44
An E x a m i n a t i o n o f C a u s e . . . . . . . . . . 45
I I I . METHODOLOGY................................................................................................... 48
D e s i g n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48U n i t o f A n a l y s i s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49S a m p l i n g P r o c e d u r e s . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
C o u n t y S a m p l e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50F a m i l y S a m p l e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53Who Was I n c l u d e d : D e f i n i n g
M a l t r e a t m e n t . . . . . . . . . . . 54N a t u r e o f t h e S a m p le . . . . . . . . . . 56
I n s t r u m e n t a t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58A d m i n i s t r a t i o n . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62Human S u b j e c t C o n s i d e r a t i o n . . . . . . . 63
M e a s u r e m e n t o f V a r i a b l e s . . . . . . . . . . 64D e m o g r a p h i c D a t a . . . . . . . . . . . . 64A t t r i b u t e s o f P a r e n t s o r G u a r d i a n s . . . 66A t t r i b u t e s o f C h i l d r e n . . . . . . . . . 70I n c o m e a n d P u b l i c A s s i s t a n c e . . . . . . 71S t r e s s F a c t o r s . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72H o u s i n g C o n d i t i o n s . . . . . . . . . . . 73S o c i a l I s o l a t i o n o f P a r e n t . . . . . . . 74M e a s u r e s o f t h e E x t e n t o f M a l t r e a t m e n t . 74
D a t a A n a l y s a s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75S t u d y L i m i t a t i o n s . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
T h e S a m p l e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78M e a s u r e m e n t I s s u e s . . . . . . . . . . . 79A N o t e o n R e l i a b i l i t y a n d V a l i d i t y . . . 81
I V . DESCRIPTXOH OF STDDY CASES . . . . . ........ 83The C o u n t y L e v e l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83M a l t r e a t m e n t C l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f C a s e s . . . . 84S o u r c e o f R e f e r r a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86F a m i l y C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . . . . . . . . . . . 86C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f A d u l t s . . . . . . . . . 88
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C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f C h i l d r e n . . . . . . . . 92A r e a s o f M a l t r e a t m e n t . . . . . . . . . . . 93C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f S t u d y W o r k e r s . . . . . . 96
V. RELIABILITY OP IHVESTIGAXIVE ASSESSMENTS . . . 99O v e r v i e w . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99F o c u s o f C h a p t e r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100A s s e s s m e n t P r o c e d u r e s . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 3The Kappa S t a t i s t i c . . . . . . . . . . . . 106I n t e r p r e t i n g t h e H2 N T e s t f o r t h e
A l t e r n a t i v e H y p o t h e s i s . . . - - . - - 1 0 9 D a t a T r a n s f o r m a t i o n s . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 0F i n d i n g s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
91. BEGRESSIOH AHD PATH AHALXSIS R E S U L T S ..........125O v e r v i e w . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125T h e P r o b l e m w i t h C o r r e l a t i o n C o e f f i c e n t s . . 12 9 I n t e r p r e t i n g S t a n d a r d i z e d P a r t i a l
R e g r e s s i o n C o e f f i c i e n t s . . . . . . . 1 3 5M u l t i p l e R e g r e s s i o n R e s u l t s . . . . . . . . 135T he F u l l M o d e l ................................................................................ 144A P r o b l e m w i t h OLS U s i n g S i m u l t a n e o u s
E n t r y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146P a t h A n a l y s i s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 VI s s u e s C o n n e c t e d w i t h C a u s a l A n a l y s i s • . . 148
C a u s e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 8The B e s t M o d e l . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 9D i s t r i b u t i o n a l L i m i t a t i o n s . . . . . . . 1 5 0N o t e a b o u t I n i t i a l S t r u c t u r e o f M o d e l s . 151
The P s y c h o d y n a m i c M ode l . . . . . . . . - . 1 5 4T h e L e a r n i n g T h e o r y M o d e l . . . . . . . . . 160The S o c i o l o g i c a l M o d e l . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 7T h e S o c i a l - P s y c h o l o g i c a l M ode l . . . . . . . 173Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 0
Y I I . DISCUSSIOS . . . . . ................................................. . . . 1 8 2
I n t e r r a t e r R e l i a b i l i t y F i n d i n g s . . . . . . 183D i s c u s s i o n o f X n t e r r a t e r R e l i a b i l i t y
R e s u l t s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184M o d e l s o f M a l t r e a t m e n t C a u s a t i o n . . . . . . 1 8 6
P s y c h o d y n a m i c M o d e l . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 8S o c i o l o g i c a l M ode l . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 9L e a r n i n g M o d e l . . . . . • . . . . . . . . 189S o c i a l - P s y c h o l o g i c a l M o d e l . . . . . . . 1 9 0
S y n t h e s i s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
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M a t e r i a l L e v e l o f L i v i n g . . . . . . . . 1 9 3S t r e s s V a r i a b l e s . . . . . . . . . . . . 194L e a r n i n g V a r i a b l e s . . . . . . . . . . . 1 9 5S u b s t a n c e A b u s e . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
. i m p l i c a t i o n s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 9 7C h a l l e n g e t o T r a d i t i o n a l C o n c e p t i o n s . . 197 I m p l i c a t i o n s f o r P r a c t i c e . . . . . . . . 1 9 7I m p l i c a t i o n s f o r P o l i c y . . . . . . . . . 198I m p l i c a t i o n s f o r R e s e a r c h . . . . . . . . 1 9 9
BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................... . ........ . . . 2 0 2APPENDIXES
A. C h ild h o o d Level of Living Scale . . . . . . . . 2 1 2
B. Prospectus and Letter of Introduction . . . . . 220
C. Study Instrument for Haltreataent Cases . . . . 225
D. PL/1 Prograa to Calculate Kappa . . . . . . . . 249
E. Study Instrument for Barkers . . . . . . . . . 253
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LIST OF FIGURES
F ig u r e P a g e
1. I n i t i a l C o n f i g u r a t i o n f o r P s y c h o d y n a m i cM o d e l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 3
2 . R e s u l t s f o r P s y c h o d y n a m i c Model C o m p l e t eS a m p l e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
3 . R e s u l t s f o r P s y c h o d y n a m i c M o d e l N e g l e c t i n gS u b s a m p l e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
4 . R e s u l t s f o r P s y c h o d y n a m i c M o d e l A b u s i n gS u b s a m p l e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
5 . R e s u l t s f o r P s y c h o d y n a m i c M o d e l f o r B o t hA b u s i n g a n d N e g l e c t i n g S u b s a m p l e . . . . . . . 158
6 . I n i t i a l C o n f i g u r a t i o n f o r L e a r n i n g M o d e l . . . 162
7 . R e s u l t s f o r L e a r n i n g M o d e l C o m p l e t e S a m p l e . . 163
8- . R e s u l t s f o r L e a r n i n g M ode l N e g l e c t i n gS u b s a m p l e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 4
9 . R e s u l t s f o r L e a r n i n g M o d e l A b u s i n g S u b s a m p l e . 165
1 0 . R e s u l t s f o r L e a r n i n g M o d e l B o th A b u s i n ga n d N e g l e c t i n g S u b s a m p l e . . . . . . . . . . . 166
1 1 . I n i t i a l C o n f i g u r a t i o n f o r S o c i o l o g i c a l M o d e l - 169
12 . R e s u l t s f o r S o c i o l o g i c a l Model C o m p l e t eS a m p l e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7 0
13. R e s u l t s f o r S o c i o l o g i c a l M o d e l N e g l e c t i n g S u b s a m p l e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7 1
14 . R e s u l t s f o r S o c i o l o g i c a l Model B o t h A b u s i n ga n d N e g e c t i n g S u b s a m p l e . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7 2
15. I n i t i a l C o n f i g u r a t i o n f o r S o c i a l - P s y c h o l o g i c a l Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7 4
- i x -
1 6 . R e s u l t s f o r S o c i a l - P s y c h o l o g i c a l Mode lC o m p l e t e S a m p l e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
1 7 . R e s u l t s f o r S o c i a l - P s y c h o l o g i c a l M o d e l N e g l e c t i n g . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
1 8 . R e s u l t s f o r S o c i a l - P s y c h o l o g i c a l M o d e l f o rB o t h A b u s i n g a n d N e g l e c t i n g S u b s a m p l e . . . . . 177
- x -
LIST OF TABLES
T a b le P a g e
1. C o u n t i e s by C l a s s i f i c a t i o n a n d C a s e sC o n t r i b u t e d ....................................................... . . 57
2 . M e a s u r e d C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f P a r e n t s . . . . . . 58
3 . C a s e s by C o u n t y T y p e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
4 . T y p e o f M a l t r e a t m e n t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
5 . C l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f M a l t r e a t m e n t by C o u n t y T y p e . 85
8 . S o u r c e s o f c a s e R e f e r r a l . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
7 . Age D i s t r i b u t i o n f o r A d u l t s . . . . . . . . . . 88
8 . R a c e by Sex f o r A d u l t s . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
9- l e v e l o f S c h o o l i n g f o r A d u l t s . . . . . . . . . 90
10. L e v e l o f P s y c h o l o g i c a l F u n c t i o n i n g f o r A d u l t s . 91
11- E x t e n t o f M a l t r e a t m e n t by A r e a . . . . . . . . . 93
12- A r e a s o f M a l t r e a t m e n t by S e v e r i t y R a n k i n g . . . 95
13. C o u n t i e s by C l a s s i f i c a t i o n w i t h I n t a k e -O n g o i n g W o r k e r D a t a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 2
14. K a p p a s f o r P h y s i c a l I n j u r y C o n d i t i o n s . . . . . . 111
15 . K a p p a s f o r S e x u a l M a l t r e a t m e n t C o n d i t i o n s . . - 112
16 . K a p p a s f o r S u p e r v i s i o n C o n d i t i o n s . . . . . . . 1 1 3
17. K a p p a s f o r M o r a l D e v e l o p m e n t C o n d i t i o n s . . . . 114
18 . K a p p a s f o r M e d i c a l / D e n t a l C o n d i t i o n s . . . . . . 1 1 5
19 . K a p p a s f o r N u t r i t i o n a l C o n d i t i o n s . . . . . . . 116
- x i -
20- K a p p a s f o r E m o t i o n a l M a l t r e a t m e n t C o n d i t i o n s . . 117
2 1 . K a p p a s f o r D r u g / A l c o h o l C o n d i t i o n s . . . . . . . 1 1 8
2 2 . K a p p a s f o r C l e a n l i n e s s C o n d i t i o n s . . . . . . . 119
2 3 . K a p p a s f o r E d u c a t i o n a l C o n d i t i o n s . . . . . . . 1 2 0
2 4 . K a p p a s f o r C l o t h i n g C o n d i t i o n s . . . . . . . . . 1 2 1
2 5 . K a p p a s f o r H o u s i n g C o n d i t i o n s . . . . . . . . . 122
2 6 . K a p p a s f o r O v e r a l l A s s e s s m e n t s . . . . . . . . . 123
2 7 . L i s t o f V a r i a b l e s Used i n A n a l y s i s . . . . . . . 126
2 8 . M eans a n d S t a n d a r d D e v i a t i o n s f o r S u b g r o u p s . . 128
2 9 . C o r r e l a t i o n M a t r i x . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 1
3 0 . C o r r e l a t i o n M a t r i x f o r N e g l e c t i n g S u b s a m p l e . . 132
3 1 . C o r r e l a t i o n M a t r i x f o r A b u s i n g S u b s a m p l e . . . . 133
3 2 - C o r r e l a t i o n M a t r i x f o r " B o t h " S u b s a m p l e . . . . 134
3 3 . R e g r e s s i o n R e s u l t s f o r O u t c o m e V a r i a b l e sE n t i r e S a m p l e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
3 4 . R e g r e s s i o n R e s u l t s f o r O u t c o m e V a r i a b l e sN e g l e c t i n g S u b s a m p l e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 4 1
3 5 . R e g r e s s i o n R e s u l t s f o r O u t c o m e V a r i a b l e sA b u s i n g S u b s a m p l e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
3 6 . R e g r e s s i o n R e s u l t s f o r O u tc o m e V a r i a b l e sB o t h A b u s i n g a n d N e g l e c t i n g S u b s a m p l e s . . . . . 143
3 7 . R e g r e s s i o n R e s u l t s f o r M a l t r e a t m e n t S e v e r i t yP u l l M o d e l , C o m p l e t e S a m p l e an d A l l S u b g r o u p s . 145
- x i i -
Chapter X INTRODUCTION
The 1974 p a s s a g e o f PL 9 3 - 2 4 7 , t h e C h i l d A b u s e P r e v e n
t i o n a n d T r e a t m e n t A c t , s i g n a l e d t h e f o r m a l r e c o g n i t i o n o f
c h i l d a b u s e a n d n e g l e c t a s a s o c i a l p r o b l e m o f n a t i o n a l
s c o p e . H o v e v e r , a s Kamerman a n d Kahn n o t e , " t h e p r o b l e m o f
c h i l d a b u s e a n d n e g l e c t d i d n o t s u d d e n l y e m e r g e i n t h e m i d
d l e o f t h e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y " ( 1 9 7 6 ) . " R e c o r d s f r o m t h e
E n g l i s h c o l o n i e s i n A m e r i c a d e p i c t a l l m a n n e r o f c h i l d
a b u s e a n d n e g l e c t " ( N e l s o n , 1 9 7 9 , p - 9 9 ) . I n f a c t , p u b l i c
r e c o g n i t i o n o f c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t a n d r e s u l t i n g p u b l i c
a c t i o n h a v e a l o n g h i s t o r y -
T h e i s s u e o f d e p e n d e n t a n d n e g l e c t e d c h i l d r e n i s
a d d r e s s e d i n E n g l i s h Common Law p r e d a t i n g t h e f o u n d a t i o n o f
t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . T h e f i r s t A m e r i c a n i n s t i t u t i o n f o r
c h i l d r e n was f o u n d e d i n 1 7 2 9 , a n d t h e f i r s t p u b l i c l y f u n d e d
c h i l d r e n * s i n s t i t u t i o n w a s e s t a b l i s h e d i n 1 7 9 0 . A l t h o u g h
t h e s e i n s t i t u t i o n s d e a l t w i t h d e l i n q u e n t s , t h e p r i m a r y
i s s u e w a s p r e v e n t i n g d e l i n q u e n c y a s c a u s e d by n e g l e c t ,
d e p e n d e n c y , a n d a b a n d o n m e n t ( A x i n n a n d L e v i n , 1 9 7 5 ) . T h e
f i r s t c h i l d p r o t e c t i v e a g e n c y i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , t h e New
2
York S o c i e t y f o r t h e P r e v e n t i o n o f C r u e l t y t o C h i l d r e n , was
e s t a b l i s h e d i n 1 8 7 4 .
As l e g a l e n t i t i e s . c h i l d a b u s e a n d n e g l e c t a r e c o n
s t r u c t i o n s o f t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y ( G i o v a n n o n i a n d B e c e r
r a , 1 9 7 9 ) - D u r i n g t h e t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y t h e r e h a v e b e e n
many c h a n g e s b o t h i n t h e c o n c e p t i o n an d t h e a p p r o a c h t o
c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t a s r e f l e c t e d b y d e f i n i t i o n s a n d i n s t i t u
t i o n s d e s i g n a t e d t o m a n a g e t h e p r o b l e m . G i o v a n n o n i a n d
B e c e r r a ( 1 9 7 9 , p - 3 1 ) s u g g e s t t h a t " t h e s e c h a n g e s h a v e p a r
a l l e l e d o t h e r s i n t h e s o c i e t y , p a r t i c u l a r l y c h a n g i n g c o n
c e p t s a b o u t c h i l d r e n t h e m s e l v e s a n d a b o u t t h e r o l e o f t h e
f a m i l y - "
T he f i r s t W h i t e H o u s e C o n f e r e n c e on C h i l d r e n w a s c o n
v e n e d by P r e s i d e n t T h e o d o r e R o o s e v e l t i n 1 9 0 9 - T h i s c o n
f e r e n c e f o c u s e d u p o n t h e p l i g h t o f d e p e n d e n t c h i l d r e n , a n d
i s c r e d i t e d w i t h p r o v i d i n g t h e i m p e t u s f o r t h e c r e a t i o n o f
t h e C h i l d r e n ' s B u r e a u i n t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f L a b o r i n 1 9 1 2 .
P r e s i d e n t H o o v e r c o n v e n e d t h e t h i r d W h i t e H o u s e C o n f e r e n c e
on C h i l d r e n i n 1 9 2 9 - One o f t h e p r o d u c t s o f t h i s c o n f e r
e n c e was a d o c u m e n t e n t i t l e d t h e " C h i l d r e n ' s C h a r t e r , "
w h i c h e m p h a s i z e d " t h e c h i l d ' s n e e d f o r l o v e , s e c u r i t y , a n d
u n d e r s t a n d i n g , a s w e l l a s f o r p r o t e c t i o n , r e c r e a t i o n , a n d
p r o p e r s c h o o l i n g a s p r e p a r a t i o n f o r a d u l t h o o d " ( F e d e r i c o ,
1 9 7 9 , p . 49) -
T h e s u r g e o f a t t e n t i o n t o t h e s p e c i f i c i s s u e o f c h i l d
o a l t r e a t m e n t , w h i c h u l t i m a t e l y c u l m i n a t e d i n t h e 1974 A c t ,
b e g a n i n t h e 1 9 4 0 ' s a n d e a r l y 1 9 5 0 * s w hen , a s r a d i o l o g i c a l
i n s t r u m e n t s b e c a m e m o re w i d e s p r e a d i n t h e i r u s a g e , r a d i o l o
g i s t s b e g a n t o r e p o r t u n u s u a l m u l t i p l e b o n e f r a c t u r e s i n
s m a l l c h i l d r e n ( A n t l e r , 1 9 7 8 ) . The c o n c e p t i o n , e t i o l o g y ,
a n d t r e a t m e n t o f t h i s p r o b l e m w e r e d e v e l o p e d i n a c c o r d a n c e
w i t h a m e d i c a l d i s e a s e m o d e l b y p h y s i c i a n s , a n d w e r e u l t i
m a t e l y p r e s e n t e d i n l i t e r a t u r e d u r i n g t h e e a r l y 1 9 6 0 * s a s
t h e " b a t t e r e d c h i l d s y n d r o m e " (Kempe , e t a l . , 1 9 6 2 ,
p p . 1 7 - 2 4 ) . D u r i n g t h e 1 9 6 0 ' s , t h e i s s u e o f c h i l d a b u s e
b e c a m e i n c r e a s i n g l y m o re v i s i b l e b o t h t o p o l i c y m a k e r s a n d
t h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c . H o w e v e r , A n t l e r i s c o r r e c t i n n o t i n g
t h a t " i n e m p h a s i z i n g p h y s i c a l a b u s e , t h e m e d i c a l m o d e l h a s
d i v e r t e d a t t e n t i o n f r o m n e g l e c t , t h e l e s s o b v i o u s , t h o u g h
more w i d e s p r e a d f o r m o f m a l t r e a t m e n t " ( 1 9 7 8 , p . 5 9 ) .
A 1980 s t u d y t h a t p r o f i l e d c a s e l o a d s f o r p u b l i c s e r
v i c e a g e n c i e s n a t i o n w i d e r e v e a l e d t h a t c h i l d n e g l e c t w a s
t h e m o s t f r e q u e n t l y c i t e d p r o b l e m ( S t u d y F i n d i n g s : N a t i o n a l
S t u d y o f t h e I n c i d e n c e a n d S e v e r i t y o f C h i l d A b u s e a n d Neg
l e c t , 1 9 8 1 ) . H o w e v e r , c h i l d n e g l e c t i s i t s e l f r e l a t i v e l y
n e g l e c t e d a s a t o p i c i n s o c i a l s c i e n c e l i t e r a t u r e . The
s u p p o r t f o r s u c h a n a s s e r t i o n c a n b e d e m o n s t r a t e d by a c u r
s o r y l i t e r a t u r e r e v i e w . E x a m i n a t i o n o f a n y o f t h e a n n o t a t
e d b i b l i o g r a p h i e s p u b l i s h e d by t h e R e g i o n V C h i l d A b u s e a n d
N e g l e c t R e s o u r c e C e n t e r r e v e a l s t h a t t h e p r e p o n d e r a n c e o f
b o o k s a n d a r t i c l e s a d d r e s s e s o n l y c h i l d a b u s e , o r i n c l u d e
b o t h a b u s e a n d n e g l e c t i n t h e i r t i t l e s a n d t h e n p r o c e e d t o
d i s c u s s p r i m a r i l y a b u s e - As i t h a s b e e n a p t l y n o t e d , n e g
l e c t i s o f t e n t h e " s t e p c h i l d " i n t h e f i e l d o f c h i l d m a l
t r e a t m e n t e v e n t h o u g h t h e r a t i o o f o c c u r r e n c e i s a p p r o x i
m a t e l y 5 t o 1 ( K o r b i n , B r a z i e r , a n d S w i n g e r , 1 9 8 0 ) .
ISSPZS OF COKCEBS FOB CHXLD BELFABE PRACTICE AMD RESEARCHThe t o p i c t o b e a d d r e s s e d by t h i s s t u d y i s c h i l d m a l
t r e a t m e n t , w i t h a p a r t i c u l a r f o c u s u p o n c h i l d n e g l e c t .
W i th t h e p a s s a g e o f m a n d a t o r y r e p o r t i n g l a w s d u r i n g t h e
1 9 6 0 ’ s a n d t h e p a s s a g e o f PL 9 3 - 2 4 7 i n 1 9 7 4 , t h e r e h a v e
b e e n i n c r e a s i n g n u m b e r s o f p o t e n t i a l n e g l e c t a s w e l l a s
a b u s e c a s e s r e f e r r e d t o p u b l i c a g e n c i e s f o r i n v e s t i g a t i o n .
I n O h i o , a s m a n d a t e d b y S e c t i o n 2 1 5 1 . 4 2 1 o f t h e Oh io
B e v i s e d C o d e , c o u n t y r e p o r t i n g a g e n c i e s m u s t p e r f o r m a p r e
l i m i n a r y i n v e s t i g a t i o n a n d maXe a d e t e r m i n a t i o n a s t o t h e
p r e s e n c e o f m a l t r e a t m e n t i n a home w i t h i n 24 h o u r s a f t e r a
c o m p l a i n t i s r e c e i v e d . T h i s p r o c e s s a l s o r e q u i r e s a d e c i
s i o n t o r e m o v e o r n o t t o r e m o v e a c h i l d i f m a l t r e a t m e n t i s
d o c u m e n t e d .
E x c e p t f o r a l l b u t t h e m o s t e x t r e m e c a s e s , t h i s i s a n
u n r e a s o n a b l y s h o r t p e r i o d o f t i m e t o d o j u s t i c e t o a d e c i
s i o n p o t e n t i a l l y a f f e c t i n g t h e f a t e o f b o t h p a r e n t s a n d
c h i l d r e n - Rosea (19 81) f o u n d t h a t f o r many s o c i a l s e r v i c e
w o r k e r s i n p r o t e c t i v e s e r v i c e s , i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f m a l t r e a t
m e n t was a d i f f i c u l t a n d c o n f u s i n g t a s k . S h e a l s o f o u n d a
g e n e r a l l a c k o f c o n s e n s u s c o n c e r n i n g w h i c h p i e c e s o f i n f o r
m a t i o n w e r e o f v a l u e a s d i a g n o s t i c i n d i c a t o r s . In a d d i
t i o n , g a t h e r i n g i n f o r m a t i o n f o r s u c h d e c i s i o n s i s o f t e n
made e v e n m o re d i f f i c u l t b y many f a m i l i e s * u n d e r s t a n d a b l y
h o s t i l e r e a c t i o n t o t h e a u t h o r i t a t i v e i n t r u s i o n o f c h i l d
w e l f a r e i n v e s t i g a t o r s .
S e v e r a l n o t a b l e f a c t o r s i m p i n g e u p o n t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n
a n d t h e d i s p o s i t i o n a l d e c i s i o n s i n p o t e n t i a l m a l t r e a t m e n t
c a s e s i n g e n e r a l a n d n e g l e c t c a s e s i n p a r t i c u l a r . T h e s e
a r e :
1 . d e f i n i t i o n a l c o n f u s i o n ;
2 . w eak e m p i r i c a l k n o w l e d g e b a s e ; a n d
3 . i d i o s y n c r a t i c d e c i s i o n m o d e l s e m p l o y e d by c h i l d w e l
f a r e w o r k e r s .
T h e s e a r e n o t d i s c r e t e i s s u e s , b u t r a t h e r a r e h i g h l y i n t e r
r e l a t e d - T h e p a g e s t h a t f o l l o w w i l l b r i e f l y d i s c u s s t h e s e
f a c t o r s a s w e l l a s o t h e r i s s u e s a f f e c t i n g c h i l d w e l f a r e
c a s e a c t i o n s .
6
D e f i n i t i o n a l C o n f u s i o n
D e f i n i t i o n a l c o n f u s i o n w i t h r e s p e c t t o c h i l d m a l t r e a t
m en t c a n b e l a r g e l y a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e t h e o r e t i c a l d i v e r s i t y
i n t h e s o c i a l s c i e n c e s . A l t h o u g h Kuhn (1 9 7 0 ) n o t e s t h a t
t h i s d i v e r s i t y i s a n u n d e r s t a n d a b l e a r t i f a c t o f t h e p r e s e n t
d e v e l o p m e n t a l s t a g e o f t h e s o c i a l s c i e n c e s a s s c i e n c e , s u c h .
p h i l o s o p h i c a l d e t a c h m e n t i s o f l i t t l e c o m f o r t t o a c h i l d
w e l f a r e w o r k e r who h a s a n i m m e d i a t e n e e d f o r r e a d y a n s w e r s
t o p r e s s i n g g u e s t i o n s a b o u t s u c h i s s u e s a s c h i l d m a l t r e a t
m e n t ( K u h n , 1 9 7 0 ) .
S w e e t a n d R e s i c k (1 9 7 9 ) o b s e r v e t h a t t h e o r i e s a d d r e s s
i n g c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t c a n be g r o u p e d i n t o f o u r g l o b a l c a t
e g o r i e s o f t h e o r y : p s y c h o d y n a m i c , s o c i a l l e a r n i n g , s o c i a l
p s y c h o l o g i c a l , a n d s o c i o l o g i c a l . E a c h o f t h e s e t h e o r e t i c a l
c a t e g o r i e s p o s i t s a d i f f e r e n t c o n c e p t i o n o f m a l t r e a t m e n t
e t i o l o g y , a n d h e n c e t r e a t m e n t , o f t e n u s i n g i d e n t i c a l c l u s
t e r s o f v a r i a b l e s . A l s o , t h e r e a r e d i f f e r e n t a t t r i b u t i o n a l
r a m i f i c a t i o n s r e a l i z e d b y p a r e n t s who h a v e b e e n l a b e l e d a s
n e g l e c t f u l f r o m t h e s e d i f f e r i n g p e r s p e c t i v e s . S u c h d i f f e r
e n c e s a r e o f s i g n i f i c a n t , p r a g m a t i c i m p o r t a n c e s i n c e t h e
p a r t i c u l a r a p r i o r i , t h e o r e t i c a l l y d e r i v e d c o n c e p t i o n o f
c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t e m b r a c e d b y a c h i l d w e l f a r e w o r k e r w i l l
l a r g e l y d e t e r m i n e w h a t i n d i v i d u a l a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a l f a c t o r s
w i l l come u n d e r a t t e n t i o n , a s w e l l a s how t h o s e f a c t o r s
w i l l b e c o n s i d e r e d ( c a u s e s , i n t e r v e n i n g f a c t o r s , o r
e f f e c t s ) (H a w k i n s a n d T i e d e m a n , 1975) . . As a r e s u l t , t h e
l a c k o f t h e o r e t i c a l c o n s e n s u s a s t o w h a t c o n d i t i o n s o r
s i t u a t i o n s p r e c i s e l y c o n s t i t u t e c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t a n d w h a t
c a u s e s i t t o o c c u r , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n n o n - e x t r e m e c a s e s , c r e
a t e s a d i v e r g e n t t r e a t m e n t o f t h e s u b j e c t i n l i t e r a t u r e a n d
t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r i n c o n s i s t e n t d i s p o s i t i o n o f r e p o r t e d c a s
e s ( S w e e t a n d R e s i c k , 1 9 7 9 ) .
Problems with Knowledge Base" T u e r e i s a c e r t a i n c o n f u s i o n i n l i t e r a t u r e on m a l
t r e a t m e n t o f c h i l d r e n b e c a u s e o f a l a c k o f c l e a r l y d e f i n e d
t e r m s " ( G e l l e s , 1 9 7 6 , p . 1 3 5 ) . T h i s s h o u l d b e e x p e c t e d ,
g i v e n t h e n o t e d t h e o r e t i c a l d i v e r s i t y . H o w e v e r , t h e r e a r e
som e g e n e r a l c o n s i s t e n c i e s .
G i o v a n n o n i ( 1 9 7 1 ) d i f f e r e n t i a t e s c h i l d a bus .e f r o m n e g
l e c t u s i n g t h e c r i t e r i a o f c o m m i s s i o n a s o p p o s e d t o o m i s
s i o n f o r c l a s s i f y i n g p a r e n t a l " a c t s ’* t h a t h a v e a h a r m f u l
e f f e c t u p o n a c h i l d . . " N e g l e c t r e p r e s e n t s t h e f a i l u r e t o
p e r f o r m p a r e n t a l d u t i e s , i n c l u d i n g t h o s e o f s u p e r v i s i o n ,
n u r t u r a n c e , a n d p r o t e c t i o n " ( p . 6 4 9 ) . T h e o m i s s i o n -
c o m m i s s i o n c r i t e r i o n e n j o y s c o n s e n s u a l s u p p o r t i n t h e l i t
e r a t u r e . A l t h o u g h v i e w i n g a b u s e a n d n e g l e c t a s p o l a r e n d s
o f a s i n g l e d i m e n s i o n w o u l d v a s t l y s i m p l i f y m a l t r e a t m e n t
c o n c e p t u a l i z a t i o n , s t u d i e s s u c h a s t h a t b y G a i n e s a n d h i s
a s s o c i a t e s (1 9 7 8 ) h a v e b e e n m ore s u p p o r t i v e o f a s e p a r a t e
p r o b l e m m o d e l .
O t h e r f a c t o r s t h a t f r e q u e n t l y a p p e a r i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e
a s b e i n g a s s o c i a t e d v i t h c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t a r e s o c i a l i s o
l a t i o n o f p a r e n t s ( P o l a n s k y , B o r g m a n , a n d D e S a i x , 1 9 7 2 ) ,
c u l t u r a l o r s u b c u l t u r a l i n f l u e n c e s ( K o r b i n , 1 9 80 ; G i l ,
1 9 7 1 ) , f e m a l e - h e a d e d h o u s e h o l d ( W i l s o n , D a l y a n d W e g h o r s t ,
1 9 8 0 ) , q u a l i t y o f n e i g h b o r h o o d ( G a r b a r i n o a n d S h e r m a n ,
1 9 8 0 ) , a n d p a r e n t a l p a t h o l o g y ( P o l a n s k y , B o r g m a n , a n d
D e S a i x , 1972) , a s w e l l a s n u m e r o u s o t h e r s . P o v e r t y a n d
s t r e s s r e l a t e d t o p o v e r t y a r e a l s o c o n s i s t e n t l y c i t e d f a c
t o r s . W h i l e som e a u t h o r s h a v e a s s e r t e d t h a t m a l t r e a t m e n t
i s a " c l a s s l e s s " p h e n o m e n o n , m o r e r e c e n t s t u d i e s t e n d t o
s u p p o r t t h e p o s i t i o n t h a t m a l t r e a t m e n t i s h i g h l y a s s o c i a t e d
w i t h p o v e r t y ( S t u d y F i n d i n g s : N a t i o n a l S t u d y o f t h e I n c i
d e n c e a n d S e v e r i t y o f C h i l d A b u s e a n d N e g l e c t , 1 9 8 1 ) . P e l -
t o n ( 1978) p r e s e n t s e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t i n g t h a t c h i l d a b u s e
a n d n e g l e c t , e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e i r m o s t s e v e r e f o r m s , o c c u r
d i s p r o p o r t i o n a t e l y a m ong t h e l o w e r s o c i o e c o n o m i c c l a s s e s .
A l t h o u g h p o v e r t y i s m o re o f t e n c i t e d i n r e c e n t l i t e r a t u r e ,
p e r c e p t i o n s a s t o how i t o p e r a t e s a s a v a r i a b l e d i f f e r ,
w i t h t h e d i f f e r e n c e s b e i n g l a r g e l y a l o n g t h e o r e t i c a l l i n e s .
T h e d i f f i c u l t y o f i d e n t i f y i n g f a c t s c o n c e r n i n g c h i l d
m a l t r e a t m e n t t h a t c a n b e u s e d i n p r a c t i c e i s f u r t h e r c o n
f u s e d by t h e e x i s t e n c e o f l o n g s t a n d i n g , u n s u p p o r t e d
b e l i e f s . F o r e x a m p l e , t h e r e a r e n u m e r o u s a n d d i v e r g e n t
d e f i n i t i o n s o f a d e q u a t e o r a p p r o p r i a t e c h i l d c a r e ( A u t h i e r ,
9
1 9 7 9 ) - "A m yth i s a p a r t i a l t r u t h t h a t h a s a c h i e v e d v a l i
d a t i o n by v i r t u e o f r e p e t i t i o n , " ( K a d u s h i n , 1 9 7 7 , p . 141)
a n d a s K a d u s h i n f u r t h e r n o t e s , m y t h s a b o u n d i n t h e a r e a o f
c h i l d c a r e a n d c h i l d w e l f a r e . P i n c u s a n d H i n a h a n (1973 )
o b s e r v e t h a t a t e n d e n c y t o w a r d s t h e a c c e p t a n c e o f u n c o n
f i r m e d i n f o r m a t i o n o r c o n v e n t i o n a l w isdom a s k n o w l e d g e a n d
t h e f a i l u r e t o d i f f e r e n t i a t e b e t w e e n k n o w l e d g e an d v a l u e s
h a s h a d a n i n h i b i t o r y e f f e c t u p o n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a n
e m p i r i c a l l y s o u n d k n o w l e d g e b a s e f o r s o c i a l w o r k p r a c t i c e .
T h i s o b s e r v a t i o n a p p l i e s t o t h e f i e l d o f c h i l d w e l f a r e .
T h i s d e g r e e o f c o n f u s i o n i s much m o r e t h a n a s c h o l a r l y
i s s u e . C h i l d w e l f a r e a g e n c i e s a r e d a i l y c o n f r o n t e d w i t h
t h e d e m a n d s o f i n v e s t i g a t i n g a n d m a k i n g i n t e r v e n t i v e d e c i
s i o n s f o r r e p o r t e d c a s e s o f m a l t r e a t m e n t . The s t a t e o f
k n o w l e d g e c o n c e r n i n g c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t f o r m s p a r t o f t h e
b a s i s u p o n w h i c h w o r k e r s make t h e i r d e c i s i o n s . T h e r e f o r e ,
t o t h e d e g r e e t h a t t h e k n o w l e d g e b a s e i s i n a d e g u a t e , t h e
d e c i s i o n s b a s e d u p o n i t , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e " g r e y " a r e a s ,
m u s t be h e l d s u s p e c t . Hhen t h e n a t u r e o f t h e s e d e c i s i o n s
i n v o l v e s t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r c h i l d r e n b e i n g s e p a r a t e d f r o m
t h e i r p a r e n t s , a w o r k e r * s u s e o f q u e s t i o n a b l e k n o w l e d g e t o
i n f o r m t h e d e c i s i o n p r o c e s s b e c o m e s a n i s s u e o f c o n s i d e r a
b l e g r a v i t y .
10
I d i o s y n c r a t i c D e c i s i o n Bo d e l s
K h i l e t h e d i f f e r e n t t h e o r e t i c a l c o n c e p t i o n s o f c h i l d
m a l t r e a t m e n t w o u l d u n d e r s t a n d a b l y i n t r o d u c e s u b s t a n t i a l
v a r i a b i l i t y i n t o d e c i s i o n s made by w o r k e r s p r i v y t o s i m i l a r
c a s e i n f o r m a t i o n , i t w o u l d s e e m r e a s o n a b l e t o h y p o t h e s i z e
t h a t d e c i s i o n - m a k i n g r e s u l t s f o r i n d i v i d u a l w o r k e r s ,
e m p l o y i n g t h e i r t h e o r y o f c h o i c e , w o u ld d e m o n s t r a t e c o n s i s
t e n c y . I n 1963 B r i a r n o t e d t h a t v e r y l i t t l e was known
a b o u t how s o c i a l w o r k e r s f o r m t h e i r c l i n i c a l j u d g m e n t s .
D u r i n g t h e i n t e r v e n i n g y e a r s , som e a t t e m p t h a s b e e n m ade t o
s t u d y t h e j u d g m e n t p r o c e s s o f s o c i a l w o r k e r s s y s t e m a t i c a l -
i y -
I n a s t u d y t h a t a t t e m p t e d t o c o r r e l a t e w o r k e r -
q u a n t i f i e d w e i g h t s f o r k e y c a s e v a r i a b l e s w i t h t h e d e c i s i o n
t o i n t e r v e n e o r n o t t o i n t e r v e n e a f t e r c a s e s c r e e n i n g ,
W h i t t i n g t o n , D ig m a n , a n d D igm an ( 1 9 7 4 ) f o u n d t h a t t h e
w o r k e r - d e f i n e d w e i g h t s a c c o u n t e d f o r o n l y 37 p e r c e n t o f t h e
v a r i a n c e i n i n t e r v e n t i v e d e c i s i o n s . & n o t e w o r t h y i r o n y i n
t h e W h i t t i n g t o n f i n d i n g s was t h a t c l i e n t s who d i d n o t
r e c e i v e h e l p w e r e o f t e n t h o s e who t h e r e s e a r c h e r s j u d g e d t o
b e i n t h e g r e a t e s t n e e d .
I n c o n d u c t i n g d i s s e r t a t i o n r e s e a r c h t h a t a d d r e s s e d t h e
s am e i s s u e a s t h e W h i t t i n g t o n s t u d y . Bean ( 1 9 8 2 ) f o u n d t h a t
w o r k e r s ' s u b j e c t i v e w e i g h t s d i f f e r e d . He f u r t h e r f o u n d
t h a t f o r i n d i v i d u a l w o r k e r s , t h e m a g n i t u d e o f w e i g h t s s u b
11
j e c t i v e l y a s s i g n e d t o c a s e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s u s e d i n m a k i n g a
d e c i s i o n t e n d e d t o b e o n l y w e a k l y r e l a t e d t o w e i g h t s
d e r i v e d f r o m e m p i r i c a l a n a l y s i s o f t h e i r a c t u a l d e c i s i o n s .
C l e a r l y , t h i s f i n d i n g s u g g e s t s t h a t v a r i a b i l i t y i n
d i s p o s i t i o n among w o r k e r s i s n o t s o l e l y a f u n c t i o n o f t h e o
r e t i c a l d i v e r s i t y a n d a l e s s - t h a n - a d e g u a t e k n o w l e d g e b a s e .
T h e f a c t t h a t t h e v a r i a b l e s w o r k e r s c l a i m e d h a d i n f l u e n c e d
t h e i r d e c i s i o n p r o c e s s w e r e f o u n d t o b e o n l y w e a k l y i n s t r u
m e n t a l p o i n t s t o a p r o b l e m i n how w o r k e r s u n d e r s t a n d t h e i r
own d e c i s i o n p r o c e s s e s .
CLASS1FICATI0HT h e t a s k f a c i n g c h i l d w e l f a r e i n v e s t i g a t i v e w o r k e r s , a
t a s k made d i f f i c u l t by f a c t o r s d i s c u s s e d i n t h e p r e v i o u s
p a g e s , i s c l a s s i f i c a t i o n . I n i t i a l l y , a w o r k e r m u s t d e t e r
m in e w h e t h e r a p r o b l e m e x i s t s , a n d i f s o , w h e t h e r i t i s
a b u s e , n e g l e c t , o r b o t h . A d d i t i o n a l l y , t h e r e m u s t b e a
d e t e r m i n a t i o n a s t o s e v e r i t y .
V i r t u a l l y a n y t e x t t h a t a d d r e s s e s t h e t o p i c o f s o c i a l
work p r a c t i c e w i l l c o n t a i n a c h a p t e r o r m a j o r s e c t i o n
e x p l o r i n g t h e t a s k o f a s s e s s m e n t . S i p o r i n (1 9 7 5 ) s t a t e s
t h a t a s s e s s m e n t i s b o t h a p r o c e s s and a p r o d u c t o f u n d e r
s t a n d i n g , u p o n w h i c h h e l p i n g a c t i o n i s b a s e d a n d t h a t
r e s u l t s i n 11 a d e f i n i t i o n o f t h e c l i e n t * s p r o b l e m , i d e n t i t y ,
a n d l i f e s i t u a t i o n s t h a t a r e h i g h l y i n d i v i d u a l i z e d a n d
12
a c c u r a t e " (p . 2 1 9 ) . P i n c u s a n d H i n a h a n { 1 9 7 3 , p . 102) s i m i
l a r l y n o t e t h a t " t h e p r o b l e m o f a s s e s s m e n t i s n e v e r a n e n d
i n i t s e l f ; i t s p u r p o s e i s n o t s i m p l y t o c l a s s i f y , c a t e g o r
i z e , o r a s s i g n d i a g n o s t i c l a b e l s t o a p e r s o n o r s i t u a t i o n . 11
N e v e r t h e l e s s , r a p i d c l a s s i f i c a t i o n i s a n u n a v o i d a b l e r e g u i -
s i t e when t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t i s
r e g u i r e d . The i m m e d i a t e g o a l o f t h e p r o c e s s i s t o c l a s s i f y
a n d a c t g u i c k l y .
A n e c e s s a r y p r e c u r s o r t o t h e s t u d y o r t r e a t m e n t o f a
c o n d i t i o n s u c h a s c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t i s t h e a b i l i t y t o d i s
c r i m i n a t e b e t w e e n m a l t r e a t i n g a n d n o n - m a l t r e a t i n g c o n d i
t i o n s . L o r r (1 9 6 1 ) p r e s e n t s two d i f f e r e n t w a ys o f
a p p r o a c h i n g c l a s s i f i c a t i o n . T h e s e a r e :
1 . p r o b l e m s o r d i s o r d e r s a r e e i t h e r p r e s e n t o r a b s e n t ,
a n d a c c o r d i n g l y , t o b e p r e s e n t r e g u i r e s t h a t a l l o r
n e a r l y a l l s y m p t o m s o r a t t r i b u t e s m u s t b e p r e s e n t ;
a n d ,
2 . p r o b l e m s a n d d i s o r d e r s a r e d i m e n s i o n a l , a m a t t e r o f
d e g r e e , v a r y i n g w i t h i n t e n s i t y i n c o r r e s p o n d e n c e t o
v a r i a n c e i n symptom m a n i f e s t a t i o n .
A l t h o u g h v i e w i n g c l a s s i f i c a t i o n a s a d i c h o t o m o u s c h o i c e
s i m p l i f i e s d i a g n o s i s a n d t h e d e c i s i o n p r o c e s s c o n c e r n i n g
a c t i o n s t o b e t a k e n , human a t t r i b u t e s a n d l i f e c o n d i t i o n s
a r e m ore a c c u r a t e l y p o r t r a y e d o n c o n t i n u a - Prom t h i s p e r
s p e c t i v e , s y m p t o m s o r o t h e r i n d i c a t i o n s c a n v a r y f r o m
13
n o n e x i s t e n t o r m i l d l y i n t e n s e t o s e v e r e l y i n t e n s e . B i t h
s u c h c l a s s i f i c a t i o n t h e d e c i s i o n p r o c e s s i s c o m p l i c a t e d by
t h e n e e d t o d e t e r m i n e a t w h a t s y m p to m m a n i f e s t a t i o n l e v e l
i n t e r v e n t i o n i s j u s t i f i e d .
H h i c h e v e r c l a s s i f i c a t o r y m o d e l i s e m p l o y e d , i t i s
c r i t i c a l t h a t t h e p r o c e s s o f c l a s s i f i c a t i o n i t s e l f b e
i n f o r m a t i v e . I t s h o u l d s u g g e s t r e l a t i o n s h i p s among r e l e
v a n t v a r i a b l e s a n d an a p p r o p r i a t e i n t e r v e n t i o n , a s w e l l a s
l i k e l y f u t u r e b e h a v i o r i f i n t e r v e n t i o n i s i n i t i a t e d , o r i f
i t i s n o t (Q uay a n d W e r r y , 1 9 7 9 ) .
Criteria for Evaluating a Classification SystemAs n o t e d , i t i s i m p o r t a n t t h a t a d e s i g n a t e d c l a s s i f i
c a t i o n ( d i a g n o s t i c l a b e l ) b e i n f o r m a t i v e . A p r e r e q u i s i t e
t o t h e t a s k o f e v a l u a t i n g t h e a d e g u a c y o f a c l a s s i f i c a t i o n
sc h e m e i s t h e c l e a r d e s c r i p t i o n o f w h a t e v e r i s t o b e c l a s
s i f i e d , a s w e l l a s t h e o p e r a t i o n a l d e f i n i t i o n s o f t h e i n d i
c a t o r ( s ) e m p l o y e d i n t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n p r o c e s s . K a p l a n
(1 9 6 4 ) n o t e s t h a t o n e n e e d s t o b e a s c e r t a i n a s p o s s i b l e
t h a t when c o n c e p t s a r e e m p l o y e d , t h e y b e g r o u n d e d i n t h e
" r e a l w o r l d , " a n d n o t e x i s t s o l e l y a s i n t e l l e c t u a l r e i f i c a
t i o n s : t h e y m u s t r e f l e c t t h e r e a l i t y o f t h e c o n t e x t w h e r e
i n t h e y a r e e m p l o y e d .
S t u a r t ( 1 9 7 0 ) d i s c u s s e s many s u c h c o n c e p t u a l p r o b l e m s
c o n c e r n i n g p s y c h o d y n a m i c f o r m u l a t i o n s f o r e x p l a i n i n g human
b e h a v i o r a n d b e h a v i o r a l d y s f u n c t i o n i n p a r t i c u l a r . He
n o t e s , f o r e x a m p l e , t h a t t h e r e i s no. g e n e r a l l y a c c e p t a b l e
d e s c r i p t i o n o f a " h e a l t h y p e r s o n a l i t y ” o r a n y c o n c i s e
d e l i n e a t i o n o f h e a l t h y f u n c t i o n i n g - H e n c e , p s y c h o d y n a m i c
d i a g n o s t i c l a b e l s i n d i c a t e n e g a t i v e s t a t e s w i t h o u t a n y
c l e a r d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p t o h e a l t h y f u n c
t i o n i n g . H e a l t h y o n l y b e c o m e s t h e l a c k o f i d e n t i f i e d d i s
e a s e . D i a g n o s i s i n s u c h c i r c u m s t a n c e s b e c o m e s n o t h i n g m ore
t h a n " p e j o r a t i v e name c a l l i n g " ( W e n n i n g e r , 1 9 6 3 ) .
A l t h o u g h p s y c h o d y n a m i c c o n s t r u c t i o n s a r e o n l y o n e o f
s e v e r a l t h e o r e t i c a l p e r s p e c t i v e s e m p l o y e d i n t h e c l a s s i f i
c a t i o n o f f a m i l i e s a s m a l t r e a t i n g o r n o n - m a l t r e a t i n g , t h e y
a r e a n u b i q u i t o u s f a c t o r i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e . S w e e t a n d
R e s i c k ( 1 9 7 9 , p - U 3 ) o b s e r v e t h a t " a s u b s t a n t i a l p o r t i o n o f
t h e c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t l i t e r a t u r e h a s r e l i e d on p s y c h o d y
n a m i c t h e o r i e s . " T h e u n a v o i d a b l e i s s u e i s t h a t o n e m u s t
h a v e a w e l l d e f i n e d , c o n c r e t e c o n c e p t b e f o r e o n e c a n e s t a b
l i s h m e a n i n g f u l i n d i c a t o r s o f t h a t c o n c e p t . S i n c e p s y c h o -
d y n a m i c m o d e l s o f human b e h a v i o r c o n s i s t o n l y o f r e i f i e d
c o n s t r u c t s , t h e d e g r e e o f p s y c h o d y n a m i c i n f l u e n c e p r e s e n t
i n t h e c u r r e n t c o n c e p t i o n s o f c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t h a s t e n d e d
t o r e s t r i c t t h e d e f i n i t i o n a l p r o c e s s , a n d h e n c e d o m i n a t e
c l a s s i f i c a t i o n .
15
STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENT ISSTBOSESTS
Now t h a t c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f p o t e n t i a l m a l t r e a t m e n t c a s
e s h a s b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d a s p r o b l e m a t i c f o r p r o t e c t i v e s e r
v i c e w o r k e r s (R o s e n , 1 9 8 1 ) , i t i s o n l y r e a s o n a b l e t o e x p e c t
t h a t d e v e lo p m e n t o f a s t a n d a r d i z e d i n s t r u m e n t , a d e c i s i o n
a i d , w ould be s e e n a s d e s i r a b l e by t h e p r a c t i c e co m m u n ity .
D u r in g t h e p a s t f i f t e e n y e a r s t h e r e h a v e b e e n s e v e r a l
a t t e m p t s t o d e v e l o p i n s t r u m e n t s f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f m ea su r
i n g t h e p r e s e n c e o r a b s e n c e o f m a l t r e a t m e n t , o r t h e d e g r e e
t o w h ich m a l t r e a t m e n t i s p r e s e n t . The L i v i n g C o n d i t i o n s
R a t i n g S c a l e ( O l i v e r and B u t l e r , 1979) , INCADEX— o r t h e
i n d i c a t o r c h e c k l i s t — (C oom bes, e t a l - , 1978) and t h e C h i l d
hood L e v e l o f L i v i n g S c a l e ( P o l a n s k y , e t a l . , 1972) a r e
e x a m p le s o f s u c h e f f o r t s .
P o l a n s k y a n d h i s a s s o c i a t e s h a v e b e e n t h e m o s t p e r s i s
t e n t a d v o c a t e s o f s u c h a n e n t e r p r i s e , h a v i n g w o r k e d a n d
w r i t t e n i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e C h i l d h o o d L e v e l o f L i v i n g
( s e e A p p e n d i x A) i n s t r u m e n t s i n c e 1968 ( P o l a n s k y , e t a l . ,
1 9 6 8 , 1 9 7 2 , 1 9 7 5 , 1 9 7 8 a , 1 9 7 8 b , 1 9 7 9 , 1 9 8 1 , 1 9 8 3 a , 1 9 8 3 b ) .
A d d t i o n a l l y , a l l o f t h e P o l a n s k y work h a s b e e n p r e m i s e d
upon t h e u s e o f a p s y c h o d y n a m i c m o d e l t o e x p l a i n b e h a v i o r ,
a n d h a s a c c o r d i n g l y s o u g h t t o i d e n t i f y t y p e s o f s i c k o r
d i s t u r b e d m o t h e r s a s a m e a n s o f e x p l a i n i n g m a l t r e a t m e n t .
In c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f i s s u e s d i s c u s s e d i n p r i o r p a g e s ,
movement t o w a r d s t h e u s e o f s t a n d a r d i z e d i n s t r u m e n t s w ould
16
a p p e a r p r e n a t u r e , p a r t i c u l a r l y w h e r e c o n s t r u c t e d a r o u n d
p s y c h o d y n a n i c m o d e l s . B e c a u s e o f t h e s e c o n c e r n s , t h e e f f i
c a c y o f u s i n g s t a n d a r d i z e d i n s t r u m e n t s f o r c l a s s i f i c a t i o n
by p r o t e c t i v e s e r v i c e w o r k e r s w i l l b e o n e o f t h e tw o f o c a l
i s s u e s a d d r e s s e d b y t h i s s t u d y .
T h e s p e c i f i c p o i n t a t w h i c h d e c i s i o n m a k i n g i n c h i l
d r e n ' s p r o t e c t i v e s e r v i c e s i s m o s t p r o b l e m a t i c i s a t t h e
t i m e a c o m p l a i n t i s i n i t i a l l y i n v e s t i g a t e d . The d e c i s i o n
e n v i r o n m e n t f o r s u c h i n v e s t i g a t i o n s i s t y p i c a l l y much l e s s
t h a n a d e q u a t e . T h e r e f o r e , a s t a n d a r d i z e d i n s t r u m e n t m i g h t
p o t e n t i a l l y s e r v e a s a d e c i s i o n a d j u n c t f o r i n v e s t i g a t o r s .
L e v i t t a n d R e i d ( 1 9 8 1 ) d i s c u s s t h e p o t e n t i a l u t i l i t y o f
u s i n g " r a p i d a s s e s s m e n t i n s t r u m e n t s " i n s o c i a l w o r k p r a c
t i c e . T h e y a r g u e t h a t " t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t c o n s i d e r a t i o n i n
e v a l u a t i n g a r a p i d a s s e s s m e n t i n s t r u m e n t i s t o d e t e r m i n e
i t s c a p a c i t y t o g e n e r a t e r e l i a b l e , v a l i d , s e n s i t i v e m e a s
u r e m e n t s " ( p . 1 6 ) .
DIFFERENT THEORIES. DIFFERENT MODELS OF CAUSATION
N u m e ro u s s t u d i e s h a v e b e e n c o n d u c t e d t h a t e s t a b l i s h
c o v a r i a t i o n b e t w e e n i n d i v i d u a l v a r i a b l e s a n d t h e p r e s e n c e
o r a b s e n c e o f c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t . H o w e v e r , s i n c e c o v a r i a
t i o n i s n o t s y n o n y m o u s w i t h c a u s a t i o n , K a p l a n ' s (19 6U)
r e g u i r e m e n t t h a t i n t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p s b e t w e e n a n d among i n d i
c a t o r s b e p r e c i s e l y e x p l a i n e d t e n d s n o t t o b e f u l f i l l e d .
17
a l t h o u g h some e f f o r t s h a v e a t t e m p t e d t o f i l l t h i s k n o w l e d g e
v o i d ( i . e . , G i o v a n n o n i a n d B e c e r r a ’ s ( 1 9 7 9 ) u s e o f d i s c r i m
i n a n t a n a l y s i s t o d e t e r m i n e f a c t o r s t h a t d i f f e r e n t i a t e
b e t w e e n m a l t r e a t i n g a n d n o n - m a l t r e a t i n g f a m i l i e s i n a m u l
t i v a r i a t e c o n t e x t a n d S e a b u r g ’ s (1980) a n a l y s i s o f s i m p l e
c a u s a l m o d e l s ) , t h e y a r e a l m o s t u n i v e r s a l l y f l a w e d by m e a s
u r e m e n t p r o b l e m s , l i m i t e d s c o p e o f v a r i a b l e s , a n d o t h e r
m e t h o d o l o g i c a l d i f f i c u l t i e s . As a r e s u l t , t h e r e h a s b e e n
t o d a t e n o c a u s a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n t h a t e x a m i n e d t h e r a n g e o f
f a c t o r s d i s c u s s e d i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e .
BESEABCH TASKS
To a d d r e s s t h e I s s u e o f s t a n d a r d i z e d a s s e s s m e n t , t h i s
s t u d y w i l l g a t h e r d a t a f r o m a c t u a l c a s e i n v e s t i g a t o r s c o n
c e r n i n g p o t e n t i a l l y o b s e r v a b l e p r o b l e m s a n d s i t u a t i o n s .
T h e s e p r o b l e m s a n d s i t u a t i o n s w i l l be much m ore g e n e r a l a n d
much m ore l i k e l y t o b e o b s e r v a b l e by a n i n v e s t i g a t o r t h a n
t h o s e i n c l u d e d i n s u c h i n s t r u m e n t s a s P o l a n s k y ’ s . The s a m e
l i s t o f p r o b l e m s a n d s i t u a t i o n s w i l l l a t e r b e r a t e d by
o n g o i n g c a s e w o r k e r s f o r t h e s a m e c a s e s .
T h e s e d a t a w i l l b e a n a l y z e d t o d e t e r m i n e t h e e x t e n t t o
w h i c h t h e i n v e s t i g a t o r s * a s s e s s m e n t s a g r e e w i t h t h e m ore
e x t e n s i v e l y i n f o r m e d o n g o i n g w o r k e r . From t h i s a n a l y s i s
some i n s i g h t c o n c e r n i n g t h e r e l i a b i l i t y o f a s s e s s m e n t s a t
i n t a k e w i l l b e d r a w n . I f t h i s a n a l y s i s i n d i c a t e s p o o r
18
r e l i a b i l i t y f o r i t e m a s s e s s m e n t a t i n t a k e , t h e f i n d i n g s
w i l l b e u s e d t o s u p p o r t t h e a s s e r t i o n t h a t u s i n g s t a n d a r d
i z e d i n s t r u m e n t s t o a i d i n p r o t e c t i v e s e r v i c e i n v e s t i g a
t i o n s i s n o t j u s t i f i e d . I f , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , a n a c c e p t a
b l e m e a s u r e o f r e l i a b i l i t y i s d e m o n s t r a t e d , t h e n f u r t h e r
a n a l y s i s w o u l d be p e r f o r m e d t o h i g h l i g h t t h o s e m a l t r e a t m e n t
a r e a s t h a t y i e l d t h e h i g h e s t r e l i a b i l i t y .
F o r i t s s e c o n d f o c u s , t h i s s t u d y w i l l a t t e m p t t o d e a l
w i t h t h e p r o b l e m o f c o m p e t i n g t h e o r e t i c a l c o n c e p t i o n s o f
m a l t r e a t m e n t a n d c a u s a l a n a l y s e s e m p l o y i n g t o o f e w v a r i
a b l e s b y g a t h e r i n g e x t e n s i v e c a s e i n f o r m a t i o n a n d u s i n g
t h a t i n f o r m a t i o n t o a s s e s s t h e v a r i o u s c a u s a l m o d e l s s u g
g e s t e d b y t h e d i f f e r e n t t h e o r e t i c a l c o n c e p t i o n s . . P a t h
a n a l y s i s w i l l b e e m p l o y e d t o t e s t t h e t h e o r e t i c a l m o d e l s
i d e n t i f i e d . T h i s w i l l b e d o n e f o r t h e t o t a l g r o u p o f c a s e s
a n d f o r a b u s e a n d n e g l e c t c a s e s s e p a r a t e l y .
IHPOBT&HCE OF STUDY TO SOCIAL HOBK
T h i s s t u d y ' s f i n d i n g s w i l l p o t e n t i a l l y b e o f v a l u e f o r
s o c i a l w o r k e r s i n c h i l d r e n ' s p r o t e c t i v e s e r v i c e s . The
d e s i r a b i l i t y o f a s t a n d a r d i z e d a s s e s s m e n t i n s t r u m e n t i s
h i g h , w h i l e a t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e r e i s l i t t l e l i k e l i h o o d
t h a t s u c h an i n s t r u m e n t c a n b e c o n s t r u c t e d t o m e e t m i n i m a l
c r i t e r i a o f a c c e p t a b i l i t y . T h e r e f o r e , t h e a n a l y s i s o f t h e
r e l i a b i l i t y o f o b s e r v a t i o n s a n d a s s e s s m e n t s m ade d u r i n g
19
n e c e s s a r i l y h u r r i e d i n v e s t i g a t i o n s s h o u l d d e m o n s t r a t e t h e
p r u d e n c e o r i m p r u d e n c e o f p u r s u i n g s u c h e f f o r t s , g i v e n t h e
e x i s t i n g s t a t e o f k n o w l e d g e ' a n d t h e o r y p e r t a i n i n g t o c h i l d
m a l t r e a t m e n t . An i n a b i l i t y t o d e m o n s t r a t e r e l i a b i l i t y
w o u l d b e s i g n i f i c a n t . I f r e l i a b i l i t y i s l o w , v a l i d i t y m u s t
a l s o be l o w g i v e n t h a t r e l i a b i l i t y m a t h e m a t i c a l l y d e f i n e s
t h e u p p e r l i m i t o f v a l i d i t y . Low v a l i d i t y w o u l d i n d i c a t e
t h a t c e r t a i n t y o v e r w o r k e r j u d g m e n t s a s t o w h e t h e r m a l
t r e a t m e n t i s p r e s e n t o r n o t s h o u l d be t e n u o u s a t b e s t .
No s i n g l e s t u d y , o r i n f a c t n o g r o u p o f s t u d i e s , w i l l
l i k e l y i n f l u e n c e p r a c t i t i o n e r s t o c h a n g e t h e i r t h e o r e t i c a l
p e r s p e c t i v e o f human b e h a v i o r . H o w e v e r , p r a c t i t i o n e r s
m i g h t b e p e r s u a d e d e i t h e r t o e x p a n d o r r e d i r e c t t h e i r f o c u s
w i t h r e s p e c t t o w h a t f a c t o r s t h e y b e l i e v e t o b e i m p o r t a n t
i n m a l t r e a t m e n t c a u s a t i o n , a n d h e n c e t r e a t m e n t - T h e s e c o n d
f o c u s o f t h i s s t u d y w i l l b e an a n a l y s i s o f t h e e x p l a n a t o r y
a b i l i t y o f t h e c a u s a l m o d e l s s u g g e s t e d b y t h e f o u r g e n e r a l
d o m a i n s o f t h e o r y d i s c u s s e d . T h i s a n a l y s i s may d e m o n s t r a t e
w h e r e , i n a c a u s a l f r a m e w o r k , t h e f a c t o r s p r e s e n t l y c i t e d
i n l i t e r a t u r e a s c a u s i n g m a l t r e a t m e n t b e s t f u n c t i o n . T h i s
i n f o r m a t i o n c o u l d a l s o a i d i n c l a r i f y i n g c o n c e p t s a n d by
s u g g e s t i n g a p p r o p r i a t e i n t e r v e n t i o n s , a s y e l l a s i n f o r m i n g
p r i m a r y p r e v e n t i o n e f f o r t s a n d p o l i c y r e l a t i v e t o c h i l d
m a l t r e a t m e n t .
C h a p ter XI
LITEBATOBE BEVIES
The f o l l o w i n g l i t e r a t u r e r e v i e w w i l l e l a b o r a t e u p o n
t h e f o u r a r e a s o f t h e o r y d i s c u s s e d i n t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n .
The s u p p o r t f o r c a u s a l a n d c o r r e l a t i o n a l f a c t o r s i d e n t i f i e d
by e a c h o f t h e s e f o u r a r e a s w i l l b e e x a m i n e d f o r g u i d a n c e
i n t h e s e l e c t i o n o f i t e m s t o b e u s e d i n b o t h t h e a s s e s s m e n t
o f j u d g m e n t r e l i a b i l i t y a n d t h e c a u s a l m o d e l s . F i n d i n g s
f r o m v a r i o u s s t u d i e s w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d t o h i g h l i g h t t h e
s i m i l a r i t i e s a n d d i f f e r e n c e s i n f a c t o r s f o u n d t o b e a s s o c i
a t e d w i t h c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t .
P o l a n s k y h a s p u r s u e d t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f s t a n d a r d i z e d
i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n i n t h e a r e a o f c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t m o r e p e r
s i s t e n t l y t h a n a n y o t h e r i n d i v i d u a l t h i s a u t h o r h a s i d e n t i
f i e d . H i s i n s t r u m e n t p r o v i d e s an i d e a l f o i l a g a i n s t w h i c h
t o e x a m i n e i s s u e s s u r r o u n d i n g a s s e s s m e n t i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n .
B e c a u s e o f t h i s , h i s s t u d i e s a n d i n s t r u m e n t w i l l r e c e i v e
p a r t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e i s s u e s i n h e r e n t i n
t h e d e v e l o p m e n t a n d u s e o f a s t a n d a r d i z e d a s s e s s m e n t
i n s t r u m e n t i n c h i l d r e n ' s p r o t e c t i v e s e r v i c e s .
- 20 -
21
T h e l i t e r a t u r e a d d r e s s i n g i n t e r r a t e r r e l i a b i l i t y o f
s o c i a l work j u d g m e n t s i s v i r t u a l l y n o n e x i s t e n t . T h e t o p i c
o f r e l i a b i l i t y , t o t h e e x t e n t i t i s a d d r e s s e d i n c o n n e c t i o n
w i t h s o c i a l work p r a c t i c e , f o c u s e s u p o n t h e r e l i a b i l i t y o f
m u l t i - i t e m s c a l e s o r i n d e x e s , a n d n o t upon d e c i s i o n c o n s i s
t e n c y b e t w e e n w o r k e r s . Due t o t h e p a u c i t y o f m a t e r i a l ,
t h i s t o p i c w i l l n o t b e d i s c u s s e d b e y o n d t h e s o u r c e s n o t e d
i n C h a p t e r I -
THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES OH MALTREATSEHT
S i p o r i n ( 1 9 7 5 , p . 92) n o t e s " m a r k e d f l u c t u a t i o n s i n
t h e o r e t i c a l o r i e n t a t i o n s w i t h t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f s o c i a l
w ork k n o w l e d g e . " I n a 1959 l i t e r a t u r e r e v i e w , K a d u s h i n
i d e n t i f i e d a n " a l m o s t e x c l u s i v e d e p e n d e n c e on p s y c h o a n a l y t
i c p s y c h o l o g y " i n s o c i a l w o r k ’ s k n o w l e d g e b a s e ( K a d u s h i n ,
1 9 5 9 , p . 3 9 ) . More r e c e n t l y , E a r t l e t t ( 1 9 7 0 ) n o t e s a n
e x p a n s i o n o f s o c i a l w o r k ' s t h e o r e t i c a l b a s e . N e v e r t h e l e s s ,
S w e e t a n d R e s i c k ( 1 9 7 9 , p p . 4 2 - 4 3 ) c o n c l u d e f r o m t h e i r
r e v i e w t h a t " m o s t o f t h e l i t e r a t u r e on c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t
h a s b e e n i n f l u e n c e d b y p s y c h o d y n a m i c c o n c e p t s , " a n d c o n s e
q u e n t l y " h a s a t t e m p t e d t o d e s c r i b e t h e m a l t r e a t i n g p a r e n t
i n t e r m s o f p e r s o n a l i t y t y p e s a n d t r a i t s " ( p . 4 1 ) . F o l l o w
i n g i s a d i s c u s s i o n o f p s y c h o d y n a m i c t h e o r y , a s w e l l a s t h e
o t h e r t h r e e d o m a i n s o f t h e o r y i d e n t i f i e d b y S w e e t a n d
R e s i c k a s t h e y a p p l y t o m a l t r e a t m e n t .
22
P s y c h o d y n a a i c Mode l s
P s y c h o d y n a m i c m o d e l s v i e w a l l o r t h e m a j o r i t y o f human
b e h a v i o r a s r e s u l t i n g f r o m i n t e r n a l c a u s a t i o n : d r i v e e n e r
gy a r i s e s f r o m " i d " i m p u l s e s , i s m o d i f i e d b y t h e " s u p e r e g o "
a n d t h e " e g o , " a n d c u l m i n a t e s i n o b s e r v a b l e b e h a v i o r ( B r e n
n e r , 1 9 7 4 ) . H e a l t h y b e h a v i o r i s b e l i e v e d t o b e c o n t i n g e n t
upon t h e p r o p e r b a l a n c e o f i n f l u e n c e among t h e s e i n t r a p
s y c h i c e n t i t i e s . T h e r e f o r e , u n h e a l t h y o r p a t h o l o g i c a l
b e h a v i o r r e s u l t s f r o m a n i m b a l a n c e i n t h i s " p s y c h i c s y s
t e m . " As a r e s u l t , p e r s o n s g r a n t i n g v a l i d i t y t o s u c h mod
e l s f o r a n e x p l a n a t i o n o f hum an b e h a v i o r n e e d t o l o o t no
f u r t h e r t h a n t h e i n d i v i d u a l m a n i f e s t i n g p r o b l e m s t o e x p l a i n
c a u s e : i f b e h a v i o r i s a p r o b l e m , t h e c a u s e a n d t h e f o c u s
f o r i n t e r v e n t i o n i s t h e i n d i v i d u a l m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n .
A l t h o u g h some f o r m u l a t i o n s u s i n g a p s y c h o d y n a m i c b a s i s h a v e
a l l o w e d f o r l i m i t e d e n v i r o n m e n t a l c a u s a l i t y , s u c h f a c t o r s
a r e t y p i c a l l y r e p r e s e n t e d a s t r i g g e r i n g m e c h a n i s m s f o r p e r
s o n a l i t y f l a w s t h a t h a d b e e n m a n a g e a b l e p r i o r t o t h e a d d e d
e n v i r o n m e n t a l s t r e s s ( P o l a n s k y , C h a l m e r s , B u t t e n w i e s e r , a n d
K i l l i a m s , 1 9 7 9 , p p . 1 6 7 - 1 7 4 ) .
G a i n e s e t a l . o b s e r v e t h a t t h e r e h a v e b e e n few r i g o r
o u s s t u d i e s o f t h e v e r a c i t y o f i n t r a p s y c h i c c a u s a l i t y w i t h
r e s p e c t t o m a l t r e a t m e n t a n d t h a t t h e p r e p o n d e r a n c e o f p e r
s o n a l i t y c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s a s c r i b e d t o m a l t r e a t e r s h a s b e e n
g e n e r a t e d f r o m c l i n i c a l p r a c t i c e , n o t e m p i r i c a l r e s e a r c h
( G a i n e s , e t a l - , 1 9 7 8 , p p - 5 3 1 - 5 3 9 ) . The G a i n e s s t u d y e x a m
i n e d a n u m b e r o f i n t r a p s y c h i c f a c t o r s a s w e l l a s e n v i r o n
m e n t a l s t r e s s f a c t o r s . & d i s c r i m i n a t e a n a l y s i s was p e r
f o r m e d t o d e t e r m i n e w h i c h f a c t o r s , i f a n y , c o u l d d i s t i n
g u i s h b e t w e e n m a l t r e a t i n g m o t h e r s a n d n o r m a l m o t h e r s .
R e s u l t s i n d i c a t e d t h a t e n v i r o n m e n t a l s t r e s s a c c o u n t e d f o r
t h e m o s t d i s c r i m i n a t e v a r i a n c e . H o w e v e r , a l l s i x f a c t o r s
t h a t l o a d e d s i g n i f i c a n t l y on t h e tw o d e r i v e d f u n c t i o n s ,
i n c l u d i n g t h r e e m e a s u r e s o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g , o n l y
a c c o u n t e d f o r 12 p e r c e n t o f t h e d i s c r i m i n a t e v a r i a n c e . The
d e r i v e d m o d e l m a n a g e d t o c l a s s i f y o n l y 49 p e r c e n t o f s t u d y
c a s e s c o r r e c t l y , t h u s d i s c r i m i n a t i n g a b o u t a s w e l l a s a
t o s s e d c o i n .
S i g n i f i c a n t l y , G a i n e s e t a l . ( 1 9 7 8 ) n o t e i n t h e i r d i s
c u s s i o n , " t h a t m a l t r e a t m e n t c a n b e p r i m a r i l y a t t r i b u t e d t o
c h i l d - r e a r i n g a t t i t u d e s o r a n ‘ a b u s e - p r o n e ' p e r s o n a l i t y i s
s e r i o u s l y c h a l l e n g e d by t h e r e s u l t s b e c a u s e o f t h e r e l a
t i v e l y t r i v i a l c o n t r i b u t i o n o f t h e s e v a r i a b l e s " ( p . 5 3 8 ) .
T h e i r s t u d y u s e d a b a l a n c e d d e s i g n f o r g r o u p c o m p a r i s o n s ,
a n d e m p l o y e d s t a n d a r d i z e d s c a l e s t o m e a s u r e p s y c h o l o g i c a l
f u n c t i o n i n g a n d o t h e r p e r s o n a l i t y m e a s u r e s - S i n c e t h e s e
m e a s u r e s d e m o n s t r a t e d r e l i a b i l i t y w i t h i n t h e s t u d y a n d h a d
b e e n s u p p o r t e d i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e , t h e G a i n e s f i n d i n g s w ou ld
t e n d t o t h r o w a p a l l o f s u s p i c i o n o v e r much o f t h e p s y c h o -
d y n a m i c a l l y b a s e d c o n c e p t i o n s a d d r e s s i n g m a l t r e a t m e n t .
24
P s y c h o d y n ami c Con s t r u c t s a s I n d i c a t o r s o f C h i l d B e g l e c t
I n a d i s c u s s i o n a d d r e s s i n g t h e u s e o f i n d i c a t o r s
w h e r e i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s e c o n o m y was o f f e r e d a s a n exam
ple, M o r r i s o n (1982) o b s e r v e s t h a t " t h e h e a l t h o f t h e e c o n
omy i s n o t o n l y m e a s u r e d by t h e s e i n d i c a t o r s ; i t i s l a r g e l y
d e f i n e d by t h e m " ( p . 5 ) . P o i n t i n g t o t h e c i r c u l a r i t y i n t h e
l o g i c o f s u c h c i r c u m s t a n c e s , M o r r i s o n g o e s on t o s u g g e s t
t h a t " t h e s e i n d i c a t o r s o f t e n a s s u m e a n i m p o r t a n c e a t l e a s t
a s q r e a t a s t h a t o f t h e a b s t r a c t i o n t h e y a r e s u p p o s e d t o
q u a n t i f y " (p . 5 ) . B a b b i e (1 9 7 0 ) a l s o a d d r e s s e s t h i s i s s u e
a t l e n g t h , r e f e r r i n g t o i t a s t h e p r o c e s s o f " c o n c e p t u a l
e n t r a p m e n t . "
T h i s t y p e o f p r o b l e m t e n d s t o p e r v a d e t h e r a n g e o f
s o c i a l s c i e n c e i n q u i r y . I n u s i n g o b s e r v e d " s y m p t o m s " a s
i n d i c a t o r s o f i n t e r n a l s t a t e s , w h i c h a r e o n l y a c c e s s i b l e
v i a t h e o b s e r v e d s y m p t o m s , p s y c h o d y n a m i c m o d e l s a r e v e r y
v u l n e r a b l e t o t h i s s o r t o f c i r c u l a r l o g i c : o n c e t h e b a s i c
p r e m i s e s a r e a c c e p t e d , t h e r e i s n o e m p i r i c a l way b y w h i c h
t h e l o g i c s t r u c t u r e c a n b e c o n t r a d i c t e d .
S z a s z (1973) c o n t e n d s t h a t o n c e a n i n d i v i d u a l i s
d e t e r m i n e d t o b e m e n t a l l y i l l ( l a b e l e d ) , t h a t i n d i v i d u a l i s
t h e n , by d e f i n i t i o n , s u f f e r i n g f r c m m e n t a l i l l n e s s . T h e r e
f o r e , d e p r e s s i o n o b s e r v e d a m ong i n d i v i d u a l s l a b e l e d a s
c h i l d n e g l e c t o r s p e r m i t s t h e i m p l i c a t i o n o f a d e p r e s s i v e
p e r s o n a l i t y f a c t o r i n t h e o c c u r r e n c e o f c h i l d n e g l e c t -
25
G e l l e s (1 9 7 3 ) a s s e r t s t h a t " t h i s t y p e o f a n a l y s i s d o e s n o t
d i s t i n g u i s h t h e b e h a v i o r i n q u e s t i o n f r o m t h e e x p l a n a t i o n "
( p. 6 1 4 ) .A n o t h e r d i f f i c u l t y w i t h t h e m o d e l s c o n s t r u c t e d by
t h o s e e s p o u s i n g i n t r a p s y c h i c c a u s a l i t y i s t h e n o n r a n d o m
p r o c e s s e s g e n e r a l l y u s e d t o c o l l e c t f o u n d a t i o n a l d a t a a n d
t h e n u m b e r o f c a s e s f r o m w h i c h d a t a i s g a t h e r e d . I n w h a t
P o l a n s k y t e r m s " a n i n t e n s i v e p i l o t s t u d y , " d a t a c o l l e c t e d
f r o m t e n c a s e s w e r e u s e d t o f o r m t h e b a s i s o f h i s t h i n k i n g
c o n c e r n i n g t h e n a t u r e a n d c a u s e o f c h i l d n e g l e c t ( P o l a n s k y ,
B o r g m a n , a n d D e S a i x , 1 9 7 2 ) . G e l l e s ( 1 9 7 5 , p . 3 6 5 ) i n d i c a t e s
a s i m i l a r d i f f i c u l t y w i t h t h e w o r k o f H e i f e r a n d Kempe,
n o t i n g t h a t " t h e f a c t o r s w h i c h c a u s e d p a t i e n t s A, B, C , 0 ,
e t c . t o e n d up i n C o l o r a d o M e d i c a l C e n t e r a n d t h e n b e
l a b e l e d a s c a s e s o f a b u s e w e r e c o n f o u n d e d i n . . . ( a n y r e s u l t
i n g ) . . . c a u s a l e x p l a n a t i o n o f a b u s e . "
The c o n c l u s i o n t o b e d r a w n c o n c e r n i n g p s y c h o d y n a m i c
c o n s t r u c t i o n s i s t h a t t h e y s h o u l d f i g u r e m i n i m a l l y i n t o a n y
e f f o r t t o c o n s t r u c t a n i n d i c a t o r i n s t r u m e n t o r c a u s a l m o d e l
a d d r e s s i n g c h i l d n e g l e c t . A t b e s t t h e y c o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d
o n l y o n e o f many p o s s i b l e c a u s a l e l e m e n t s : t h e y o f f e r n e i
t h e r a n e c e s s a r y n o r s u f f i c i e n t e x p l a n a t i o n o f c h i l d m a l
t r e a t m e n t i n g e n e r a l . T h i s c o n c l u s i o n i s i n n o way a n
a t t e m p t t o d e n y a n y v a l i d i t y f o r a l l p a s t s t u d i e s t h a t h a v e
a t t e m p t e d t o e m p l o y p s y c h o d y n a m i c c o n s t r u c t i o n s . H o w e v e r ,
26
t h e v i r t u a l l y u n i v e r s a l i n a b i l i t y o f s u c h s t u d i e s t o do
a n y t h i n g o t h e r t h a n r e t r o s p e c t i v e l y d e s c r i b e u s i n g t h e
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s o f e x p e r t s a s d a t a i s a s u f f i c i e n t l y p o t e n t
c r i t i c i s m t o j u s t i f y s t r o n g s k e p t i c i s m .
A f u r t h e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n i s p r e s e n t e d b y A l v y ( 1 9 7 5 ) .
He s u g g e s t s t h a t , e v e n i f s u c h m o d e l s w e r e m o r e a m e n a b l e t o
e m p i r i c a l v e r i f i c a t i o n , b a s i n g i n t e r v e n t i v e a n d p r e v e n t a
t i v e s t r a t e g i e s o n s u c h c o n c e p t s o r p e r s o n a l i t y t e s t s w o u ld
r a i s e s i g n i f i c a n t m o r a l a n d l e g a l i s s u e s w i t h r e s p e c t t o
f a l s e p o s i t i v e i n d i c a t i o n s . The p r o b l e m p r e s e n t e d b y s u c h
u s e w o u l d b e t h e s e p a r a t i o n o f p a t h o l o g i c a l m a l t r e a t o r s
f r o m t h e p a t h o l o g i c a l b u t n o n m a l t r e a t i n g p a r e n t s .
Social learning ModelsS o c i a l l e a r n i n g t h e o r y a s a r t i c u l a t e d by B a n d u r a
( 1977 ) s y n t h e s i z e s t h e b e h a v i o r a l p r i n c i p l e s o f W a ts o n
(1924) a n d t h e i n t e r a c t i o n i s t t e n e t s o f Head ( 1 9 3 4 ) .
S o c i a l l e a r n i n g t h e o r y , a s t h e name w o u l d s u g g e s t , p o r t r a y s
human b e h a v i o r a s p r i m a r i l y t h e r e s u l t o f l e a r n i n g . D n l i k e
more r i g i d l y b e h a v i o r i s t i c c o n c e p t i o n s , s o c i a l l e a r n i n g
t h e o r y p o s i t s t h a t i n d i v i d u a l s i n m o s t c a s e s s e l e c t t h e i r
r e s p o n s e f r o m a n u m b e r o f p o s s i b l e r e s p o n s e s t o a g i v e n
s t i m u l u s b a s e d u p o n t h e p e r c e i v e d l i k e l i h o o d o f a n i n d i v i d
u a l l y d e f i n e d , d e s i r a b l e o u t c o m e l i n k e d t o t h e p a r t i c u l a r
r e s p o n s e s . T h e p r o b a b l e l i k e l i h o o d s a r e e s t a b l i s h e d f o r
i n d i v i d u a l s b y way o f d i r e c t e x p e r i e n c e , o b s e r v a t i o n a l
27\
l e a r n i n g , a n d i n t e l l e c t u a l e x t r a p o l a t i o n . As a r e s u l t ,
s o c i a l l e a r n i n g t h e o r y r e p r e s e n t s c h i l d m a l t r e a t i n g b e h a v
i o r a s b e i n g a " l e a r n e d p a t t e r n o f i n t e r a c t i o n ” ( S w e e t a n d
R e s i c k , 1979 , p - 4 8 ) - U n l i k e i n t r a p s y c h i c m o d e l s , s o c i a l
l e a r n i n g m o d e l s a f f o r d a m o r e p r o m i s i n g a n d o p t i m i s t i c v i e w
f o r i n t e r v e n t i o n : i f m a l t r e a t i n g b e h a v i o r i s i n f a c t a
c h o i c e t h a t r e f l e c t s a p a r e n t ' s v i e w o f t h e b e s t b e h a v i o r a l
a l t e r n a t i v e b a s e d u p o n p r i o r l e a r n i n g o r r e a s o n i n g , t h e n
p a r e n t s n e e d o n l y t o b e t a u g h t d i f f e r e n t , m o r e a p p r o p r i a t e
c h i l d c a r e b e h a v i o r s a n d b e made t o b e l i e v e t h a t t h e s e new
b e h a v i o r s a r e o f h i g h e r v a l u e t h a n m a l t r e a t i n g b e h a v i o r s .
A l t h o u g h t h e h y p o t h e s i s t h a t m a l t r e a t m e n t i s a m u l t i -
g e n e r a t i o n a l p h e n o m e n o n ( a h y p o t h e s i s w i d e l y s t a t e d i n m al
t r e a t m e n t l i t e r a t u r e ) h a s g e n e r a l l y n o t b e e n s u p p o r t e d by
e m p i r i c a l e v i d e n c e ( J a y a r a t n e , 1 9 7 7 ) , t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f
s o c i a l l e a r n i n g t h e o r y w ou ld l e n d s u p p o r t t o s u c h a
h y p o t h e s i s . I n h i s l i t e r a t u r e r e v i e w , J a y a r a t n e f o i i n d t h a t
" p a r e n t a l i n a d e q u a c y a nd m i s i n f o r m a t i o n ” w e r e t h e tw o m o s t
f r e q u e n t l y p r e s e n t e d f a c t o r s c o n t r i b u t i n g t o c h i l d m a l
t r e a t m e n t ( p . 8 ) . The v i e w i n g o f m i s i n f o r m a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g
a p p r o p r i a t e c h i l d c a r e a s t h e r e s u l t o f f a u l t y l e a r n i n g , o r
t h e c o r r e c t l e a r n i n g o f b a d i n f o r m a t i o n , i s h i g h l y c o n s i s
t e n t w i t h a s o c i a l l e a r n i n g m o d e l .
S w e e t and R e s i c k n o t e t h a t s o c i a l l e a r n i n g t h e o r y ' s
m e t h o d o lo g y i s p o t e n t i a l l y u s e f u l f o r m a l t r e a t m e n t r e s e a r c h
28
i n t h a t i t r e q u i r e s c a r e f u l a a d s y s t e m a t i c o b s e r v a t i o n o f
i n d i v i d u a l s ' i n t e r a c t i o n s . A s i d e f r o m t h e e x a m i n a t i o n o f
t h e m u l t i g e n e r a t i o n a l h y p o t h e s i s , s o c i a l l e a r n i n g t h e o r y
c o n s t r u c t i o n s h a v e n o t b e e n w i d e l y u s e d t o g u i d e s t u d i e s o f
c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t - W h i l e t h e u s e o f b e h a v i o r a l o b s e r v a
t i o n , o f f e r s c o n s i d e r a b l e p r o m i s e f o r t e s t i n g h y p o t h e s e s
t h a t a d d r e s s l e a r n e d b e h a v i o r a s a b a s i s f o r m a l t r e a t m e n t ,
d e s i g n i n q a s t u d y w h e r e i n t h i s i s p o s s i b l e p r e s e n t s g r e a t
d i f f i c u l t i e s .
V a r i a b l e s e x a m in e d from a s o c i a l l e a r n i n g p e r s p e c t i v e
a r e t h e sam e a s t h o s e e x a m in e d b y i n t r a p s y c h i c m o d e ls ------
s p e c i f i c human b e h a v i o r s . H ow ever , w h i l e i n t r a p s y c h i c
a p p r o a c h e s v ie w b e h a v i o r o n l y a s i n d i c a t o r s o f i n a c c e s s i b l e
p s y c h i c s t a t e s , s o c i a l l e a r n i n g t h e o r y v i e w s b e h a v i o r a s
t h e end p r o d u c t o f i n d i v i d u a l l e a r n i n g and c h o i c e . B eh av
i o r h a s m ea n in g i n and o f i t s e l f .
S o c i o l o g i c a l M o d e ls
" S o c i o l o g i c a l t h e o r i e s o f c h i l d ( m a l t r e a t m e n t ) empha
s i z e s o c i a l f a c t o r s a s p r i m a r y c a u s e s . T h e s e f a c t o r s
i n c l u d e t h e s o c i a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f p e r p e t r a t o r s a n d v i c
t i m s , a n d t h e s i t u a t i o n o r c o n t e x t o f ( m a l t r e a t m e n t ) "
( S w e e t a n d B e s i c k , 1 9 7 9 , p . 4 8 ) . T h e p e r s p e c t i v e c o u l d a l s o
b e v i e w e d a s a n e n v i r o n m e n t a l a p p r o a c h t o e x p l a n a t i o n . G i l
( 1 9 7 1 ) h a s b e e n a p r o p o n e n t o f s u c h a m o d e l - G i l c i t e s
f i v e l e v e l s o f f a c t o r s c o n n e c t e d w i t h m a l t r e a t m e n t r a n g i n g
29
f ro m t h e m os t g l o b a l c u l t u r a l i n f l u e n c e t o t h e m i c r o c o s m i c
" b i o - p s y c h o - s o c i a l f u n c t i o n i n g i n c h i l d r e n , p a r e n t s a n d
f a m i l y u n i t s i n v o l v e d i n c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t " ( S w e e t a n d
B e s i c k , 1 9 7 9 , p . 5 1 ) . S i m i l a r l y , G i o v a n n o n i ( 1 9 7 1 ) s u g g e s t s
t h a t c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t a t t h e i n d i v i d u a l l e v e l o n l y
r e f l e c t s t h e r e a l i t y o f a s o c i e t y i n d i f f e r e n t o r h o s t i l e t o
t h e p o o r -
A c o n s i d e r a b l e a m o u n t o f r e s e a r c h h a s b e e n f o c u s e d
upon t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n e c o n o m i c s t a t u s a n d m a l t r e a t
ment ., P e l t o n (1 9 8 1 ) a r g u e s a g a i n s t t h e p o p u l a r n o t i o n t h a t
c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t i s a c l a s s l e s s p h e n o m e n o n . A c o m p a r a -
t i v e s t u d y b e t w e e n m a l t r e a t i n g w e l f a r e r e c i p i e n t s a n d a n d a
r a n d o m s a m p l e o f n o n - m a l t r e a t i n g w e l f a r e r e c i p i e n t s f o u n d
t h a t m a l t r e a t i n g f a m i l i e s l i v e d u n d e r c o m p a r a t i v e l y p o o r e r
c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h a n n o n - m a l t r e a t i n g f a m i l i e s ; t h e s e w e r e t h e
p o o r e s t o f t h e p o o r ( S o l o c h , a n d H o r o w i t z , 1 9 7 9 ) . P e l t o n
a l s o n o t e s a n u m b e r o f p o v e r t y - r e l a t e d f a c t o r s t h a t c r e a t e
i n d i v i d u a l a n d f a m i l y s t r e s s , a n d w h i c h c o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d
a s c a u s a l a g e n t s i n m a l t r e a t m e n t f r o m t h e s o c i o l o g i c a l p e r
s p e c t i v e . " S u c h p o v e r t y - r e l a t e d f a c t o r s a s u n e m p l o y m e n t ,
d i l a p i d a t e d a n d o v e r c r o w d e d h o u s i n g , a n d i n s u f f i c i e n t mon
e y , f o o d , r e c r e a t i o n , o r h o p e c a n p r o v i d e t h e s t r e s s f u l
c o n t e x t f o r - - . ( m a l t r e a t m e n t ) " ( P e l t o n , 1 9 8 1 , p . 3 4 ) .
P e l t o n ( 1 9 8 1 ) d i s c u s s e s t h e i n t r i g u i n g n o t i o n t h a t
c h i l d r e n l i v i n g i n i m p o v e r i s h e d c o n d i t i o n s a r e a t much
g r e a t e r r i s k o f h a rm g i v e n a p a r t i c u l a r l e v e l o f p a r e n t a l
i n a t t e n t i o n o r i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t h a n a r e c h i l d r e n f r o m n o n -
i m p o v e r i s h e d hom es g i v e n t h e s a m e d e g r e e o f i n a t t e n t i o n .
He w r i t e s : " T h e c o n t e x t o f p o v e r t y m u l t i p l i e s t h e h a z a r d s
o f a m o t h e r ' s n e g l e c t . T h u s p o o r p e o p l e h a v e v e r y l i t t l e
m a r g i n f o r i r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o r m i s m a n a g e m e n t o f e i t h e r t i m e
o r money" ( i b i d . , p . 3 4 ) . H o r o w i t z a n d W o lo c k ( 1 9 7 9 ) a d d i
t i o n a l l y i n d i c a t e t h a t c a r e t a k e r s l i v i n g i n m o re d e p r i v e d
c i r c u m s t a n c e s had m o re h e a l t h p r o b l e m s , a f a c t o r t h a t w o u l d
o n l y s e r v e t o e x a c e r b a t e a n a l r e a d y s t r e s s e d f a m i l y s i t u -
a t i o n .
I n c o n s i d e r i n g " t h e myth o f c l a s s l e s s n e s s , " a p o s i t i o n
g e n e r a l l y s u p p o r t e d b y a d h e r e n t s t o p s y c h o d y n a m i c e x p l a n a
t i o n s o f m a l t r e a t m e n t , P e l t o n ( 1 9 8 1 , p - 3 7 ) o f f e r s : " T h e
myth o f c l a s s l e s s n e s s p e r s i s t s n o t on t h e b a s i s o f e v i d e n c e
o r l o g i c , b u t b e c a u s e i t s e r v e s c e r t a i n p r o f e s s i o n a l a n d
p o l i t i c a l i n t e r e s t s . " S i m i l a r l y , S c h e f f ( 1 9 7 5 ) s u g g e s t s
t h a t i n d i v i d u a l p a t h o l o g y a s t h e c a u s e o f d e v i a n t b e h a v i o r
i s a s o c i a l l y a c c e p t a b l e h y p o t h e s i s s i n c e i t c a l l s i n t o
g u e s t i o n n o t h i n g f u n d a m e n t a l a b o u t s o c i a l o r g a n i z a t i o n a n d
i n s t i t u t i o n s .
I t i s n o t t h e c a s e , h o w e v e r , t h a t a l l p e r s o n s o p e r a t
i n g from a p s y c h o d y n a m ic p a r a d ig m i g n o r e s o c i a l /
e n v i r o n m e n t a l f a c t o r s . As n o t e d e a r l i e r , many i n f a c t do
a t t e n d t o s u c h f a c t o r s . B u t , r a t h e r th a n b e i n g v i e w e d a s
31
c a u s e s o f m a l t r e a t m e n t , t h e s e f a c t o r s t e n d t o b e c a s t a s
y e t o t h e r c o n s e q u e n c e s o f i n d i v i d u a l p a t h o l o g y , o r a s
s t r e s s e s t h a t o v e r w h e l m a m a r g i n a l l y p a t h o l o g i c a l p e r s o n a l
i t y t h a t wou ld be a b l e t o c o p e i n t h e i r a b s e n c e ( P o l a n s k y ,
B o r g m a n , a n d D e S a i x , 1 9 7 2 ) -
S o c i a l Ps y c h o l o g i c a l Mode l s
" S o c i a l p s y c h o l o g i c a l t h e o r i e s f o c u s on t h e i n t e r a c
t i o n b e t w e e n i n d i v i d u a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a l
f a c t o r s i n a c c o u n t i n g f o r hum an b e h a v i o r " ( P e l t o n , 1 9 8 1 ,
p . h 9 ) . S u c h f o r m u l a t i o n s w o u l d se em t o p r o v i d e t h e m o s t
p r u d e n t b a s i s f o r c a s e w o r k p r a c t i c e a n d r e s e a r c h f o c u s i n g
upon m a l t r e a t m e n t , g i v e n t h e i n d e f i n i t e n a t u r e o f t h e
e x i s t i n g k n o w l e d g e b a s e , s i n c e t h e s c o p e o f f a c t o r s i s n o t
c o n s t r a i n e d . G e l l e s (1 9 7 5 ) d e t a i l s a m u l t i f a c t o r t h e o r y
t h a t l i t e r a l l y e m b r a c e s p s y c h o l o g i c a l f a c t o r s , l e a r n i n g
c o n s i d e r a t i o n s , s o c i a l f a c t o r s , a n d a s p e c t s o f t h e i m m e d i
a t e f a m i l y e n v i r o n m e n t a s a i l b e i n g p o t e n t i a l l y c a u s a l .
T h e o p e r a t i v e c o n c e p t i n G e l l e s ' s m o d e l i s t h a t a n y i n d i
v i d u a l f a c t o r o r c l u s t e r o f f a c t o r s i s s u f f i c i e n t t o c a u s e
m a l t r e a t m e n t , b u t t h a t no i n d i v i d u a l f a c t o r r e p r e s e n t s a
n e c e s s a r y c o n d i t i o n f o r m a l t r e a t m e n t t o o c c u r .
T h i s p e r s p e c t i v e a l l o w s f o r t h e e x a m i n a t i o n o f o t h e r
f a c t o r s t h a t h a v e b e e n d i s c u s s e d i n t h e l i t e r a t u r e , s u c h a s
t h o s e s u g g e s t e d by F r i e d r i c h a n d B o r i s k i n ( 1 9 7 6 ) , t h e y n o t e
t h a t c h i l d r e n w i t h p h y s i c a l h a n d i c a p s , t h e m e n t a l l y r e t a r d
32
e d , a n d e v e n c h i l d r e n who w e r e p r e m a t u r e a t b i r t h a r e d i s
p r o p o r t i o n a t e l y r e p r e s e n t e d among t h e m a l t r e a t e d . The
s o c i a l - p s y c h o l o g i c a l m o d e l c a n i n c o r p o r a t e s u c h f a c t o r s a s
p o t e n t i a l c a u s e s .
BEYIEB OF POLAHSKT* S IHSTRPHEHTATIOH BOHK
P o l a n s k y a n d h i s a s s o c i a t e s a r e n o t t h e o n l y r e s e a r c h
e r s t o a p p r o a c h t h e t a s k o f c o n s t r u c t i n g a n i n d e x o r i n d i
c a t o r l i s t f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f a s s e s s i n g c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t .
Coombes a n d h e r a s s o c i a t e s h a v e c o n s t r u c t e d a n a b u s e a n d
n e g l e c t i n d i c a t o r s i n d e x ( C o o m b e s , e t a l . 1 9 7 8 ) . T h e Coom
b e s i n s t r u m e n t i s a 134—i t e m c h e c k l i s t . T h e r e i s no
r e p o r t i n g o f r e l i a b i l i t y a n d v a l i d i t y d a t a b y t h e a u t h o r s ,
a n d s o i t m u s t b e a s s u m e d t h a t s u c h r e s e a r c h h a s n o t b e e n
a c c o m p l i s h e d . F u r t h e r , p e r t h i s a u t h o r ' s l i t e r a t u r e
r e v i e w , t h e C oom be s i n s t r u m e n t h a s r e c e i v e d no a t t e n t i o n
f r o m e i t h e r o t h e r r e s e a r c h e r s o r p r a c t i t i o n e r s .
T he work o f P o l a n s k y , h o w e v e r , i s o f t e n c i t e d , a n d h i s
i n s t r u m e n t , t h e C h i l d h o o d L e v e l o f L i v i n g S c a l e ( s e e a p p e n
d i x A ) , i s b e i n g u s e d i n p r a c t i c e s e t t i n g s . I t i s t h e
p r e s e n c e o f s u b s t a n t i v e q u e s t i o n s a b o u t t h i s i n s t r u m e n t
t h a t h a s p r o v i d e d t h e i m p e t u s f o r t h e e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e
e f f i c a c y o f a t t e m p t i n g t o d e v e l o p a n d u s e s u c h a n i n s t r u
m en t i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t .
The f o u n d a t i o n a l w ork f o r P o l a n s k y ’ s t h o u g h t s c o n c e r n
i n g t h e m e a s u r e m e n t o f c h i l d n e g l e c t w a s p r e s e n t e d i n a
1968 a r t i c l e d e t a i l i n g a p i l o t s t u d y t h a t d e r i v e d p e r s o n a l
i t y p r o f i l e s f o r " i n a d e q u a t e n m o t h e r s on t h e b a s i s o f
i n t e r v i e w s a n d t e s t s a d m i n i s t e r e d t o t e n w h i t e m o t h e r s f r o m
r u r a l , s o u t h e r n A p p a l a c h i a ( P o l a n s k y , D e S a i x , a n d W ing,
1 9 6 8 ) - U s i n g t h e d a t a f r o m t h e s e t e n c a s e s t u d i e s , i n f o r
m a t i o n d e r i v e d f r o m t w o g r o u p s of n o n r a n d o m l y s u r v e y e d
c h i l d w e l f a r e w o r k e r s a n d a p s y c h o d y n a m i c m o d e l o f b e h a v
i o r , P o l a n s k y a n d h i s a s s o c i a t e s c o n s t r u c t e d a n d p u b l i s h e d
The C h i l d h o o d l e v e l o f L i v i n g S c a l e ( C L L ) , The M a t e r n a l
C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s S c a l e ( w h i c h i n c l u d e s T h e A p a t h y - F u t i l i t y
S c a l e , T h e I m p u l s e - R i d d e n S c a l e a n d The V e r b a l A c c e s s i b i l i
t y S c a l e ) , a s w e l l a s o t h e r i n s t r u m e n t s ( P o l a n s k y , D e S a i x ,
a n d S h a r l i n , 1 9 7 2 ) . I n t h a t t h e CLL i n c l u d e d many i t e m s
s u c h a s " h o m e l i g h t e d by k e r o s e n e l a m p s , " t h e s c a l e was
" a d a p t e d " t o an u r b a n s e t t i n g i n 1978 ( P o l a n s k y , C h a l m e r s ,
B u t t e n w i e s e r , a n d H i l l i a m s , 1 9 7 8 ) - More r e c e n t l y , t h e
s c a l e h a s b e e n p u b l i s h e d by t h e N a t i o n a l C e n t e r on C h i l d
A b u s e a n d N e g l e c t a s p a r t o f " T h e U s e r s M a n u a l S e r i e s "
( P o l a n s k y , H a l l y , a n d P o l a n s k y , 1 9 7 8 ) -
34
A LITAH? OP PBOBLEHS
P ra g m a tic C o n s id e r a t io n s
The u l t i m a t e g o a l i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a n y i n s t r u
m e n t a t i o n s h o u l d b e u t i l i z a t i o n . The P o l a n s k y C I L i s
u s a g e - p r o h i b i t i v e on s e v e r a l p o i n t s . T y p i c a l l y , a c h i l d
w e l f a r e w o r k e r m u s t i n v e s t i g a t e a n e g l e c t c o m p l a i n t a n d
make a d e t e r m i n a t i o n a s t o i t s v a l i d i t y w i t h i n o n e d a y -
S u c h a c o n d i t i o n w o u l d s e e m t o m i l i t a t e a g a i n s t a l e n g t h y
i n s t r u m e n t t h a t r e q u i r e s a h i g h d e g r e e o f c o o p e r a t i o n on
t h e p a r t o f t h e f a m i l y b e i n g i n v e s t i g a t e d , t h a t i s e f f e c
t i v e f o r o n l y a v e r y l i m i t e d a g e r a n g e , a n d t h a t w o u l d r e l y
h e a v i l y o n s e l f - r e p o r t e d d a t a t o d e t e r m i n e a m o t h e r ’ s men
t a l h e a l t h a n d t h e q u a l i t y o f m o t h e r - c h i l d i n t e r a c t i o n .
H o w e v e r , t h e CLL p o s s e s s e s a l l o f t h e s e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s .
I t i s 99 i t e m s l o n g a n d s e t up i n c h e c k l i s t f a s h i o n .
Many i t e m s s u c h a s “ C h i l d i s i m m e d i a t e l y s p a n k e d f o r r u n
n i n g i n t o s t r e e t , " " C h i l d i s t a u g h t t o r e s p e c t a d u l t s , "
" P a r e n t s g u a r d l a n g u a g e i n f r o n t o f c h i l d r e n , " "An e f f o r t
i s made t o p r o v i d e c h o i c e s f o r t h e c h i l d , ” a n d " C h i l d i s
e n c o u r a g e d t o c a r e f o r own t o y s " w o u l d o u t o f n e c e s s i t y
d e m a n d t o t a l r e l i a n c e on c o o p e r a t i o n f r o m t h e p a r e n t s -
S u c h r e l i a n c e , o f c o u r s e , i m p l i e s t h a t r e s p o n s e s t o q u e s
t i o n s a r e s u b j e c t t o p u r p o s e f u l m i s r e p r e s e n t a t i o n a n d / o r
e r r o r o f r e c a l l o r e x p r e s s i o n . T h i s c o n s t i t u t e s a r e l i
a b i l i t y i s s u e , w h i c h b y d e f i n i t i o n c r e a t e s a v a l i d i t y
i s s u e .
35
S i m i l a r l y , c o n c e r n s f o r v a l i d i t y a r i s e w i t h r e s p e c t t o
s u c h q u e s t i o n s a s " C h i l d h a s b e e n t a k e n by p a r e n t s t o a
c a r n i v a l , " " F a m i l y o w n s a c a m e r a , " " C h i l d h a s b e e n t a k e n
f i s h i n g , " a n d "A p l a y s h o v e l i s a v a i l a b l e t o t h e c h i l d "
( P o l a n s k y , C h a l m e r s , B u t t e n w i e s e r , a n d W i l l i a m s , 1 9 7 8 ,
p p . A - 6 - A - 8 ) . W h e t h e r o r n o t s u c h i t e m s a c t u a l l y m e a s u r e
n e g l e c t i s n e v e r a d e q u a t e l y a d d r e s s e d . A l s o , t o h e l p
e n s u r e c o o p e r a t i o n n e c e s s a r y t o a g u i r e s u c h i n f o r m a t i o n f o r
many o f P o l a n s k y ' s s t u d i e s u s i n g t h e CLL, r e s p o n d e n t s h a v e
b e e n c o n s i s t e n t l y p a i d f o r t h e i r c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e b u r
d e n s o m e i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n . The b i a s p o t e n t i a l o f s u c h a
m e t h o d o l o g y h a s n o t b e e n a d d r e s s e d i n t h e s e s t u d i e s .
Val u e Co n ta m in a t io n
H i d d l e - c l a s s v a l u e s r e p r e s e n t o n l y o n e o f t h e many
c o m p e t i n g s y s t e m s o f v a l u e s i n t h e p l u r a l i s t i c s o c i e t y o f
t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . T h i s i s a r e a l i t y t h a t P o l a n s k y a n d h i s
a s s o c i a t e s h a v e n o t e d . n e v e r t h e l e s s , i n o n e s t u d y , f i n d
i n g s c l a i m t o h a v e r e v e a l e d t h a t s o c i a l w o r k e r s , m i d d l e -
c l a s s m o t h e r s , a n d w o r k i n g - c l a s s m o t h e r s a l l r e f l e c t
m i d d l e - c l a s s v a l u e s i n t h e i r d e f i n i t i o n s o f a d e q u a t e c h i l d
c a r e ( P o l a n s k y a n d W i l l i a m s , 1 9 7 8 ) . T h e r e a r e t w o p r o b l e m s
w i t h t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t a l a c k o f s t a t i s t i c a l l y s i g n i f i
c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s among t h e s e g r o u p s s u p p o r t s t h e u s a g e o f
m i d d l e - c l a s s v a l u e s ( i . e . , t h e i t e m s u s e d i n t h e CLL) i n
t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f c h i l d n e g l e c t .
36
F i r s t , a l l o f t h e m o t h e r s i n v o l v e d i n t h e s t u d y v e r e
w h i t e ; h e n c e , t h e r e was n o way t o a s c e r t a i n w h e t h e r o r n o t
h i s p a n i c o r b l a c k m o t h e r s , t o n o t e j u s t two m i n o r i t y p o p u
l a t i o n s , a r e i n f a c t i d e n t i c a l i n v a l u e o r i e n t a t i o n t o
w h i t e m o t h e r s . T h i s w o u l d b e a c o n c l u s i o n few p e o p l e
s h o u l d f e e l c o m f o r t a b l e d r a w b y g , g i v e n d a t a s o l i m i t e d by
s a m p l e s i z e a n d s c o p e .
S e c o n d l y , d a t a c i t e d p r e v i o u s l y i n d i c a t e t h a t , f o r t h e
m o s t p a r t , n e g l e c t i n g m o t h e r s a r e p o o r , i n f a c t t h e p o o r e s t
o f t h e p o o r , a n d n o t w o r k i n g o r m i d d l e c l a s s . H e n c e , t h e r e
i s a n o t h e r i m p l i c i t a s s u m p t i o n t h a t m i d d l e - c l a s s v a l u e s a n d
t h o s e o f t h e p o o r e s t o f t h e p o o r a r e a l s o i d e n t i c a l - One
m i g h t s t r o n g l y c o n t e n d t h a t b o t h o f t h e s e a s s u m p t i o n s r e p
r e s e n t c o n c l u s i o n s t h a t h a v e b e e n d r a w n .beyond t h e s c o p e o f
a v a i l a b l e d a t a .
I n h i s m o s t r e c e n t p u b l i s h e d s t u d y , a n a t t e m p t was
made t o a d d r e s s s u c h c r i t i c i s m ( P o l a n s k y , Ammons, a n d
W e a t h e r s b y , 1 9 8 3 ) . U s i n g some o l d d a t a a n d c o l l e c t i n g some
new d a t a t o f i l l a 2 x 2 x 2 d e s i g n ( w o r k i n g a n d m i d d l e c l a s s ,
u r b a n a n d r u r a l l o c a t i o n , a n d b l a c k a n d w h i t e i n d i v i d u a l s ) ,
t h e s e r e s e a r c h e r s s t i l l f a i l e d t o i n c l u d e v a l u e a s s e s s m e n t s
f o r t h e g r o u p P e l t o n r e f e r s t o a s t h e p o o r e s t o f t h e p o o r .
Once a g a i n , d e f i n i t i v e c o n c l u s i o n s s e e m t o h a v e b e e n
q l e a n e d f r o m v e r y e g u i v o c a l f i n d i n g s . F o r e x a m p l e , b l a c k
m o t h e r s w e re f o u n d t o d i f f e r f r o m t h e i r w h i t e c o u n t e r p a r t s
37
on s u c h i s s u e s a s t h e d e g r e e o f n e g l e c t e n d e m i c t o l e a v i n g
a c h i l d a l o n e i n t h e h o m e , a n d n o t p l a n n i n g a d a i l y m e a l o f
a t l e a s t tw o c o u r s e s - Be v e r - t h e l e s s , t h e a s s e r t i o n was
made t h a t " a l t h o u g h t h e b l a c k r e s p o n d e n t s d i f f e r e d s l i g h t l y
m o re o f t e n w i t h CLL a u t h o r s t h a n d i d t h e w h i t e r e s p o n d e n t s ,
t h e p r e d o m i n a n t i m p r e s s i o n i s o f a g r e e m e n t on t h e * g u t
i s s u e s * t a p p e d by t h e CLL" ( P o l a n s k y , Ammons, a n d W e a t h e r s
b y , 1 9 8 3 , p . 3 4 4 ) . C o n s i d e r i n g t h a t t h e l a r g e s t c l a s s o f
n e g l e c t c o m p l a i n t s c o n c e r n c h i l d s u p e r v i s i o n , a n d t h a t
n u t r i t i o n a l c o n c e r n s a l s o f i g u r e p r o m i n a n t l y i n n e g l e c t
r e p o r t s , t h i s i s , i n d e e d , a d u b i o u s c o n c l u s i o n .
Me t ho d o l o g i c a l C o n s i d e r a t i o n s
As i n d i c a t e d e a r l i e r , t h e f o u n d a t i o n a l w ork f o r a l l
f o u r n e g l e c t t y p o l o g i e s , t h e o r e t i c a l c o n s t r u c t s , a n d t h e
CLL i t s e l f d e r i v e s f r o m t h e 1968 c a s e s t u d y o f 10 r u r a l ,
w h i t e , s o u t h e r n A p p a l a c h i a n women. The n e x t s i g n i f i c a n t
s t u d y i s d e t a i l e d i n t h e H o o t s o f F u t i l i t y ( P o l a n s k y , B o r g -
man, a n d D e S a i x , 1972) - M e t h o d o l o g i e s e m p l o y e d i n t h i s
s t u d y a r e t y p i c a l o f t h o s e u s e d i n a l l o f t h e P o l a n s k y
s t u d i e s o f n e g l e c t .
C a s e s f o r t h i s s t u d y w e r e s o l i c i t e d f r o m a l l f o u r p r o
gram c e n t e r s f o r t h e Head S t a r t P r o g r a m i n o n e r u r a l G e o r
g i a c o u n t y . S i x t y - f i v e f a m i l i e s w e r e u l t i m a t e l y i n c l u d e d
i n t h e s t u d y . B a s e d u p o n h i s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f i n c o m e d a t a
f o r t h e g r o u p , P o l a n s k y f e l t s u f f i c i e n t c o n f i d e n c e t o
38
a s s e r t t h a t " w e h a d a s a m p l e u n u s u a l l y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f
t h e ’ s e l f - s u p p o r t i n g p o o r , ' i n o u r s e c t i o n " ( i b i d . , p . 9 8 ) ,
a l t h o u g h an e m p i r i c a l r a t i o n a l f o r t h i s c o n f i d e n c e w as n o t
p r e s e n t e d . The CLL a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a n d p s y c h o l o g i c a l t e s t
i n g o f a l l 6 5 m o t h e r s w e r e p e r f o r m e d b y tw o w o r k e r s .
W h i l e t h e a u t h o r s a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t " d o u b t s h a v e b e e n
r a i s e d a b o u t t h e v a l i d i t y o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l t e s t s when
a p p l i e d t o p e r s o n s f r o m l o w e r s o c i o e c o n o m i c s t r a t a , " t h e s e
d o u b t s w e r e w a i v e d , n o t t o b e c o n s i d e r e d a g a i n , w i t h t h e
c l a i m , "we w e r e f a c e d w i t h n o t r u s t w o r t h y a l t e r n a t i v e s "
( i b i d . , p p . 10 2 - 1 0 3 ) . F u r t h e r , t h e r e was n o a t t e m p t t o
e x a m i n e t h e i n t e r n a l c o n s i s t e n c y o f any o f t h e m e a s u r e s
e m p l o y e d , i n c l u d i n g t h o s e d e v e l o p e d b y t h e r e s e a r c h t e a m .
A l s o , f o r t h o s e c a s e s w h e r e i n t e r r a t e r r e l i a b i l i t y
c o r r e l a t i o n s w e r e n o t " a c c e p t a b l e " f o r J u d g m e n t s made by
t h e two w o r k e r s g a t h e r i n g t h e d a t a , c a s e r a t i n g s w e r e n e g o
t i a t e d b e t w e e n t h e t w o d a t a c o l l e c t o r s . T h e w o r t h i n e s s o f
t h e m e a s u r e m e n t i n s t r u m e n t f o r p e r f o r m i n g t h e d e s i r e d
a s s e s s m e n t s was n o t q u e s t i o n e d . N e i t h e r was c o n s i d e r a t i o n
g i v e n t o d e l e t i n g t h o s e c a s e s y i e l d i n g p o o r i n t e r r a t e r
r e l i a b i l i t y f r o m t h e a n a l y s i s . L a s t l y , t h e w r i t i n g s n e v e r
i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f b i a s r e s u l t i n g f r o m s u c h
n e g o t i a t i o n s w a s a d d r e s s e d a s a c o n c e r n .
P o t e n t i a l l y t h e g r e a t e s t c r i t i c i s m o f t h e CLL, g i v e n
t h a t i t i s i n t e n d e d t o b e u s e d a s a n e m p i r i c a l g u i d e i n t h e
39
f i n d i n g o f n e g l e c t c a s e s , i s t h a t i t h a s n e v e r b e e n s u b
j e c t e d t o a r i g o r o u s c r o s s - v a l i d a t i o n w h e r e i n i t s a b i l i t y
t o p r e d i c t y e t u n k n o w n c a s e s c o u l d b e d e t e r m i n e d - A l l
a t t a m p t s t o e x a m i n e p r e d i c t i v e e f f i c i e n c y h a v e b e e n p e r
f o r m e d on p r e v i o u s l y i d e n t i f i e d g r o u p s o f n e g l e c t i n g f a m i
l i e s a s c o n t r a s t e d w i t h a n o n r a n d o m , p a i d g r o u p o f f a m i l i e s
n o t l a b e l e d a s n e g l e c t i n g t h a t w e r e s o l i c i t e d v i a n e w s p a p e r
a d v e r t i s e m e n t s . K i t h p a r t i c u l a r r e f e r e n c e t o t h i s t y p e o f
' • c o n t r o l g r o u p , " S w e e t a n d H e s i c k ( 1 9 7 9 , p - 5 h ) a r g u e t h a t
" a d h o c s a m p l e s t r e a t e d a s c o n t r o l g r o u p s a r e l i k e l y t o
d i f f e r i n many c u l t u r a l l y a n d i n d i v i d u a l l y r e l e v a n t
w a y s . . . ( f r o m t h o s e l a b e l e d a s m a l t r e a t i n g ) . " C a m p b e l l a n d
S t a n l e y ( 1 9 6 3 ) a l s o o f f e r w a r n i n g s a b o u t t h e r e l i a n c e u p o n
n o n e g u i v a l e n t c o n t r o l g r o u p s i n t h e a s s e s s m e n t o f c a u s e .
A l t h o u g h P o l a n s k y e t a l . ( 1 9 7 9 , p . 169) a s s e r t s t h a t " t h e
c o m p a r i s o n o f c o n t r o l a n d n e g l e c t f a m i l i e s d e m o n s t r a t e s i t s
(CLL) v a l i d i t y , " i t i n f a c t d e m o n s t r a t e s , s o m e w h a t t e n u o u s
l y g i v e n t h e n a t u r e o f t h e " c o n t r o l g r o u p , " o n l y o n e o f t h e
t h r e e t y p e s o f v a l i d i t y ( p o s t d i c t i o n o r d i s c r i m i n a t o r y
v a l i d i t y ) d e t a i l e d by N u n n a l l y ( 1 9 7 8 ) . When t h e p o t e n t i a l
f o r v a l u e b i a s a n d t h e l a c k o f r e l i a b i l i t y a s s e s s m e n t men
t i o n e d e a r l i e r a r e t a k e n i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n , c l a i m s o f
v a l i d i t y a p p e a r t o f a l l s h o r t o f j u s t i f i c a t i o n .
40
S t a t i s t i c a l Co n s id e r a t io n s
S t a t i s t i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e i s a p r o b a b i l i s t i c c r i t e r i o n
e m p l o y e d f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f m a k i n g d e c i s i o n s c o n c e r n i n g t h e
r e s u l t s o f s t a t i s t i c a l t e s t s . F o r s t a t i s t i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e
t o be u s e d i n t h e e v a l u a t i o n o f s t a t i s t i c a l f i n d i n g s , c e r
t a i n e x p l i c i t c o n d i t i o n s m u s t b e m e t . T h e m o s t c r i t i c a l
c o n d i t i o n i s t h a t t h e d a t a u p o n w h i c h a s t a t i s t i c a l t e s t
h a s b e e n u s e d m u s t h a v e b e e n d e r i v e d f r o m a r a n d o m s a m p l e ,
d r a w n f r o m t h e p o p u l a t i o n t o w h i c h a r e s e a r c h e r w i s h e s t o
i n f e r t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e t e s t ( H a y e s , 197 3 ) . I n t h e
a b s e n c e o f a r a n d o m s a m p l e , o r i f t h e r a n d o m q u a l i t y o f a
s a m p l e i s c o r r u p t e d b y n o n t r i v i a l p r o p o r t i o n s o f m i s s i n g
d a t a f o r s p e c i f i c v a r i a b l e s , s t a t i s t i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e
b e c o m e s m e a n i n g l e s s a n d g e n e r a l i z a b i l i t y o f t e s t f i n d i n g s
i s n o t j u s t i f i e d . B e s u l t s f r o m s t a t i s t i c a l t e s t s o n d a t a
t h a t c a n n o t m e e t t h e r a n d o m c r i t e r i o n o n l y h a v e m e a n i n g
w i t h i n t h e c o n t e x t o f t h e c a s e s f r o m w h i c h t h e d a t a w e r e
o b t a i n e d . When s t a t i s t i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e i s u s e d i n c o n n e c
t i o n w i t h n o n r a n d o m d a t a , t h e b u r d e n i s on t h e a u t h o r /
r e s e a r c h e r t o j u s t i f y why a g i v e n n o n r a n d o m s a m p l e c a n
r i g h t f u l l y s t a n d a s a p r o x y f o r a t r u l y r a n d o m s a m p l e .
T h r o u g h o u t a l l o f P o l a n s k y ' s c h i l d n e g l e c t s t u d i e s ,
" p u r p o s iv e " s a m p l e s , s a m p le s o f c o n v e n i e n c e , h a v e b e e n u s e d
w it h no r e a s o n i n g b e i n g o f f e r e d f o r t h e i r a c c e p t a n c e a s
random p r o x i e s . A l s o , t h r o u g h o u t a l l o f t h e s e s t u d i e s .
41
s t a t i s t i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e h a s b e e n u se d a s t h e d e c i s i o n c r i
t e r i o n t o d e t e r m in e g r o u p d i f f e r e n c e s and t h e p r e s e n c e o f
a s s o c i a t i o n . Q u i t e s i m p l y , s u c h p r o b a b i l i s t i c d e c i s i o n s
a r e n o t j u s t i f i e d g i v e n t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e s a m p l e s ,
and t h a t l a c k o f j u s t i f i c a t i o n f u r t h e r u n d e r m in e s t h e
c l a i m s o f v a l i d i t y t h a t a r e b a s e d upon s u c h f i n d i n g s .
T h e r e i s a l s o a p o t e n t i a l p r o b l e m w i t h t h e s t a t i s t i c a l
p r o c e d u r e s u s e d i n t h e s e s t u d i e s . ANOVA i s c o n s i s t e n t l y
u s e d t o t e s t h y p o t h e s e s - T h e r e i s c o n s i d e r a b l e d i v e r s i t y
o f o p i n i o n a s t o t h e a p p l i c a b i l i t y o f t e s t s e m p l o y i n g l e a s t
s q u a r e s p r o c e d u r e s on c l e a r l y o r d i n a l d a t a , p a r t i c u l a r l y
when t h e r a n g e o f o r d i n a l v a r i a t i o n i s q u i t e l i m i t e d { f o u r
o r f i v e p o s i t i o n s , o r l e s s ) . An e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e l i t e r a
t u r e r e v e a l s a t e n d e n c y f o r t h e m o re c o n s e r v a t i v e p o s i t i o n
t o b e t a k e n by m a t h e m a t i c a l l y g r o u n d e d s t a t i s t i c i a n s a n d
f o r t h e l e s s r e s t r i c t i v e p o s i t i o n t o be t a k e n by s o c i a l
s c i e n t i s t s n o t - s o - w e l l g r o u n d e d i n m a t h e m a t i c s who h a v e a
s t a t i s t i c a l p a c k a g e a t t h e i r d i s p o s a l and d a t a t o a n a l y z e
( F o u l k , 1 9 8 0 ) . A r g u m e n t s f o r u s i n g l e a s t s q u a r e s p r o c e
d u r e s on o r d i n a l d a t a , w h e r e p r e s e n t e d , a r e u s u a l l y c o u c h e d
i n a " t h e s e f o l k s d i d i t , s o X am t h e r e f o r e j u s t i f i e d i n
d o i n g i t , t o o " a r g u m e n t a t i v e f o r m , a n d n o t o n m a t h e m a t i c a l
g r o u n d s d e a l i n g w i t h m e a s u r e m e n t i s s u e s s u c h a s s c a l i n g a n d
e q u i t y o f u n i t s . No r e a s o n i n g i s p r e s e n t e d i n a n y o f
P o l a n s k y ' s n u m e r o u s p u b l i c a t i o n s i n v o l v i n g t h e CLL f o r t h e
42
a p p l i c a b i l i t y o f s t a t i s t i c s u s e d t o t h e t y p e o f d a t a a v a i l
a b l e .
As Hummel (1 9 7 0 ) n o t e s , f a c t o r a n a l y s i s i s n o t s o much
a s t a t i s t i c a l p r o c e d u r e a s i t i s a r u b r i c f o r a n u m b e r o f
s o m e w h a t s i m i l a r p r o c e d u r e s . C o n s e q u e n t l y , e v a l u a t i o n o f
f a c t o r a n a l y t i c r e s u l t s i s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y a s t r a i g h t f o r
w a rd t a s k . W h i l e P o l a n s k y i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e e l e m e n t s o f
t h e CLL w e r e d e r i v e d f r o m a f a c t o r a n a l y s i s f o r t h e u r b a n
s c a l e , t h e o n l y t e c h n i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n p r e s e n t e d was t h a t
" e a c h i t e m d e t a i l e d . . . h a d t o f o r m p a r t o f a c l u s t e r o f s u f
f i c i e n t d e m o n s t r a t e d ‘ w e i g h t * ( i . e . , e i g e n v a l u e ) t o r e m a i n
i n t h e s c a l e " ( P o l a n s k y , B o rg m a n , a n d D e S a i x , 1 9 7 2 , p . 4 4 1 ) .
N e e d e d , b u t n o t p r e s e n t e d , w e r e t h e f a c t o r l o a d i n g s , f a c t o r
e i g e n v a l u e s , and a n i n d i c a t i o n a s t o t h e t y p e o f r o t a t i o n ,
i f a n y , e m p l o y e d . W i t h o u t t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n , i t i s i m p o s s i
b l e t o t e l l how much t o t a l v a r i a n c e a c r o s s a l l v a r i a b l e s
f a c t o r e d was a c c o u n t e d f o r by t h e d e r i v e d f a c t o r s , w h i c h
i t e m s w e i g h e d most h e a v i l y i n t h e s t r u c t u r e o f i n d i v i d u a l
f a c t o r s , a n d w h e t h e r t h e f a c t o r s e x t r a c t e d w e r e i n d e p e n d e n t
( o r t h o g o n a l r o t a t i o n ) o r c o r r e l a t e d ( o b l i g u e r o t a t i o n ) .
T h e r e a c e o t h e r i s s u e s l e f t u n r e s o l v e d . F o r e x a m p le ,
i f an o r t h o g o n a l r o t a t i o n was u se d (w h ic h i s m ost l i k e l y
t h e c a s e s i n c e i n t e r f a c t o r c o r r e l a t i o n s w e r e n o t men
t i o n e d ) , t h e n a l l f a c t o r s d e r i v e d w ould h a v e i n t e r c o r r e l a
t i o n s o f z e r o . T h i s b e i n g t h e c a s e , t h e c l a i m f o r d i r e c t l y
43
a d d i t i v e u n i d i m e n s i o n a l i t y , u p o n w h i c h t h e CLL i s b a s e d ,
w o u ld b e s u s p e c t . I f a n o b l i q u e r o t a t i o n h a d b e e n u s e d ,
t h e s t r u c t u r e o f i n t e r f a c t o r c o r r e l a t i o n s w o u l d n e e d t o b e
e x p l o r e d f o r c o n f o u n d i n g c o l l i n e a r i t y -
Heighting ConsiderationsA l t h o u g h t h e i n s t r u m e n t i s r e f e r r e d t o a s a s c a l e , i t
i s i n f a c t a s i m p l e a d d i t i v e i n d e x . Khen c o n s t r u c t i n g a n
i n d i c a t o r i n d e x , a n i s s u e t h a t s h o u l d b e a d d r e s s e d i s i t e m
w e i g h t i n g . A v a l u e o f e i t h e r o n e ( 1 ) , i n d i c a t i n g t h e p r e s
e n c e o f a c o n d i t i o n , o r z e r o (0) i s a s s i g n e d t o e a c h o f t h e
99 i t e m s t h a t make up t h e CLL- A l t h o u g h s u c h a n a p p r o a c h
e a s e s t h e t a s k o f t o t a l i n g s c o r e s a s o p p o s e d t o , f o r e x a m
p l e , u s i n g f a c t o r s c o r e c o e f f i c i e n t s , i t i s d e b a t a b l e
w h e t h e r o n e s h o u l d w e i g h t "A p l a y s h o v e l i s a v a i l a b l e t o
t h e c h i l d " e q u a l t o " M o t h e r h a s e v i d e n c e d l a c k o f a w a r e n e s s
o f c h i l d ’ s p o s s i b l e d e n t a l n e e d s . " To t h e e x t e n t t h a t v a r
i o u s i t e m s d i f f e r e n t i a l l y i n d i c a t e n e g l e c t f u l c i r c u m s t a n c e ,
w h i l e t h e y i n f a c t a r e e q u a l l y e v a l u a t e d w i t h r e s p e c t t o a
t o t a l s c o r e , t h e s c a l e m i s r e p r e s e n t s t h e t r u e d e g r e e o f
n e g l e c t p r e s e n t , a l l o t h e r t h i n g s b e i n g e q u a l -
unSOMMABY COHHEHTS OH POLANSKY*S HOBK H IT H CLL
T h e p r e c e d i n g p a g e s h a v e d i r e c t e d s e r i o u s a n d s u b s t a n
t i a l c r i t i c i s m t o t h e e f f o r t s o f P o l a n s k y a n d h i s a s s o c i
a t e s i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e i r r e s e a r c h on c h i l d n e g l e c t .
I s s u e h a s b e e n t a k e n w i t h c o n c e p t u a l i z a t i o n , m e t h o d o l o g y ,
e x e c u t i o n , a n d i n t e r p r e t a t i o n . T h i s a u t h o r a c k n o w l e d g e s
t h a t t h e h a r s h r e a l i t i e s o f c a r r y i n g o u t a r e s e a r c h e n d e a v
o r o f t e n n e c e s s i t a t e n o t a b l e d e v i a t i o n s f r o m t h e s t r i c t u r e s
p u t f o r t h i n m e t h o d o l o g y a n d s t a t i s t i c s t e x t b o o k s . M e th o
d o l o g i c a l c o m p r o m i s e i s a m a t t e r o f d e g r e e , a n d t o a
d e g r e e , r e a s o n e d ( c o m p r o m i s e a n d t h e l e s s - t h a n - p e r f e c t
r e s u l t s i t p r o v i d e s ) i s a b e t t e r o p t i o n t h a n n e v e r c o n d u c t
i n g r e s e a r c h i n d i f f i c u l t c i r c u m s t a n c e s . H o w e v e r , g i v e n
t h e e x t e n t o f t h e p r o b l e m s f o u n d i n t h e f i f t e e n - y e a r h i s t o
r y o f t h i s p a r t i c u l a r r e s e a r c h e n t e r p r i s e , t h e c r i t i c a l
c o m m e n t a r y i s n o t deemed e x c e s s i v e .
A l l o f P o l a n s k y ' s w o r k h a s b e e n b a s e d u p o n p s y c h o d y
n a m i c c o n s t r u c t s , a n d a s s u c h a l w a y s p r o c e e d s i n a n a t t e m p t
t o i d e n t i f y t y p e s o f n e g l e c t i n g , t h e r e f o r e s i c k , m o t h e r s .
Of t h e t h e o r e t i c a l d o m a i n s d i s c u s s e d b y S w e e t a n d B e s i c k
( 1 9 7 9 ) , t h e p s y c h o d y n a m i c m o d e l s o f human b e h a v i o r w e r e
i d e n t i f i e d a s t h e l e a s t j u s t i f i e d e m p i r i c a l l y a n d t h e weak
e s t f o r p r o v i d i n g g u i d a n c e f o r e m p i r i c a l r e s e a r c h - T h i s
p r o b l e m , c o m b i n e d w i t h t h e e x t e n s i v e m e t h o d o l o g i c a l a n d
s t a t i s t i c a l p r o b l e m s , a l l o f w h i c h a r e e x a c e r b a t e d b y o v e r —
45
z e a l o u s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s a n d c o n c l u s i o n s d r a w n i n t h e
a b s e n c e o f e m p i r i c a l s u p p o r t , s h o u l d e n g e n d e r c o n s i d e r a b l e
u n e a s e f o r a n y p r o t e c t i v e s e r v i c e p e r s o n n e l u s i n g o r c o n
s i d e r i n g t h e u s e o f t h e CLL.
AN EIABJHATiOK OF CAOSE
" I t i s v e r y t e m p t i n g t o c o n d u c t e x p l o r a t o r y s t u d i e s t o
d i s c o v e r d i f f e r e n c e s b e t w e e n g r o u p s o f m a l t r e a t i n g a n d n o r
m al t r e a t i n g p a r e n t s . B u t i t i s a l o g i c a l e r r o r t o i n t e r
p r e t o b t a i n e d c o r r e l a t i o n s a s t h e ’ c a u s e * o f m a l t r e a t m e n t "
( S w e e t a n d R e s i c k , 1979 , p . 5 4 ) . K a p l a n (1964) a n d K e r l i n g -
e r ( 1 9 7 3 ) , a s w e l l a s n u m e r o u s o t h e r s , a d m o n i s h r e s e a r c h e r s
a s t o t h e m i s a d v e n t u r e o f p r e s u m i n g c o r r e l a t i o n t o b e
e q u i v a l e n t t o c a u s a t i o n - N e v e r t h e l e s s , v i r t u a l l y a l l s t u d
i e s t h a t h a v e e m p l o y e d a n y o r d e r o f c o m p a r i s o n g r o u p h a v e
p r o c e e d e d f r o m s t a t i s t i c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s a n d
c o r r e l a t i o n s t o t h e i m p u t a t i o n o f c a u s e .
As S w e e t a n d B e s i c J t ( 1 9 7 9 , P-54) o b s e r v e , " a t b e s t ,
r e s e a r c h ( c o n c e r n i n g c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t ) h a s b e e n c o n d u c t e d
e x p o s t f a c t o . " T h i s i s n o t s o much a c r i t i c i s m a s i t i s a
s t a t e m e n t o f t h e i n e v i t a b l e . A l t h o u g h n o t m e t h o d o l o g i c a l l y
i m p o s s i b l e , i t w o u l d c e r t a i n l y b e c o s t - p r o h i b i t i v e t o c o n
d u c t a l a r g e p a n e l s t u d y t o c l o s e l y f o l l o w f a m i l i e s p r i o r
t o a n i n c i d e n t o f m a l t r e a t m e n t s o t h a t l e s s e q u i v o c a l
a s s e s s m e n t s o f c a u s e c o u l d b e e s t a b l i s h e d .
46
An a c c e p t a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e t o o b t a i n i n g s u c h p a n e l d a t a
i s t o a n a l y z e e x p o s t f a c t o d a t a by m e a n s o f a s p e c i a l
a p p l i c a t i o n o f m u l t i p l e l i n e a r r e g r e s s i o n — p a t h a n a l y s i s -
P a t h a n a l y s i s p r o v i d e s f o r s o l v i n g a s e t o f s t r u c t u r a l
e g u a t i o n s w h e r e i n t i m e - o r d e r e d r e l a t i o n s h i p s a r e s p e c i f i e d
by- e i t h e r l o g i c a l t e m p o r a l o r d e r o r t h e o r y , a n d c o r r e l a t i o n
e x i s t s b e t w e e n v a r i a b l e s t o b e p l a c e d w i t h i n t h e s y s t e m o f
e g u a t i o n s . I t i s i m p o r t a n t t o n o t e , h o w e v e r , t h a t p a t h
a n a l y s i s d o e s n o t i m b u e e x p o s t f a c t o d a t a w i t h a c a p a c i t y
t o a d d r e s s c a u s e e g u a l t o t h a t o f p a n e l o r e x p e r i m e n t a l
d a t a ( B l a l o c k a n d B l a l o c k , 1 9 6 8 ) . A p a t h a n a l y s i s c a n
d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r o r n o t d a t a a r e c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e s p e c
i f i c a t i o n s o f a p a r t i c u l a r m o d e l , b u t c a n n o t e x p l i c i t l y
d e t e r m i n e t h a t a s p e c i f i e d c a u s a l a g e n t i n f a c t p r e c i p i t a t
e d a g i v e n o u t c o m e ( H e i s e , 1 9 7 5 ) .
A l t h o u g h l i m i t e d i n t h i s - w a y , p a t h a n a l y s i s c a n b e a
v a l u a b l e r e s e a r c h t o o l . F o r c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t , a s w i t h
m o s t p h e n o m e n a i n t h e s o c i a l s c i e n c e s , a m u l t i p l i c i t y o f
t h e o r e t i c a l c o n c e p t i o n s e x i s t i n l i t e r a t u r e . H h i l e t h e
a p p l i c a t i o n o f p a t h a n a l y s i s t o d a t a w i l l n e v e r be a b l e t o
d e m o n s t r a t e w h ic h t h e o r e t i c a l m o d e l i s c o r r e c t , s u c h a n a l y
s i s c a n d e m o n s t r a t e w h i c h o n e s a r e n o t . H h e r e t h e i n a b i l i
t y t o a d d r e s s c a u s e h a s v e r y p r a g m a t i c c o n s e g u e n c e s ( s u c h
a s i n t h e c a s e o f m a l t r e a t m e n t ) , a n d t h e n e e d t o t a k e
a c t i o n i s u n a v o i d a b l e ( a s i n p r o t e c t i v e s e r v i c e s ) , b e i n g
47
a L i e t o p a r e down t h e f i e l d o f t h e o r e t i c a l c o n c e p t i o n s
c o u l d p o t e n t i a l l y b e o f g r e a t s e r v i c e .
S e a b u r g (1980 ) i s t h e o n l y r e s e a r c h e r i d e n t i f i e d by
t h i s r e v i e w a s h a v i n g a t t e m p t e d s u c h a n a n a l y s i s . U s i n g
d a t a f r o m G i l ' s (1970) n a t i o n a l s a m p l e o f m a l t r e a t m e n t
i n c i d e n t s , S e a b u r g p e r f o r m e d a s e r i e s o f p a t h a n a l y s e s t o
t e s t t h e m o re d o m i n a n t c o n c e p t i o n s o f m a l t r e a t m e n t c a u s a
t i o n . T h e r e a r e s e v e r a l s i g n i f i c a n t p r o b l e m s w i t h t h i s
w o r k , h o w e v e r , a l t h o u g h t h e s i g n i f i c a n t p r o p o r t i o n o f m a l
t r e a t m e n t c a s e s i n v o l v e c h i l d n e g l e c t , G i l ' s d a t a c o n c e r n
o n l y c h i l d a b u s e . T h e r e f o r e , t h e a n a l y s i s i s i r r e l e v a n t t o
t h e v a s t m a j o r i t y o f m a l t r e a t m e n t c a s e s e x c e p t f o r i n d i v i d
u a l s who f a v o r a b l y e n t e r t a i n t h e h y p o t h e s i s t h a t n e g l e c t
a n d a b u s e a r e d i f f e r e n t m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f t h e s a m e p r o b l e m .
The o t h e r c o n c e r n s c o v e r p r o b l e m s w i t h t h e s a m p l e u s e d by
G i l , r e l i a b i l i t y a n d v a l i d i t y o f i n d i c a t o r s u s e d , a n d l e v e l
o f m e a s u r e m e n t f o r b o t h i n d e p e n d e n t a n d d e p e n d e n t m e a s u r e s .
T h i s s t u d y w i l l e x p a n d u p o n t h e work o f S e a b u r g i n
t h a t m o d e l s w i l l b e t e s t e d f o r b o t h c h i l d a b u s e a n d c h i l d
n e g l e c t , a s w e l l a s f o r t h e g r o u p s c o m b i n e d .
Chapter IIX HETHODOLOGI
DESIGH
The r e s e a r c h d e s i g n e m p l o y e d b y t h i s s t u d y i s e x p o s t
f a c t o . As K e r l i n g e r ( 1 9 7 3 , p p . 379) n o t e s , " e x p o s t f a c t o
r e s e a r c h i s s y s t e m a t i c e m p i r i c a l i n q u i r y i n w h i c h t h e s c i
e n t i s t d o e s n o t h a v e d i r e c t c o n t r o l o f i n d e p e n d e n t v a r i
a b l e s b e c a u s e t h e i r m a n i f e s t a t i o n s h a v e a l r e a d y o c c u r r e d o r
b e c a u s e t h e y a r e i n h e r e n t l y n o t m a n i p u l a b l e - " A l t h o u g h
e x p e r i m e n t a l a n d g u a s i - e x p e r i m e n t a l d e s i g n s a f f o r d b e t t e r
v a r i a n c e c o n t r o l a n d t h u s p e r m i t l e s s e q u i v o c a t i o n i n t h e
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f f i n d i n g s , s u c h d e s i g n s a r e i m p r a c t i c a l
f o r r e s e a r c h p r o b l e m s s u c h a s c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t .
S i n c e c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t i s n o t a t r e a t m e n t v a r i a b l e
i n t h e c l a s s i c e x p e r i m e n t a l s e n s e , t h e r e e x i s t s no p o s s i
b i l i t y f o r random a s s i g n m e n t t o g r o u p s s u c h a s m a l t r e a t i n g
and n o t m a l t r e a t i n g . F u r t h e r , g a t h e r i n g d a t a b e f o r e t h e
m a l t r e a t i n g e v e n t w ou ld r e q u i r e c a s t i n g a r a t h e r l a r g e n e t
i n t h e h o p e o f u l t i m a t e l y h a v i n g enough m a l t r e a t i n g s u b
j e c t s e m e r g e t o e n a b l e a m e a n i n g f u l a n a l y s i s .
- 48 -
T h i s a p p r o a c h h a s b e e n a t t e m p t e d . H u n t e r e t a l .
( 1 9 8 0 ) c o l l e c t e d a w i d e r a n g e o f d a t a f o r 282 n e w b o r n s a t a
N o r t h C a r o l i n a h o s p i t a l a n d t h e i r p a r e n t s d u r i n g a o n e - y e a r
p e r i o d . S t u d y s t a f f t h e n m o n i t o r e d i n v e s t i g a t i o n s b y t h e
c o u n t y d e p a r t m e n t o f s o c i a l s e r v i c e s f o r an a d d i t i o n a l y e a r
s o a s t o d e t e c t i n c i d e n t s o f m a l t r e a t m e n t i n v o l v i n g a n y o f
t h e s t u d y c h i l d r e n . T h i s d e s i g n o f f e r e d d i s t i n c t a d v a n t a g
e s t o an ex p o s t f a c t o d e s i g n . H o w e v e r , t h e i m p r a c t i c a l i t y
o f t h e d e s i g n was m ade o b v i o u s i n t h a t o n l y 10 c h i l d r e n
f r o m t h e 2 8 2 w e r e i d e n t i f i e d a s b e i n g m a l t r e a t m e n t v i c t i m s
i n t h e s t u d y p e r i o d — a n u m b e r i n a d e q u a t e f o r s t a t i s t i c a l
a n a l y s i s g i v e n t h a t ' e x p l a n a t i o n , n o t r a t e e s t i m a t i o n , w a s
t h e g o a l o f t h e s t u d y .
ONI T OF ANALYSIS
T h e u n i t o f a n a l y s i s f o r t h i s s t u d y was t h e f a m i l y
u n i t w h e r e i n a n i n c i d e n t o r i n c i d e n t s o f c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t
h a d b e e n d e t e c t e d by p u b l i c p r o t e c t i v e s e r v i c e p e r s o n n e l .
T h e f a m i l y , r a t h e r t h a n t h e c h i l d , w a s c h o s e n f o r t w o r e a
s o n s - F i r s t , p r o t e c t i v e s e r v i c e r e c o r d s i n O h i o , t h e g e o
g r a p h i c l o c a t i o n o f t h e s t u d y , a r e i n d e x e d b y f a m i l y r a t h e r
t h a n b y v i c t i m . H e n c e , c o l l e c t i n g d a t a a n d t r a c k i n g c a s e s
by f a m i l y w e r e d e e m e d t o b e l e s s t r o u b l e s o m e t o t h e a g e n c y
p e r s o n n e l i n v o l v e d i n t h e s t u d y t h a n a n y o t h e r a l t e r n a t i v e -
More i m p o r t a n t , t h e s i g n i f i c a n t g u e s t i o n s o f t h i s s t u d y
50
h a v i n g t o do w i t h c a u s e r e q u i r e d a f a m i l y l e v e l a n a l y s i s .
F u r t h e r , c o l l e c t i n g f a m i l y r a t h e r t h a n v i c t i m d a t a e l i m i
n a t e d t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r m u l t i p l e o b s e r v a t i o n s o f an i n d i
v i d u a l f a m i l y .
SAflPLXHG P R O C E D U R E S
One o f t h e s i g n i f i c a n t c r i t i c i s m s o f r e s e a r c h i n t h e
a r e a o f c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t i s t h a t d a t a a r e o f t e n c o l l e c t e d
f r o m o n l y on e o r a f e w s o u r c e s i n a l i m i t e d g e o g r a p h i c a r e a
( P l o t k i n , e t a l . , 1 9 8 1 ) . To m i n i m i z e p r o b l e m s o f g e n e r a l -
i z a b i l i t y , t h i s s t u d y a t t e m p t e d t o i n c l u d e c a s e s f r o m a s
many c o u n t i e s a s w e r e e c o n o m i c a l l y f e a s i b l e g i v e n a l i m i t e d
b u d g e t . I t w a s e s t i m a t e d t h a t s u f f i c i e n t f u n d s e x i s t e d f o r
c o l l e c t i n g i n f o r m a t i o n o n 600 f a m i l i e s .
Count y S am ple
A n o t h e r c o n c e r n a d d r e s s e d i n t h e e a r l y s a m p l i n g s t r a t
e g y w a s t h a t t o o o f t e n d a t a f o r m a l t r e a t m e n t s t u d i e s , a s i d e
f r o m b e i n g n a r r o w i n g e o g r a p h i c s c o p e , r e p r e s e n t e d o n l y
u r b a n c a t c h m e n t s . S i n c e g e n e r a l i t y o f f i n d i n g s w as an
i m p o r t a n t g o a l f o r t h i s s t u d y , e f f o r t s were made t o i n c l u d e
r u r a l a n d p a r t - r u r a l , p a r t - u r b a n c o u n t i e s a l o n g w i t h t h e
u r b a n o n e s .
T h e s p e c i f i c s a m p l i n g p r o c e d u r e f o r t h e c o u n t i e s was
p u r p o s i v e . A l t h o u g h a r a n d o m i z e d s e l e c t i o n p r o c e s s wou ld
h a v e b e e n v a s t l y p r e f e r a b l e , i t w as n o t d e e m e d f e a s i b l e .
51
S i n c e t h e a c t u a l d a t a c o l l e c t i o n i n v o l v e d t h e v o l u n t a r y
c o o p e r a t i o n o f t h e c o u n t y p r o t e c t i v e s e r v i c e s t a f f , t h e
b e s t r a n d o m s e l e c t i o n p r o c e s s w o u l d h a v e b e e n c o r r u p t e d b y
t h o s e c o u n t i e s o p t i n g n o t t o p a r t i c i p a t e - T h e r e f o r e , c o u n
t i e s w e r e a s k e d t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e f o l
l o w i n g c r i t e r i a ;
1 . th e t o t a l g r o u p o f c o u n t i e s w ou ld be g e o g r a p h i c a l l y
s p r e a d a c r o s s O h io a s ra n d o m ly a s p o s s i b l e ;
2 - t h e t o t a l g r o u p w o u l d p r o v i d e a b a l a n c e o f c a s e s
a c r o s s u r b a n , p a r t - u r b a n a n d p a r t - r u r a l , a n d r u r a l
c o u n t i e s ; a n d ,
3 . s p a c i n g o f c o u n t i e s g e o g r a p h i c a l l y w o u l d b e s u c h t h a t
t r a v e l f r o m F r a n k l i n C o u n t y , t h e c o u n t y f r o m w h i c h t h e
p r o j e c t w a s m a n a g e d , w o u ld b e m i n i m i z e d s i n c e c o n s i d
e r a b l e t r a v e l t o a n d f r o m c o u n t i e s w o u l d b e n e c e s s a r y .
H i t h t h e s e c r i t e r i a i n m i n d , a t h r e e - p a g e p r o j e c t p r o
s p e c t u s w i t h a c o v e r l e t t e r s i g n e d by a p r o f e s s o r f r o m t h e
C o l l e g e o f S o c i a l H o r k a t t h e O h i o S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y was
s e n t t o p r o t e c t i v e s e r v i c e a g e n c y e x e c u t i v e s i n 28 c o u n t i e s
( s e e A p p e n d i x £ f o r p r o s p e c t u s a n d l e t t e r ) . As was i n d i
c a t e d i n t h e l e t t e r , a f o l l o w - u p t e l e p h o n e c a l l w as p l a c e d
t o e a c h c o u n t y e x e c u t i v e w i t h i n 7 t o 10 d a y s a f t e r t h e
m a t e r i a l was m a i l e d . D u r i n g t h e t e l e p h o n e c o n v e r s a t i o n s ,
f u r t h e r e l a b o r a t i o n a s t o t h e n a t u r e a n d i n t e n t o f t h e
s t u d y was o f f e r e d , a s w e l l a s a n a s s e s s m e n t o f t h e l i k e l y
b u r d e n u p o n p r o t e c t i v e s e r v i c e c a s e w o r k e r s .
52
Of t n e 28 c o u n t i e s c o n t a c t e d , t w o d e c l i n e d t o p a r t i c i
p a t e o u t r i g h t . A d d i t i o n a l l y , tw o c o u n t i e s t e n t a t i v e l y
a g r e e d , t u t d e c i d e d n o t t o p a r t i c i p a t e a f t e r a p r e s e n t a t i o n
o f t h e s t u d y i n a m e e t i n g w i t h w o r k e r s a n d s u p e r v i s o r s .
F u r t h e r , o n e c o u n t y w a s d e l e t e d f r o m c o n s i d e r a t i o n d u e t o
c o n c e r n s a b o u t t h e a b i l i t y o f t h e a g e n c y s t a f f t o p e r f o r m
d a t a c o l l e c t i o n a d e q u a t e l y .
Two o f t h e r u r a l c o u n t i e s w e r e d e l e t e d a f t e r t h e d a t a
c o l l e c t i o n h a d c o m m e n c e d . The h e a d o f o n e a g e n c y r e t i r e d
e a r l y i n t h e d a t a c o l l e c t i o n p e r i o d , a n d w h i l e t h e i n d i v i d
u a l who f i l l e d t h e p o s i t i o n s t a t e d a w i l l i n g n e s s t o c o n t i n
u e , t h a t c o m m i t m e n t was s u f f i c i e n t l y e q u i v o c a l t o w a r r a n t
t h e c o u n t y ' s d e l e t i o n f r o m t h e s a m p l e . The s e c o n d d e l e t i o n
o c c u r r e d b e c a u s e o n l y o n e c a s e w o r k e r h a n d l e d p r o t e c t i v e
s e r v i c e s c a s e s f o r t h e c o u n t y , a n d t h i s w o r k e r p e r s i s t e n t l y
p u t o f f c o m p l e t i n g s t u d y i n s t r u m e n t s . As a r e s u l t , t h e
f i n a l s a m p l e c o n s i s t e d o f 2 1 c o u n t i e s , w h i c h r e p r e s e n t s 24
p e r c e n t o f t h e c o u n t i e s i n t h e s t a t e , a n d 75 p e r c e n t o f t h e
c o u n t i e s o r i g i n a l l y s o l i c i t e d .
U s i n g a c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s y s t e m f o r c o u n t y s i z e d e v e l
o p e d b y t h e O h i o D e p a r t m e n t o f H e a l t h ( P u c k e t t , 1 9 7 9 ) , t h e
s a m p l e i n c l u d e d :
* 2 l a r g e u r b a n c o u n t i e s ,
* 6 p a r t - u r b a n a n d p a r t - r u r a l c o u n t i e s ; a n d ,
* 13 r u r a l c o u n t i e s .
A d e t a i l e d l i s t o f t h e s e c o u n t i e s c a n b e f o u n d i n T a b l e 1.
53
F am ily S a m ple
T h e m a j o r c o n c e r n s i n s e t t l i n g on a s a m p l i n g s t r a t e g y
f o r s t u d y f a m i l i e s was t h a t g e n e r a l i z a b i l i t y f r o m s a m p l e
d a t a s h o u l d b e m a x i m i z e d , w h i l e a t t h e s a m e t i m e a g e n c y
b u r d e n would b e m i n i m i z e d . To p r o v i d e f o r r e p r e s e n t a t i o n
a c r o s s c o u n t i e s o f d i f f e r i n g s i z e , i t mas d e c i d e d t h a t t h e
u r b a n c o u n t i e s w o u l d p r o v i d e 150 c a s e s e a c h , t h e p a r t - r u r a l
a n d p a r t - u r b a n c o u n t i e s w ou ld p r o v i d e 25 t o 50 c a s e s e a c h ,
a n d t h e r u r a l c o u n t i e s 10 c a s e s e a c h .
Random s e l e c t i o n o f s u b j e c t s f r o m e a c h c o u n t y was
f o u n d t o be i m p r a c t i c a l a n d m i g h t h a v e r e s u l t e d i n som e
c o u n t i e s w i t h d r a w i n g f r o m t h e s t u d y . T h u s e a c h a g e n c y was
a s s i g n e d t o f i l l a q u o t a , d e p e n d e n t u p o n c o u n t y c l a s s i f i c a
t i o n , w i t h a l l new m a l t r e a t m e n t c a s e s a s t h e y p r e s e n t e d
t h e m s e l v e s d u r i n g t h e d a t a c o l l e c t i o n p e r i o d . T h e r e f o r e ,
o n c e a c a s e met t h e d e f i n i t i o n o f e l i g i b i l i t y f o r t h e
s t u d y , i t was i n c l u d e d u n t i l t h e a g e n c y g u o t a h a d b e e n m e t .
S i n c e t h e d a t a c o l l e c t i o n p e r i o d f o r t h e c o u n t i e s r a n g e d
f r o m f o u r t o n i n e m o n t h s , t h e d a m a g e t o g e n e r a l i z a b i l i t y
b e c a u s e o f t h e u s e o f t h i s t y p e o f n o n p r o b a b i l i t y s a m p l e
r a t h e r t h a n r a n d o m i z a t i o n s h o u l d h a v e b e e n m i n i m i z e d . I n
e s s e n c e , s t u d y c a s e s r e p r e s e n t p o p u l a t i o n d a t a f o r m a l
t r e a t i n g f a m i l i e s i n t h e s t u d y c o u n t i e s f o r a p e r i o d a v e r
a g i n g s i x m o n t h s . T h i s s t u d y p r o c e e d s u p o n t h e a s s u m p t i o n
t h a t t h e p o p u l a t i o n o f c a s e s f o r t h e d a t a c o l l e c t i o n p e r i o d
54
r e p r e s e n t s a c r o s s s e c t i o n o f a l l c a s e s p r e s e n t i n g th e m
s e l v e s t o t h e i n c l u d e d a g e n c i e s .
S t u d y p l a n s had o r i g i n a l l y c a l l e d f o r t h e c o m p a r i s o n
o f t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f s t u d y c a s e s w i t h t h e c h a r a c t e r i s
t i c s o f c a s e s f ro m p r i o r y e a r s b o t h a c r o s s a n d w i t h i n c o u n
t i e s . T h i s was t o b e a c c o m p l i s h e d by u s i n g d a t a s u p p l i e d
by e a c h c o u n t y f o r a l l m a l t r e a t m e n t i n v e s t i g a t i o n s t o t h e
O h i o C e n t r a l B e g i s t r y o f C h i l d P r o t e c t i o n . W h i l e i n i t i a l
i n q u i r y i n d i c a t e d t h a t s u c h a c o m p a r i s o n w o u ld l i k e l y n o t
b e p r o b l e m a t i c , l a t e r e f f o r t s i n t h i s r e g a r d p r o v e d g u i t e
t h e o p p o s i t e . I t w as f i n a l l y d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e c e n t r a l
r e g i s t r y w a s , a n d r e m a i n s s t i l l , a m a n u a l s y s t e m . A l t h o u g h
t h e r e w e r e i n d i c a t i o n s t o t h e c o n t r a r y , t h e i n f o r m a t i o n h a s
n e v e r b e e n c o m p u t e r i z e d . As a r e s u l t , t e s t s t o d e t e r m i n e
t h e d e g r e e o f f i t b e t w e e n s t u d y c a s e s a n d c a s e s h i s t o r i c a l
l y h a n d l e d b y t h e c o u n t i e s a r e n o t p o s s i b l e a t t h i s t i m e .
Hho H a s I n c l u d e d ; D e f i n i n g M a l t r e a t m e n t
As d i s c u s s e d i n C h a p t e r X, t h e r e i s n o g e n e r a l l y
a c c e p t e d , s p e c i f i c d e f i n i t i o n o f e i t h e r c h i l d a b u s e o r n e g
l e c t . D i n g w a l l a n d E e k e l a a r (1 9 8 0 ) o b s e r v e t h a t " t h e c h a r
a c t e r o f t h e p r o b l e m o f . . . ( m a l t r e a t m e n t ) . . . d e p e n d s on some
s e t o f i d e a s a b o u t w h a t c h i l d h o o d o u g h t t o b e l i k e , " a n d
t h e r e i s n o c o n s e n s u s o f i d e a s .
W h i l e t h e O h i o E e v i s e d C o d e , S e c t i o n 2 1 5 1 - 0 3 d e t a i l s
t h e l e g a l e l e m e n t s o f b o t h c h i l d a b u s e a n d n e g l e c t , t h i s
55
d e l i n e a t i o n i s s o v a g u e a s t o b e n o t c l e a r l y i n s t r u c t i v e
e x c e p t f o r e x t r e m e c a s e s , a n d i s p a r t i c u l a r l y v a g u e f o r
c h i l d n e g l e c t - T h e n a t u r e o f t h i s c o m p l i c a t i o n i s
e x p l a i n e d by N a g i ( 1 9 7 7 ) ;
" C a s e s c l o s e t o t h e t v o e n d s o f a n y c o n t i n u u m a r e r e a d i l y i d e n t i f i a b l e ; t o w a r d t h e m i d d l e o f t h e c o n t i n u u m , h o w e v e r , t h e r e i s a l w a y s a d o u b t f u la r e a - T h e a r e a o f d o u b t s e e m s e s p e c i a l l y l a r g e i n r e g a r d t o c a s e s o f c h i l d a b u s e a n d n e g l e c t .At t h e h e a r t o f t h e p r o b le m l i e s th e q u e s t i o n o f when and i n w h at f o r m s m a l t r e a t m e n t i s t o b e c o n s i d e r e d . - - e x c e s s i v e " ( p . 2 0 ) .
B e s h a r o v (19 81) i n d i c a t e s t h a t o n e o f t h e p r o b l e m s
e n d e m i c t o m a l t r e a t m e n t r e s e a r c h h a s b e e n t h e f r a m i n g o f
s t u d i e s a r o u n d p o o r o r i d i o s y n c r a t i c d e f i n i t i o n s o f t h e
p r o b l e m - S w e e t a n d B e s i c k (1 9 7 9 ) a l s o d i s c u s s t h e v a r i e d
m a n n e r i n w h i c h p r o b l e m d e f i n i t i o n h a s b e e n a d d r e s s e d i n
l i t e r a t u r e . I n c o n s i d e r i n g t h i s p r o b l e m , i t a p p e a r e d t h a t
a t t e m p t i n g t o e n f o r c e a p a r t i c u l a r d e f i n i t i o n o f t h e p r o b
le m t h r o u g h t h e s t u d y w o u l d h a v e b e e n c o u n t e r p r o d u c t i v e .
T h e i n t e n t o f t h e s t u d y was t o e x a m i n e a r a n g e o f m a l
t r e a t m e n t s e v e r i t y , i n c l u d i n g c a s e s f r o m t h e l e a s t s e v e r e
m a n i f e s t a t i o n l e v e l t o t h e m os t s e v e r e . C o n s e g u e n t l y , t h e
c a s e s t h a t w o u ld i n e v i t a b l y f a l l i n t o t h e " g r e y " a r e a s
b e t w e e n n o n e x i s t e n c e o f m a l t r e a t m e n t . a n d a s e v e r e m a l t r e a t
m e n t w e r e o f g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e t o t h e s t u d y . S i v e n t h a t
e a c h w o r k e r p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n t h e s t u d y c o u l d h a v e p o t e n
t i a l l y v i e w e d a s t u d y - d e p e n d e n t d e f i n i t i o n o f m a l t r e a t m e n t
d i f f e r e n t l y , e v e n a f t e r t r a i n i n g , i t s e e m e d t h a t t h e b e s t
56
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n c r i t e r i a w e r e t h e l e g a l d e f i n i t i o n s a n d p r o
f e s s i o n a l j u d g m e n t s a s u s e d b y w o r k e r s on a d a i l y b a s i s . .
As a r e s u l t , w o r k e r s w e r e i n s t r u c t e d t o s e l e c t f o r
i n c l u s i o n i n t h e s t u d y a l l c a s e s t h a t t h e y d e f i n e d a s m a l
t r e a t i n g i n t h e o r d i n a r y c o u r s e o f c a s e p r o c e s s . I n
e s s e n c e , t h e s t u d y u s e s a " r u l e s i n u s e " a p p r o a c h t o c a s e
s e l e c t i o n ( H a w k i n s a n d T i e d e m a n , 1 9 7 5 ) . E v e n t h o u g h t h e
a c t u a l s e l e c t i o n c r i t e r i a may v a r y o v e r w o r k e r s w i t h i n a
c o u n t y , a n d f u r t h e r among c o u n t i e s , t h e p r e s u m p t i o n i s t h a t
w h a t e v e r v a r i a b i l i t y s o e x i s t s , i t l i k e l y p r e s e n t s l e s s
b i a s t h a n t h e u n e v e n a p p l i c a t i o n o f a u n i q u e , s t u d y -
d e p e n d e n t d e f i n i t i o n .
N atu re o f t h e Sam ple
O f t h e 600 c a s e s t h a t h a d b e e n o r i g i n a l l y p l a n n e d ,
d a t a w e r e u l t i m a t e l y g a t h e r e d f o r 491 c a s e s . T h e s a m p l e
t h a t was c a r r i e d i n t o a n a l y s i s w a s 47 2 c a s e s . N i n e t e e n
c a s e s w e r e d e l e t e d d u e t o e x t e n s i v e m i s s i n g d a t a o r w o r k e r
e r r o r s t h a t w e r e d e t e c t e d d u r i n g q u a l i t y c o n t r o l c h e c k i n g
a n d w e r e n o t p o s s i b l e t o r e c t i f y . T h i r t e e n o f t h e s e w e r e
f r o m t h e u r b a n c o u n t i e s , f o u r w e r e f r o m p a r t - u r b a n , p a r t -
r u r a l c o u n t i e s , a n d t h e r e m a i n i n g tw o w e r e f r o m r u r a l c o u n
t i e s .
W h e r e a s t h e t o t a l n u m b e r o f c a s e s was a b o u t 20 p e r c e n t
l e s s t h a n o r i g i n a l l y p r o j e c t e d , t h e p r o p o r t i o n a l d i s t r i b u
t i o n a c r o s s t h e t h r e e c a t e g o r i e s w as v e r y c l o s e t o w h a t
57
T a b l e 1
C o u n t i e s bv C l a s s i f i c a t i o n a n d C a s e s C o n t r i b u t e d
COUNTY CLASSIFICATION CASES PERCENT
C l a r k U r b a n - B u r a l 39 8 - 3C l i n t o n R u r a l 9 1 - 9D e l a w a r e R u r a l 10 2 . 1F a i r f i e l d U r b a n - R u r a l 29 6-1F a y e t t e R u r a l 10 2 . 1G e a u g a R u r a l 10 2 - 1H a m i l t o n U r b a n 121 2 5 . 6H a n c o c k U r b a n - R u r a l 12 2 - 5H a r d i n R u r a l 10 2 - 1H o c k i n g R u r a l 6 1 . 3Holm es R u r a l 10 2 -1Knox R u r a l 10 2 . 1L i c k i n g U r b a n - R u r a l 24 5 . 1M a d i s o n R u r a l 10 2 . 1M o n tg o m e r y U r b a n 90 1 9 .1Morrow R u r a l 10 2 -1M u s k in g h a m U r b a n - R u r a l 17 3 . 6B i c h l a n d U r b a n - R u r a l 15 3 . 2S h e l b y R u r a l 10 2 . 1W a s h i n g t o n R u r a l 10 2 - 1W y a n d o t R u r a l 10 2 . 1
T o t a l 472 1 0 0 . 0
h a d b e e n p l a n n e d . T h e u r b a n c o u n t i e s s u p p l i e d 211 c a s e s ,
o r 45 p e r c e n t . The p a r t - u r b a n a n d p a r t - r u r a l c o u n t i e s s u p
p l i e d 136 t o t a l c a s e s , o r 29 p e r c e n t . T h e 13 r u r a l c o u n
t i e s s u p p l i e d t h e r e m a i n i n g 1 2 5 c a s e s , o r 27 p e r c e n t o f t h e
t o t a l s a m p l e . A l i s t i n g o f t h e c a s e s p r o v i d e d by c o u n t y
c a n b e f o u n d i n T a b l e 1 .
58
IHSTRPHENTATIQH
One l a r g e i n s t r u m e n t v a s d e v e l o p e d f o r t h e s t u d y . I t
wa,s u s e d i n c o u n t i e s w h e r e i n t h e w o r k e r a s s i g n e d t o i n v e s
t i g a t e a c a s e w o u l d a l s o b e c o m e t h e o n g o i n g c a s e w o r k e r i f
m a l t r e a t m e n t was d e t e c t e d . I n t h e s i x c o u n t i e s t h a t had
s e p a r a t e i n t a k e a n d o n g o i n g s t a f f , two i n s t r u m e n t s w e r e
c l o n e d f r o m t h e l a r g e o n e a n d w e r e u s e d t o g a t h e r i n f o r m a
t i o n a p p l i c a b l e t o t h e t a s k o f e a c h w o r k e r . I n s u c h
i n s t a n c e s , a c o n s i d e r a b l e a m o u n t o f r e d u n d a n t i n f o r m a t i o n
was r e c o r d e d by b o t h w o r k e r s c o n c e r n i n g t h e n a t u r e a n d
e x t e n t o f p r o b l e m s , a s w e l l a s s u s p e c t e d c a u s a l f a c t o r s .
A l s o , b o t h w o r k e r s a n s w e r e d a s e t o f o v e r a l l a s s e s s m e n t
q u e s t i o n s .
T h e r e d u n d a n t i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e d t h e d a t a upon w h i c h
t h e r e l i a b i l i t y a s s e s s m e n t o f o b s e r v a t i o n s a n d j u d g m e n t s o f
t h e i n t a k e w o r k e r s was b a s e d . The l a r g e , c o m p l e t e i n s t r u
m e n t c a n be f o u n d i n A p p e n d i x C. T h e i n s t r u m e n t u s e d b y
i n v e s t i g a t i v e w o r k e r s c o n s i s t e d o n l y o f S e c t i o n s I a n d I I
o f t h e c o m p l e t e i n s t r u m e n t . T h e s e c o n d c l o n e d i n s t r u m e n t
i n c l u d e d S e c t i o n s I I t h r o u g h V.
D i s c o u n t i n g t h e r e d u n d a n c y , t h e i n s t r u m e n t v a s com
p r i s e d o f f i v e p r i m a r y s e c t i o n s . The S e c t i o n I r e c o r d e d
i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e d t o t h e S t a t e on t h e C e n t r a l R e g i s t r y
f o r m . T h i s s e c t i o n v a s s t r u c t u r e d t o r e s e m b l e t h e r e g i s t r y
f o r m a n d u s e d t h e s a m e c a t e g o r i e s t o m i n i m i z e c o n f u s i o n a n d
59
w o r k e r e f f o r t . T h e i n f o r m a t i o n g a t h e r e d b y t h i s s e c t i o n
c o n c e r n e d t h e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f t h e g u a r d i a n s , p e r p e t r a
t o r s , a n d c h i l d r e n i n v o l v e d , a s w e l l a s d e m o g r a p h i c i n f o r
m a t i o n f o r e a c h i n d i v i d u a l . T h e n a t u r e o f t h e c o m p l a i n t
r e c e i v e d , r e f e r r a l s o u r c e , a n d c l a s s i f i c a t i o n j u d g m e n t w e r e
a l s o i n c l u d e d . I n a d d i t i o n , . t h i s s e c t i o n c o l l e c t e d c o n s i d
e r a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g t h e s p e c i f i c t y p e o f p r o b l e m s
o b s e r v e d , i d e n t i f i e d f a m i l y s t r e s s f a c t o r s , l i k e l y s e r v i c e
n e e d s , p u b l i c a s s i s t a n c e s t a t u s , a n d e m p l o y m e n t s t a t u s .
S w e e t a n d B e s i c k ( 1 9 7 9 ) s u g g e s t t h a t o n e p r o b l e m i n
m a l t r e a t m e n t r e s e a r c h i s t h a t c h i l d n e g l e c t t e n d s t o b e
c a s t a s a u n i d i m e n s i o n a l p h e n o m e n o n . T o a d d r e s s t h i s c r i t
i c i s m t h e s t u d y i n s t r u m e n t w as d e s i g n e d t o c o l l e c t d a t a
c o n c e r n i n g 10 d i f f e r e n t c a t e g o r i e s o f n e g l e c t i d e n t i f i e d by
G i o v a n n o n i a n d B e c e r r a ( 1 9 7 9 ) , i n a d d i t i o n t o p h y s i c a l a n d
s e x u a l a b u s e . Q u e s t i o n s a d d r e s s i n g e a c h o f t h e s e 12 c a t
e g o r i e s o f m a l t r e a t m e n t w e r e a s s e s s e d i n d i v i d u a l l y i n s u b
s e c t i o n s o f S e c t i o n I I o f t h e s t u d y i n s t r u m e n t .
E a c h o f t h e s e 12 s u b s e c t i o n s a s k e d a b o u t 3 g e n e r a l
t y p e s o f p r o b l e m s f o u n d t o b e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h a s p e c i f i c
t y p e o f m a l t r e a t m e n t i n G i o v a n n o n i a n d B e c e r r a * s s t u d y
( 1 9 7 9 ) . T h e r e w a s a l s o a f o u r t h , c a t c h - a l l i t e m i n c l u d e d
i n e a c h s e c t i o n t o a s s e s s s i t u a t i o n s t h a t t h e w o r k e r f e l t
s h o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d u n d e r a s p e c i f i c t y p e o f m a l t r e a t m e n t ,
b u t t h a t d i d n o t f i t a n y o f t h e t h r e e g e n e r a l s i t u a t i o n s
60
s p e c i f i c a l l y a d d r e s s e d . Where m a l t r e a t i n g c o n d i t i o n s w e r e
r e c o r d e d f o r a s e c t i o n , a s e t o f a d d i t i o n a l g u e s t i o n s v e r e
p r e s e n t e d t h a t a s s e s s e d t h e e x t e n t a n d s e v e r i t y o f t h e s p e
c i f i c p r o b l e m ( s ) i d e n t i f i e d a n d t h e p o s s i b l e c a u s e s o f t h e
p r o b l e m .
A l s o i n c l u d e d was a n o v e r a l l a s s e s s m e n t a s t o t h e
n a t u r e a n d e x t e n t o f t h e m a l t r e a t m e n t i n t h e f a m i l y , t y p e
o f i n t e r v e n t i o n n e e d e d , a n d t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t t h e f a m i l y
w o u ld r e s p o n d t o i n t e r v e n t i o n . The a s s e s s m e n t s o f t h e
r e l i a b i l i t y o f o b s e r v a t i o n s a n d j u d g m e n t s c o n n e c t e d t o t h e
i n i t i a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n u s e d d a t a g a t h e r e d by t h i s s e c t i o n .
B o th i n v e s t i g a t i v e a n d o n g o i n g w o r k e r s , i n c o u n t i e s w h e r e
t h e s e f u n c t i o n s v e r e s e p a r a t e d , c o m p l e t e d t h i s s e c t i o n f o r
e a c h c a s e .
T h e S e c t i o n 1X1 g a t h e r e d g e n e r a l i n f o r m a t i o n o n t h e
f a m i l y , s u c h a s c u r r e n t l i v i n g s i t u a t i o n , t h e a m o u n t o f
e m p l o y m e n t a n d p u b l i c a s s i s t a n c e i n c o m e , a n d t y p e s o f p u b
l i c a s s i s t a n c e a n d s e r v i c e s , b o t h r e c e i v e d a n d n e e d e d b u t
n o t r e c e i v e d .
S e c t i o n IV g a t h e r e d a c o n s i d e r a b l e a m o u n t o f i n f o r m a
t i o n o n up t o t h r e e a d u l t s i n a f a m i l y . T h e n a t u r e o f t h e
i n f o r m a t i o n v a r i e d w i d e l y - B a s i c d e m o g r a p h i c i n f o r m a t i o n
was g a t h e r e d , s e r v i n g a s a q u a l i t y c o n t r o l c h e c k f o r i n f o r
m a t i o n f r o m S e c t i o n I a s w e l l a s e l a b o r a t i n g u p o n t h e
i n f o r m a t i o n i n S e c t i o n I . E m p lo y m e n t a n d e d u c a t i o n l e v e l
61
w e r e a s s e s s e d , a s w e r e t h e l e v e l s o f b o t h p h y s i c a l a n d p s y
c h o l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g . A n u m b e r o f i t e m s a d d r e s s e d t h e
i s s u e o f s o c i a l i s o l a t i o n . T h e e x t e n t t o w h i c h i n d i v i d u a l
b e h a v i o r a n d / o r b e l i e f s w e r e i n f l u e n c e d b y r e l i g i o n a n d
s u b c u l t u r e was m e a s u r e d , a s was t h e e x t e n t t o w h i c h s u b
s t a n c e a b u s e was a p r o b l e m .
T h e l a s t s e c t i o n . S e c t i o n V, g a t h e r e d i n f o r m a t i o n on
up t o s i x c h i l d r e n . I n t h o s e f a m i l i e s t h a t h a d m ore t h a n
s i x c h i l d r e n , w o r k e r s w e r e i n s t r u c t e d t o p r o v i d e i n f o r m a
t i o n o n t h e y o u n g e s t a n d o l d e s t , a n d t h e f o u r o t h e r c h i l
d r e n d e e m e d m o s t a f f e c t e d by t h e m a l t r e a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s .
Age, s e x , a n d r a c e w e r e d e t e r m i n e d . H h e t h e r a n i n d i v i d u a l
c h i l d ha d b e e n a b u s e d o r n e g l e c t e d w a s r e c o r d e d , a s was
s c h o o l g r a d e l e v e l a n d w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e c h i l d w a s h a v i n g
d i f f i c u l t i e s i n s c h o o l . E a c h c h i l d * s l e v e l o f p s y c h o l o g i
c a l f u n c t i o n i n g w a s a s s e s s e d . A l s o d e t e r m i n e d w e r e c h i l -
d r e n * s p h y s i c a l d i f f i c u l t i e s i n t h e f i r s t y e a r o f l i f e a n d
w h e t h e r o r n o t a c h i l d was h a v i n g a p r o b l e m w i t h e x c e s s i v e
c r y i n g , b e d w e t t i n g , o r u n r u l i n e s s a t t h e t i m e o f t h e
a s s e s s m e n t . Xn t h o s e f a m i l i e s t h a t h a d m o r e t h a n s i x c h i l
d r e n , w o r k e r s v e r e i n s t r u c t e d t o p r o v i d e i n f o r m a t i o n on t h e
y o u n g e s t a n d o l d e s t , a n d t h e f o u r o t h e r c h i l d r e n deem ed
m o s t a f f e c t e d by t h e m a l t r e a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s .
The s p e c i f i c r a t i o n a l e a n d l i t e r a t u r e r e f e r e n c e s f o r
t h e i n c l u s i o n o f t h e w i d e r a n g e o f v a r i a b l e s a d d r e s s e d w i l l
62
b e p r e s e n t e d i n t h e s e c t i o n o f t h i s c h a p t e r c o n c e r n e d w i t h
m e a s u r e m e n t .
Admi n i s t r a t i o n
I n a l l c o u n t i e s e x c e p t t w o , t r a i n i n g w a s p r o v i d e d a t
t h e a g e n c y f o r a l l p r o t e c t i v e s e r v i c e w o r k e r s l i k e l y t o
c o m p l e t e an i n s t r u m e n t . I n t h e tw o c o u n t i e s i n w h i c h
t r a i n i n g was n o t p r o v i d e d d i r e c t l y t o t h e w o r k e r s , t h e
s u p e r v i s o r s w e r e t r a i n e d i n t h e i r s t e a d , a n d t h e y i n t u r n
t r a i n e d t h e w o r k e r s . S e v e r a l c o u n t i e s r e q u i r e d s e v e r a l ,
a n d i n t h e c a s e o f o n e , many v i s i t s s o t h a t s t a f f c o u l d b e
s o t r a i n e d . S p e c i f i c p r o b l e m s e n c o u n t e r e d w h i l e c o m p l e t i n g
s t u d y i n s t r u m e n t s w e r e h a n d l e d o v e r t h e t e l e p h o n e a s t h e y
a r o s e , i f a p e r s o n a l v i s i t t o t h e a g e n c y w a s n o t p l a n n e d
f o r a n y t i m e s o o n a f t e r t h e e m e r g e n c e o f t h e p r o b l e m .
D u r i n g t h e s e t r a i n i n g s e s s i o n s w o r k e r s w e r e f a m i l i a r
i z e d w i t h t h e n a t u r e a n d s c o p e o f t h e s t u d y , s p e c i f i c
i n s t r u m e n t i t e m s a n d t h e r e a s o n f o r t h e i r i n c l u s i o n , a n d
t h e p r o c e d u r e s f o r m a n a g i n g m i s s i n g o r a m b i g u o u s d a t a .
N o r k e r s w e r e e n c o u r a g e d t o m ak e t e l e p h o n e c o n t a c t w h e n e v e r
p r o b l e m s a r o s e o r t h e y w e r e u n c e r t a i n a b o u t a j u d g m e n t -
H o r k e r s were i n s t r u c t e d t o c o m p l e t e t h e i n s t r u m e n t a t
t h e p o i n t i n t h e p r o c e s s o f c a s e m a n a g e m e n t w h e r e , a s
a p p l i c a b l e , t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n r e p o r t o r o t h e r s u m m a ry
r e p o r t s w e r e c o m p l e t e d - F o r t h e i n t a k e w o r k e r s t h i s
r e q u i r e d t h a t t h e i n s t r u m e n t b e c o m p l e t e d w i t h i n t w o t o
63
f o u r w e e k s a f t e r t h e i u v e s t i g a t i o n . O n g o i n g w o r k e r s an d
w o r k e r s who h a n d l e d b o t h i n v e s t i g a t i o n s a n d o n g o i n g c a s e s
w e r e i n s t r u c t e d t o c o m p l e t e t h e i n s t r u m e n t a t t h e p o i n t t h e
s o c i a l s e r v i c e s u m m a ry w as p r e p a r e d f o r t h e f a m i l y o r a t
t h e p o i n t t h e y f e l t s u f f i c i e n t l y c o n f i d e n t t o a d d r e s s t h e
i t e m s c o n t a i n e d i n t h e i n s t r u m e n t .
W o r k e r s ' v e r b a l c o m m e n t a r y a n d n o t a t i o n s on s t u d y
i n s t r u m e n t s w e r e c o m p i l e d d u r i n g t r a i n i n g a n d d a t a c o l l e c
t i o n . A s i d e f r o m a g e n e r a l c o n c e r n a b o u t t h e l e n g t h o f t h e
i n s t r u m e n t , w o r k e r s g e n e r a l l y p e r c e i v e d i t a s c o m p r e h e n s i v e
a n d t h o r o u g h .
Huma n S u b je c t C o n s id e r a t io n
S i n c e t h e i d e n t i t i e s o f s t u d y f a m i l i e s w e r e known o n l y
t o a g e n c y p e r s o n n e l , t h e c h a i r m a n o f t h e u n i v e r s i t y human
s u b j e c t r e v i e w c o m m i t t e e j u d g e d t h a t t h i s s t u d y w ou ld n o t
b e r e g u i r e d t o u n d e r g o r e v i e w . A d d i t i o n a l l y , no w r i t t e n
c o n s e n t was r e g u i r e d f r o m t h e f a m i l y m e m b e r s o f s t u d y c a s
e s . S e a s o n s c i t e d f o r t h i s w a i v e r a d d r e s s e d t h e a s s u r a n c e
o f a n o n y m i t y f o r s t u d y f a m i l i e s , e v e n t o t h e r e s e a r c h e r ,
a n d t h e f a c t t h a t i n f o r m a t i o n c o l l e c t e d b y t h e s t u d y
i n s t r u m e n t i s l a r g e l y i d e n t i c a l t o t h e i n f o r m a t i o n g a t h e r e d
b y c a s e w o r k e r s a s a n o r m a l p a r t o f c a s e p r o c e s s i n g , h e n c e
r e g u i r i n g no s u r p l u s r i s k f o r i n d i v i d u a l s f o r whom d a t a
w e r e g a t h e r e d .
6U
HEASDBEflEHT OF VARIABLES
The m e a s u r e m e n t o f v a r i a b l e s a n d c o n c e p t s n e c e s s a r y t o
a n s w e r t h e s t u d y g u e s t i o n s - i n v o l v e d t h e u s e o f b o t h
s i n g l e - i t e m a n d m u l t i p l e - i t e m i n d i c a t o r s . A s i g n i f i c a n t
i s s u e t h a t p e r v a d e d t h e m e a s u r e m e n t t a s k w as t h a t a l l w o r k
e r s w o u l d n o t b e e q u a l l y f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e n a t u r e a n d t y p e
o f i n f o r m a t i o n r e q u e s t e d b y t h e s t u d y f o r a l l c a s e s . F u r
t h e r , f o r many i t e m s , p a r t i c u l a r l y p e r t a i n i n g t o a t t r i b u t e s
o f p a r e n t s a n d g u a r d i a n s , o n l y g e n e r a l r a t h e r t h a n s p e c i f i c
i n f o r m a t i o n w o u l d l i k e l y b e a v a i l a b l e f o r m o s t c a s e s . One
o f two c h o i c e s , was. n e c e s s a r y : t o r e q u e s t p r e c i s e i n f o r m a
t i o n t h a t w o u l d l i k e l y n o t b e a v a i l a b l e a n d w o u ld h e n c e
t e n d t o f r u s t r a t e c a s e w o r k e r s c o m p l e t i n g s t u d y i n s t r u m e n t s ,
o r t o g a t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n b y u s i n g b r o a d c a t e g o r i e s t h a t
w o u ld l e s s e n t h e n e e d f o r s p e c u l a t i o n on t h e p a r t o f p a r
t i c i p a t i n g c a s e w o r k e r s . The l a t t e r c o u r s e was c h o s e n . The
f o l l o w i n g d i s c u s s i o n w i l l a d d r e s s s e t s o f v a r i a b l e s i n d i
v i d u a l l y .
D em ographic D ata
A g e , s e x , a n d r a c e d a t a w e re g a t h e r e d f o r a l l f a m i l y
m e m b e r s . T h i s w a s a c c o m p l i s h e d b o t h i n S e c t i o n I , w h i c h
w a s c o m p l e t e d a f t e r t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n , a n d i n S e c t i o n s I V
a n d V. As n o t e d e a r l i e r , t h e r e d u n d a n t i n f o r m a t i o n was
u s e d a s p a r t o f t h e g u a l i t y c o n t r o l c h e c k i n g p r o c e d u r e s .
65
V a r i o u s a s p e c t s o f f a m i l y s t r u c t u r e a r e a d d r e s s e d i n
t h e w r i t i n g s o f n u m e r o u s a u t h o r s . H o s t o f t e n m e n t i o n e d a s
a f f e c t i n g m a l t r e a t m e n t o c c u r r e n c e a r e s i n g l e p a r e n t h o u s e
h o l d ( G i o v a n n o n i a n d B i l l i n g s l e y , 1 9 7 0 ; P e l t o n , 1 9 8 1 ;
P o l a n s k y , e t a l . , 1 9 7 9 ; O r y a n d E a r p , 1 9 8 0 ; W i l s o n , D a l y ,
a n d W e g h o r s t , 1 9 8 0 ) , t h e n u m b e r o f c h i l d r e n (Ory a n d E a r p ,
1 9 7 7 ; Wolock a n d H o r o w i t z , 1979) an d t h e s p a c i n g o f c h i l
d r e n (W o lo c k a n d H o r o w i t z , 1 9 7 9 ) . A c c o r d i n g l y , a c o u n t was
o b t a i n e d o f a l l a d u l t s a n d c h i l d r e n p r e s e n t i n a f a m i l y .
Age a n d r e l a t i o n s h i p d a t a w e r e a l s o g a t h e r e d . From t h e a g e
d a t a c h i l d s p a c i n g w a s d e t e r m i n e d , a s w e l l a s t h e a g e o f
t h e m o t h e r when t h e f i r s t c h i l d w a s b o r n ( H e r r e n k o h l , e t
a l . , 1 9 7 8 ) . T h e m e a s u r e o f c h i l d s p a c i n g r e g u i r e d som e
m a t h e m a t i c a l m a n i p u l a t i o n . The c o n c e p t o f s t r e s s d e r i v e d
f r o m c h i l d s p a c i n g h a s t w o c o m p o n e n t s : a g e r a n g e f r o m
y o u n g e s t t o o l d e s t c h i l d , a n d t h e n u m b e r o f c h i l d r e n p r e s
e n t w i t h i n t h a t r a n g e - B o t h t o r e d u c e t h e n u m b e r o f e x p l a
n a t o r y v a r i a b l e s a n d t o b e t t e r c a p t u r e t h i s c o n c e p t , t h e s e
v a r i a b l e s n e e d e d t o b e c o m b i n e d i n t o a s i n g l e m e a s u r e .
S e v e r a l p o i n t s n e e d e d t o b e c o n s i d e r e d i n s o d o i n g :
• g r e a t e r n u m b e r s o f c h i l d r e n p r e s e n t i n d i f f e r e n t f a m i
l i e s i n a n a g e r a n g e w i t h t h e s a m e a g e d y o u n g e s t a n d
o l d e s t c h i l d r e n m u s t p r o d u c e l o w e r s p a c i n g s c o r e s
( i . e . , l e s s s p a c i n g , h e n c e g r e a t e r s t r e s s ) ;
66
* t h e s a m e n u m b e r o f c h i l d r e n i n t h e s a m e r a n g e o f y e a r s
w o u l d p r o d u c e p r o g r e s s i v e l y l o w e r s c o r e s a s t h e a g e o f
t h e y o u n g e s t c h i l d d e c r e a s e s ; a n d ,
• t h e s a m e n u m b e r o f c h i l d r e n i n a g i v e n r a n g e o f y e a r s
s h o u l d , f o r p r o g r e s s i v e l y o l d e r a g e s f o r t h e y o u n g e s t
c h i l d , p r o d u c e p r o g r e s s i v e l y s m a l l e r i n c r e m e n t s i n t h e
s p a c i n g s c o r e , i n d i c a t i n g p r o g r e s s i v e l y d i m i n i s h i n g
r e d u c t i o n s i n s t r e s s .
A f t e r n u m e r o u s c o m p u t e r - a s s i s t e d t r i a l s , s u c h a c o n v e r s i o n
f o r m u l a was d e r i v e d . A l t h o u g h i t s a t i s f i e s t h e t h r e e s t a t
e d c r i t e r i a , i t i s n o t t h e o n l y c o m p u t a t i o n a l s c h e m e t h a t
w o u ld d o s o . D e r i v e d s c o r e s s h o u l d o n l y b e v i e w e d a s o r d i
n a l r a n k s — o t h e r t h a n by r e l a t i v e a s s o c i a t i o n , t h e n u m b e r s
h a v e n o m e a n i n g .
A t t r ib u t e s o f P a r e n ts o r G u a rd ia n s
U n d e r s t a n d a b l y , t h e v a r i a b l e s t h a t h a v e r e c e i v e d t h e
m o s t a t t e n t i o n i n t h e m a l t r e a t m e n t l i t e r a t u r e w i t h r e s p e c t
t o c a u s a t i o n a r e t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e p a r e n t s a n d / o r
g u a r d i a n s . A l t h o u g h t h e m a j o r i t y o f a u t h o r s , s u c h a s
P o l a n s k y an d h i s a s s o c i a t e s , f o c u s a l m o s t e x c l u s i v e l y u p o n
p s y c h o l o g i c a l a t t r i b u t e s , o t h e r s s u c h a s G a r b a r i n o a n d
S t o c k i n g ( 1 9 8 0 ) , G e l l e s ( 1 9 7 5 ) , Q i l n e r a n d K i m b e r l e y
( 1 9 8 0 ) , a n d P e l t o n ( 1 9 7 8 , 1981) e x a m i n e a w i d e r a n g e o f
i n d i v i d u a l a t t r i b u t e s .
67
S e c t i o n IV g a t h e r e d a s i g n i f i c a n t a m o u n t o f i n d i v i d u a l
d a t a . T a b l e 2 p r e s e n t s a l i s t o f t h e v a r i a b l e s m e a s u r e d
w i t h t h e i t e m n u m b e r i n S e c t i o n I V a n d t h e l e v e l o f m e a s
u r e m e n t . B e c a u s e o f t h e u s e o f b r o a d c a t e g o r i e s , a c o n s i d
e r a b l e a m o u n t o f d a t a was o r d i n a l l y s c a l e d , w i t h t h r e e t o
f i v e c a t e g o r i e s p r e s e n t e d . P a r t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n s h o u l d b e
g i v e n t h e a s s e s s m e n t o f p h y s i c a l , i n t e l l e c t u a l , a n d p s y c h o
l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g .
The r a t i n g o f p h y s i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g w a s a c h i e v e d on a
f i v e p o i n t o r d i n a l s c a l e r a n g i n g f r o m n o i m p a i r m e n t o f
p h y s i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g t o t o t a l i m p a i r m e n t . E a c h l e v e l
o f f e r e d s p e c i f i c b e h a v i o r r e f e r e n t s s o t h a t t h e c o n s i s t e n c y
o f j u d g m e n t s w o u l d be m a x i m i z e d a c r o s s w o r k e r s . T h e m e a s
u r e o f i n t e l l e c t u a l f u n c t i o n i n g a l s o u s e d a f i v e - p o i n t
o r d i n a l s c a l e . I t r a n g e d f r o m " c o n s i d e r a b l y a b o v e a v e r a g e "
t o " c o n s i d e r a b l y b e l o w a v e r a g e , " a n d o b v i o u s l y l a c k e d s p e
c i f i c b e h a v i o r a l a n c h o r s a s u s e d i n t h e m e a s u r e o f p h y s i c a l
f u n c t i o n i n g . H o w e v e r , w o r k e r s w e r e i n s t r u c t e d t o make
t h e i r a s s e s s m e n t s r e l a t i v e t o " o t h e r c l i e n t s w i t h w h i c h
{ t h e y h a d ) w o r k e d , " i n o r d e r t o p r o v i d e a b e n c h m a r k f o r
t h e i r a s s e s s m e n t s .
S w e e t a n d R e s i c k (1979) d i s c u s s t h e d o m i n a n t p o s i t i o n
o f t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l h y p o t h e s i s i n m a l t r e a t m e n t c a u s a t i o n .
B e c a u s e o f t h i s p r o m i n e n c e , t h e m e a s u r e m e n t o f a n y p s y c h o
l o g i c a l c o n s t r u c t n e e d e d t o b e a d d r e s s e d t h o u g h t f u l l y . Due
68
T a b l e 2
M easured C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f P a r e n t s
I t e mV a r i a b l e M easured Number
N a t u r e o f home e n v i r o n m e n t b e t w e e na g e s 1 a n d 17 22
L i k e l i h o o d p h y s i c a l l y a b u s e da s c h i l d 23
L i k e l i h o o d n e g l e c t e d a s c h i l d 24
M a r i t a l s t a t u s 7
E m p l o y m e n t s t a t u s 8 a
H ours w ork ed an d w a g e s d a
R e a s o n f o r n o t w o r k i n g 9 c
Y e a r s o f s c h o o l c o m p l e t e d 10
D e g r e e o f p h y s i c a l d i s a b i l i t y o ri l l n e s s 11
L e v e l o f i n t e l l e c t u a l f u n c t i o n i n g 12
L e v e l o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g 13
L i k e l i h o o d o f s u b s t a n c e a b u s e 14
I n f l u e n c e o f s u b c u l t u r e v a l u e s onb e h a v i o r 32
L e v e l o f c h i l d c a r e k n o w l e d g e 31
P a s t h i s t o r y o f c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t 28 S 29
E x t e n t o f c h i l d c a r e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y 30
L e v e l o f M e a s u r e m e n t
N o m i n a l
O r d i n a l
O r d i n a l
N o m i n a l
D i c h o t o m o u s
R a t i o
N o m i n a l
O r d i n a l
O r d i n a l
O r d i n a l
O r d i n a l
O r d i n a l
O r d i n a l
O r d i n a l
O r d i n a l
R a t i o
t o t h e b u r d e n i t w o u l d h a v e p l a c e d u p o n p a r t i c i p a t i n g w o r k
e r s a n d t h e n e c e s s i t y o f s e c u r i n g c o o p e r a t i o n f r o m t h e
69
a d u l t s i n s t u d y f a m i l i e s , u s i n g a n y e x i s t i n g s t a n d a r d i z e d ,
m u l t i p l e - i t e m s c h e d u l e f o r p s y c h o l o g i c a l a s s e s s m e n t w as
d e e m e d i m p r a c t i c a l .
T h e G l o b a l A s s e s s m e n t S c a l e (GAS) ( S p i t z e r , G i b b o n ,
a n d E n d i c o t t , 1979) was c h o s e n a s a m o d e l f o r a c c o m p l i s h i n g
t h e m e a s u r e m e n t . Huch l i k e t h e p h y s i c a l m e a s u r e , t h i s
a s s e s s m e n t a d d r e s s e s l e v e l o f f u n c t i o n i n g . F o r e a c h c a t
e g o r y , s p e c i f i c a n c h o r s a r e o f f e r e d t h a t p r e s e n t b e h a v i o r s
a n d do n o t r e l y a t a l l upon a d i a g n o s i s o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l
p r o b l e m s . T h i s a p p r o a c h was d e e m e d t h e o n l y m e t h o d l i k e l y
t o p r o v i d e m e a n i n g f u l d a t a a c r o s s w o r k e r s , g i v e n t h e t h e o
r e t i c a l d i v e r s i t y among c a s e - w o r k e r s and t h e e f f e c t t h a t
t h e o r e t i c a l d i v e r s i t y w o u l d h a v e on d i a g n o s i s ( S w e e t a n d
H e s i c k , 1 9 7 9 ) . A d d i t i o n a l l y , t h e r e was c o n c e r n o v e r t h e
i n h e r e n t p o o r r e l i a b i l i t y o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l d i a g n o s i s i n
g e n e r a l ( S t u a r t , 1 9 7 0 ) .
I t s h o u l d be n o t e d t h a t t h e GAS i t s e l f w a s n o t a c t u a l
l y u s e d , b u t r a t h e r a s c h e m e b a s e d upon i t . I t e m 13 i n
S e c t i o n IV p r e s e n t s n i n e l e v e l s o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n
i n g r a n g i n g f r o m " n o s y m p t o m s " t o " n e e d s s u p e r v i s i o n t o
p r e v e n t h u r t i n g s e l f o r o t h e r s , o r t o m a i n t a i n m i n i m a l p e r
s o n a l h y g i e n e , o r g r o s s i m p a i r m e n t i n c o m m u n i c a t i o n . "
T h e s e c a t e g o r i e s a r e i d e n t i c a l t o t h o s e o f t h e GAS e x c e p t
t h a t , b e c a u s e t h e i r d i s t i n c t i o n w a s n o t p a r t i c u l a r l y mean
i n g f u l i n t h e c o n t e x t o f t h i s s t u d y , t h e n i n t h a n d t e n t h
70
c a t e g o r i e s w e re c o m b i n e d - The o t h e r p r i n c i p a l d i f f e r e n c e
o c c u r s b e c a u s e o n l y t h e g l o b a l c a t e g o r i e s w e r e u s e d by t h i s
s t u d y w h i l e t h e GAS u s e s a o n e t o t e n r a t i n g w i t h i n e a c h
g l o b a l c a t e g o r y c h o s e n s o a s t o o f f e r a m o re p r e c i s e m ea s
u r e m e n t o f t h e e x t e n t o f s y m p t o m s - As a r e s u l t o f d i s c u s
s i o n s w i t h c h i l d p r o t e c t i o n w o r k e r s , i t a p p e a r e d t h a t t h e
g l o b a l c a t e g o r i e s w o u l d b e m o s t a p p l i c a b l e . I n t h a t t h e
GAS was d e v e l o p e d f o r u s e i n a n i n p a t i e n t s e t t i n g , t h e
w o r k e r s * c o n c e r n t h a t t h e f i n e r a s s e s s m e n t s w o u ld b e v e r y
s p e c u l a t i v e s e e m e d j u s t i f i e d .
A t t r ib u t e s o f C h ild r e n
As d i s c u s s e d b e f o r e , a g e , s e x , a n d r a c e d a t a a s w e l l
a s v i c t i m s t a t u s a n d t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p t o g u a r d i a n s w e re
a s s e s s e d f o r e a c h c h i l d i n a f a m i l y . S e v e r a l a u t h o r s h a v e
s p e c u l a t e d t h a t a t t r i b u t e s o f s p e c i f i c c h i l d r e n may c a u s e
a n i n c r e a s e i n t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t t h e y w i l l b e c o m e v i c t i m s
o f m a l t r e a t m e n t ( F r i e d r i c h a n d B o r i s k i n , 1 9 7 6 ; W o lo c k ,
1 9 8 1 ) . A c c o r d i n g l y , f i v e i n d i c a t o r s n o t e d i n l i t e r a t u r e
w e r e a s s e s s e d f o r e a c h c h i l d i n s t u d y f a m i l i e s . T h e s e a r e :
• c h i l d h a s s e v e r e o r c h r o n i c i l l n e s s ;
• c h i l d was h o s p i t a l i z e d a s a n i n f a n t ;
• c h i l d ' s l e v e l o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g (G A S ) ;
• c h i l d d o e s n o t o b e y , i s u n r u l y ; a n d ,
• c h i l d c r i e s e x c e s s i v e l y .
71
Income and P u b l i c i s s i s t a n c c
P o v e r t y i s a p e r v a s i v e f a c t o r i n t h e m a l t r e a t m e n t l i t
e r a t u r e . Some a u t h o r s a r g u e t h a t t h e p o v e r t y - m a l t r e a t m e n t
a s s o c i a t i o n i s a n a r t i f a c t o f t h e g r e a t e r d e g r e e o f p u b l i c
s c r u t i n y t o w h i c h p o o r e r f a m i l i e s a r e s u b j e c t e d , t h u s m a t
i n g t h e i r m a l t r e a t i n g b e h a v i o r m ore s u b j e c t t o d e t e c t i o n
t h a n t h a t o f p a r e n t s m ore f i n a n c i a l l y w e l l - t o - d o ( P a r k a n d
C o l l m e r , 1 9 7 5 ) . O t h e r s s u c h a s P e l t o n (198 1) a r g u e t h a t
t h e a s s o c i a t i o n i s n o t s u c h an a r t i f a c t , b u t i s i n s t e a d
c a u s a l . G e l l e s (1975 ) a l s o t a k e s t h e p o s i t i o n t h a t p o v e r t y
i s a c a u s e o f m a l t r e a t m e n t . P o l a n s k y , e t a l . ( 1 9 7 9 ) ,
u s i n g h i s " s i c k m o t h e r " m o d e l , i n f e r s t h a t p o v e r t y i s a
f a c t o r , b u t i t c o u l d p o s s i b l y r e s u l t f r o m a m o t h e r * s f l a w e d
p e r s o n a l i t y — h a v i n g d r i v e n o f f t h e h u s b a n d b e c a u s e o f h e r
p s y c h o p a t h o l o g y .
R e g a r d l e s s o f how i t i s f r a m e d by p a r t i c u l a r a u t h o r s ,
p o v e r t y i s an i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r i n a n y c a u s a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n
o f c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t . B e c a u s e o f t h i s , e x p l i c i t a s s e s s
m e n t s o f b o t h m o n t h l y e m p l o y m e n t - r e l a t e d a n d m o n t h l y p u b l i c
a s s i s t a n c e i n c o m e w e r e g a t h e r e d . F u r t h e r , w h e t h e r o r n o t a
f a m i l y w a s r e c e i v i n g p u b l i c b e n e f i t s a n d s e r v i c e s , o r n e e d
e d s u c h b e n e f i t s a n d s e r v i c e s b u t w e r e n o t r e c e i v i n g t h e m ,
was a l s o a s s e s s e d . T h e s p e c i f i c s e r v i c e s a n d b e n e f i t s
a s s e s s e d c a n b e e x a m i n e d i n S e c t i o n I I I o f t h e f u l l i n s t r u
m e n t .
72
T h e f e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t h a s e s t a b l i s h e d p o v e r t y l e v e l s
f o r f a m i l i e s o f v a r y i n g s i z e . B a s e d upon f a m i l y s i z e a n d
t h e a s s o c i a t e d p o v e r t y l e v e l , f a m i l y i n c o m e w a s c o n v e r t e d
t o a p e r c e n t a g e o f p o v e r t y l e v e l . T h e s e v a l u e s w e r e
r e f l e c t e d s o t h a t h i g h n u m e r i c v a l u e s i n d i c a t e d h i g h p o v e r
t y . T h i s c a l c u l a t e d v a r i a b l e w a s u s e d a s t h e e c o n o m i c
m e a s u r e i n a n a l y s i s .
S t r e s s F a c to r s
C e r t a i n l y , p o v e r t y i m p o s e s s t r e s s upon f a m i l i e s . S p e
c i f i c p r o b l e m s w i t h a c h i l d a n d p h y s i c a l h e a l t h p r o b l e m s
a r e a l s o p o t e n t i a l s o u r c e s o f s t r e s s . H o w e v e r , a g r e a t
many o t h e r s o u r c e s o f s t r e s s , some t h e m s e l v e s p o s s i b l y
r e l a t e d t o p o v e r t y , a r e d i s c u s s e d i n t h e m a l t r e a t m e n t l i t
e r a t u r e ( G i o v a n n o n i a n d B i l l i n g s l e y , 1 9 7 0 ; P e l t o n , 19 8 1 ;
O r y a n d E a r p , 1 9 8 0 ; H o l o c k , 1 9 7 9 ; Holock. a n d H o r o w i t z ,
1 9 7 9 ) . S e c t i o n s IV a n d V c o l l e c t e d d a t a c o n c e r n i n g d i f f e r
e n t s t r e s s c i r c u m s t a n c e s d u r i n g t h e s i x m o n t h s p r e c e d i n g
t h e m a l t r e a t m e n t r e p o r t . S p e c i f i c i t e m s a r e a s f o l l o w s :
• l o s s o f a j o b ;
• s e r i o u s i n j u r y o r i l l n e s s ;
• d e a t h o f a c l o s e f r i e n d o r r e l a t i v e ;
• b i r t h o f a c h i l d ;
• b r e a k u p o f m a r r i a g e o f o t h e r s e r i o u s r e l a t i o n s h i p ;
■ p h y s i c a l a s s a u l t o r r a p e ;
• c u t - b a c k i n a m o u n t o f p u b l i c a s s i s t a n c e ;
73
• t e r m i n a t i o n f r o m p u b l i c a s s i s t a n c e p r o g r a m ;
• c h a n g e o f r e s i d e n c e ;
• e v i c t i o n ; a n d ,
• home b r o k e n i n t o .
E a c h i t e m was a s s e s s e d a s e i t h e r t r u e o f f a l s e f o r e a c h
a d u l t p r e s e n t i n t h e f a m i l y .
I n t h a t a l l i t e m s w o u l d l i k e l y n o t h a v e e q u a l i m p a c t ,
w e i g h t s w e re t a k e n f o r e a c h " t r u e ” i t e m f r o m " T h e S c h e d u l e
o f R e c e n t E x p e r i e n c e " ( A m undson , H a r t , a n d H o l m e s , “1981) -
A s t r e s s i n d e x r a n g i n g f r o m z e r o s t r e s s p o i n t s , i n d i c a t i n g
no s t r e s s , t o 450 s t r e s s p o i n t s , i n d i c a t i n g h i g h s t r e s s ,
w a s t h u s d e r i v e d f o r u s e i n a n a l y s i s . I n t h a t s p e c i f i c
n u m e r i c v a l u e s h a v e n o a b s o l u t e m e a n i n g , s t r e s s s c o r e s w e r e
s t a n d a r d i z e d t o a " Z ” d i s t r i b u t i o n t o f a c i l i t a t e i n t e r p r e
t a t i o n o f p a r t i a l r e g r e s s i o n c o e f f i c i e n t s .
H ou sin g C o n d it io n s
A l t h o u g h h o u s i n g c o n d i t i o n s a n d p h y s i c a l l i v i n g
a r r a n g e m e n t s a r e u n d o u b t e d l y a f u n c t i o n o f i n c o m e , a t l e a s t
i n p a r t , t h e y c o n s t i t u t e a s e p a r a t e s t r e s s f a c t o r t o t h e
e x t e n t t h a t t h e y a r e u n s a t i s f a c t o r y . P e l t o n ( 1 9 8 1 ) , Ory
a n d E a r p ( 1 9 8 0 ) a n d H o l o c k a n d H o r o w i t z ( 1 9 7 9 ) i d e n t i f y
p o o r o r c r o w d e d p h y s i c a l l i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s a s c o v a r y i n g
w i t h t h e o c c u r r e n c e o f c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t . To c a p t u r e s u c h
i n f o r m a t i o n , t h e p h y s i c a l c o n d i t i o n o f t h e home was
a s s e s s e d on a f o u r - p o i n t o r d i n a l s c a l e . T h e n u m b e r o f
74
r o o m s , e x c l u d i n g b a t h r o o m s , w a s a l s o a s s e s s e d . T h e n u m b e r
o f f a m i l y m em b e rs w i l l b e d i v i d e d b y t h e n u m b e r o f r o o m s i n
t h e home t o c r e a t e a r a t i o o f p e o p l e t o r o o m s , w h i c h w i l l
b e u s e d i n a n a l y s i s a s a c r o w d i n g r a t i o -
S o c ia l I s o l a t i o n o f P a r e n t
S o c i a l i s o l a t i o n h a s r e c e i v e d c o n s i d e r a b l e a t t e n t i o n
i n l i t e r a t u r e a s b e i n g i n s t r u m e n t a l i n m a l t r e a t m e n t ( G i o v -
a n n o n i a n d B i l l i n g s l y , 197 0; M i l n e r a n d W i m b e r l e y , 1 9 8 0 ;
P e l t o n , 1 9 8 1 ; P o l a n s k y , B o r g m a n , a n d D e S a i x , 1 3 7 2 ; H o l o c k
a n d H o r o w i t z , 1 9 7 9 ) . A l t h o u g h l i k e l y a n i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r ,
i t i s s o m e w h a t d i f f i c u l t t o a s s e s s . I n a n e f f o r t t o c a p
t u r e s o m e i n d i c a t i o n o f i s o l a t i o n , s i x i t e m s ( S e c t i o n I V ,
1 6 - 2 1 ) w e r e i n c l u d e d t o a s s e s s d i f f e r e n t a s p e c t s o f i s o l a
t i o n . A d d i t i o n a l l y , an i t e m i n S e c t i o n I I I d e t e r m i n e d
w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e f a m i l y h a d a t e l e p h o n e i n t h e hom e , t h e
l a c k o f w h i c h was p e r c e i v e d a s p o t e n t i a l l y c o n t r i b u t i n g t o
i s o l a t i o n .
T h e s e s e v e n i t e m s w e r e summed t o c r e a t e a n i n d e x t h a t
w i l l a s s e s s i n d i v i d u a l s on a c o n t i n u u m f r o m e x t r e m e i s o l a
t i o n t o n o t s o c i a l l y i s o l a t e d .
Me a s ur e s of t h e E x te n t o f M a ltr e a tm e n t
T h r e e v a r i a b l e s f r o m t h e o v e r a l l a s s e s s m e n t i n S e c t i o n
I I w i l l s e r v e a s t h e s t u d y ' s d e p e n d e n t m e a s u r e s . T h e f i r s t
v a r i a b l e i s a n a s s e s s m e n t o f t h e e x t e n t t o w h i c h t h e r e m o v
75
a l o f a c h i l d i s i n d i c a t e d b y t h e f a m i l y s i t u a t i o n . &
s e v e n - p o i n t o r d i n a l s c a l e i s p r o v i d e d , w i t h " a b s o l u t e l y no
n e e d f o r r e m o v a l " a n d " c h i l d c a n n o t s u r v i v e w i t h o u t r e m o v
a l " p r e s e n t e d a s a n c h o r s .
T h e o t h e r tw o v a r i a b l e s a r e m e a s u r e s o f t h e e x t e n t t o
w h ic h c h i l d a b u s e a n d c h i l d n e g l e c t a r e p r e s e n t i n a f a m i
l y . T h e s e a r e m e a s u r e d on a t e n - p o i n t o r d i n a l c o n t i n u u m
a n c h o r e d b y " n o n e p r e s e n t " a n d " e x t r e m e , d e a t h p r o b a b l e . "
Even t h o u g h t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n w as s u p p l i e d b y b o t h t h e c a s e
i n v e s t i g a t o r a n d t h e o n g o i n g c a s e w o r k e r i n s o m e a g e n c i e s ,
t h e a s s e s s m e n t s u s e d w e r e a l w a y s t h o s e o f t h e o n g o i n g w o r k
e r , b a s e d u p o n t h e i n f o r m a t i o n g a t h e r e d by t h e m o v e r t i m e
i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h a c a s e .
DATA AHALISIS
As w o u l d b e e x p e c t e d g i v e n t h e c o n s i d e r a b l e a m o u n t o f
d a t a g e n e r a t e d by t h i s s t u d y , d a t a were c o d e d , k e y e d t o
m a g n e t i c t a p e , t a b u l a t e d , a n d a n a l y z e d w i t h t h e a s s i s t a n c e
o f a c o m p u t e r . I n a d d i t i o n t o m a n u a l q u a l i t y c o n t r o l
c h e c k s a c c o m p l i s h e d a s p a r t o f t h e c o d i n g t a s k , s e v e r a l
a l g o r i t h m s w e r e p r e p a r e d s o t h a t t h e c o m p u t e r c o u l d b e u s e d
f o r i d e n t i f y i n g c a s e s c o n t a i n i n g i n c o n s i s t e n t d a t a p r i o r t o
a n a l y s i s . T h e a c t u a l d a t a a n a l y s i s h a d t h r e e p h a s e s .
T h e f i r s t p h a s e u s e d t a b u l a r a n d c r o s s t a b u l a r d a t a t o
d e s c r i b e t h e s a m p l e o f s t u d y f a m i l i e s . S p e c i f i c r e s u l t s o f
76
t h i s p h a s e a r e p r e s e n t e d i n C h a p t e r I V . T h e s e c o n d p h a s e
e x a m i n e d t h e r e l i a b i l i t y o f a s s e s s m e n t s made d u r i n g t h e
i n i t i a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n a s c o m p a r e d w i t h t h e s a m e a s s e s s m e n t
made b y o n g o i n g c a s e w o r k e r s o n c e m ore i n f o r m a t i o n b e c a m e
a v a i l a b l e . A t i s s u e was w h e t h e r a s s e s s m e n t s a t i n t a k e w e r e
s u f f i c i e n t l y a c c u r a t e f o r o b s e r v a b l e p h e n o m e n a a n d j u d g
m e n t s c o n c e r n i n g t h e n a t u r e a n d e x t e n t o f p r o b l e m s t o w a r
r a n t t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a s t a n d a r d i z e d i n s t r u m e n t t o h e l p
s t r u c t u r e t h e i n v e s t i g a t i v e a c t i v i t i e s a n d d e c i s i o n . T h i s
a n a l y s i s i n v o l v e d t h e g e n e r a t i o n o f p e r c e n t a g r e e m e n t a n d
p e r c e n t d i s a g r e e m e n t s c o r e s f o r t h e i t e m s c o n t a i n e d i n S e c
t i o n I I . T h e s e r e s u l t s a r e p r e s e n t e d i n C h a p t e r V.
T h e f i n a l p h a s e i n v o l v e d t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f m u l t i p l e
r e g r e s s i o n a n a l y s i s a n d i t s s p e c i a l c a s e , p a t h a n a l y s i s , t o
t h e v a r i a b l e s a n d m o d e l s p r e s e n t e d i n t h e c h i l d m a l t r e a t
m e n t l i t e r a t u r e - T h e r e s u l t s o f t h i s m o d e l t e s t i n g a r e
p r e s e n t e d i n C h a p t e r V I - F ro m t h e s e p e r c e n t a g e s , t h e Kappa
s t a t i s t i c was c a l c u l a t e d . T h i s s t a t i s t i c c a n b e v i e w e d a s
a n i n t e r c l a s s c o r r e l a t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t o f t h e t y p e w i d e l y
u s e d t o a s s e s s i n t e r r a t e r r e l i a b i l i t y ( F l e i s s , 1 9 8 1 } .
M o s t o f t h e s t a t i s t i c a l a n a l y s i s was a c c o m p l i s h e d
u s i n g r e a d i l y a v a i l a b l e s t a t i s t i c a l s o f t w a r e . T h e S t a t i s
t i c a l P a c k a g e f o r t h e S o c i a l S c i e n c e s (SPSS) was u s e d f o r
t h e b u l k o f t h e t a b u l a r w o r k . The S t a t i s t i c a l A n a l y s i s
S y s t e m (SAS) a n d t h e I n t e r a c t i v e P a t h A n a l y z e r (IPA) p r o
77
g r a m , w h ic h i s p a r t o f S t a t p a c , w e r e u s e d f o r t h e r e g r e s
s i o n a n d p a t h a n a l y s e s . S p e c i a l a p p l i c a t i o n s o f t w a r e was
d e v e l o p e d by t h i s a u t h o r t o p r o v i d e a g r e e m e n t p e r c e n t a g e s
a n d t h e Kappa s t a t i s t i c f o r t h e s e c o n d p h a s e o f a n a l y s i s .
T h i s w a s d o n e b e c a u s e i t p r o v e d t o b e t h e e a s i e s t m e t h o d
f o r g e n e r a t i n g s u c h i n f o r m a t i o n . S t a n d a r d s t a t i s t i c a l
p a c k a g e s a r e d e s i g n e d t o a n a l y z e d a t a f o r w h i c h some f o r m
o f u n i t a r y c a s e i s t h e b a s i c u n i t i n t h e d a t a , a n d a g r o u p
o f s u c h c a s e s f o r m s a d a t a s e t . The p a i r e d d a t a s e t u s e d
i n t h e a s s e s s m e n t o f c o n s i s t e n c y c o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n c o n
v e n i e n t l y a n a l y z e d u s i n g s t a n d a r d s t a t i s t i c a l s o f t w a r e .
The s o u r c e c o d e f o r t h e p r o g r a m u s e d i s p r e s e n t e d i n A ppe n
d i x D.
STPPT L i a i l A T I O a S
W h i l e t h e m e t h o d o l o g i c a l d e c i s i o n s f o r t h i s s t u d y w e r e
de e m e d t h e m o s t a p p r o p r i a t e g i v e n t h e c o n s t r a i n t s u n d e r
w h i c h t h e s t u d y w a s c o n d u c t e d , t h o s e d e c i s i o n s w e r e n e v e r
t h e l e s s c o n s e q u e n t i a l a n d m e r i t e d a t t e n t i o n . T he f o l l o w i n g
i s a d i s c u s s i o n o f som e o f t h e p o s s i b l e e f f e c t s o f t h o s e
d e c i s i o n s .
78
The S a m p l e
I n f e r e n t i a l s t a t i s t i c s a r e u s e d i n t h i s s t u d y t o
a s s e s s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d e f f e c t s c a n b e g e n e r a l
i z e d t o t h e p o p u l a t i o n o f m a l t r e a t i n g f a m i l i e s . I n d i s
c u s s i n g t h e a s s u m p t i o n s t h a t u n d e r l y t h e u s e o f p r o b a b i l i
t i e s t o make j u d g m e n t s a b o u t t h e r e s u l t s o f s t a t i s t i c a l
t e s t , H a y e s (1 9 7 3 ) n o t e s t h a t " f i r s t a n d f o r e m o s t among
s u c h a s s u m p t i o n s i s t h a t t h e s a m p l e i s r a n d o m ” ( p . 3 3 6 ) . I n
t h a t t h e s a m p l e f o r t h i s s t u d y i s c l e a r l y n o t r a n d o m a n d
t h e i n t e n t h a s b e e n e x p r e s s e d t o u s e i n f e r e n t i a l s t a t i s
t i c s , t h e r e w o u ld a p p e a r t o b e an i n c o n s i s t e n c y . S i m p l y
p u t , t h e r e i s a n i n c o n s i s t e n c y . H o w e v e r , t h e r e i s a l s o a
l i n e o f l o g i c t h a t m i g h t , i n p a r t , p e r m i t t h e t o l e r a n c e o f
t h i s t y p e o f i n c o n s i s t e n c y .
Some r e s e a r c h e r s s u c h a s P o l a n s k y u s e i n f e r e n t i a l s t a
t i s t i c s i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e a n a l y s e s o n p u r e l y p u r p o
s i v e o r c o n v e n i e n c e s a m p l e s , a n d p r o c e e d , f r o m w h a t e v e r
s t a t i s t i c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t f i n d i n g s e m e r g e , t o c r e a t e a
r a t h e r e x p l i c i t p o r t r a i t - o f t h e p h e n o m e n o n u n d e r i n v e s t i g a
t i o n . S u c h a p r o c e d u r e i s n o t a p p r o p r i a t e .
W h i l e i t i s o f t e n d i f f i c u l t t o g e n e r a t e a p u r e l y r a n
dom s a m p l e , i f s u c h a s a m p l e c a n b e a p p r o x i m a t e d , t h e c a u
t i o u s u t i l i z a t i o n o f i n f e r e n c e c a n b e , t o a d e g r e e , j u s t i
f i e d . H o w e v e r , a r e s e a r c h e r c a n o n l y h o p e t h a t " s a m p l i n g
e r r o r " i s n o t u n k n o w i n g l y o u t o f c o n t r o l . C o n s e g u e n t l y ,
79
a n y s t a t i s t i c a l f i n d i n g s n e e d t o b e t r e a t e d i n a t e n u o u s
f a s h i o n p r e c l u d i n g s w e e p i n g s t a t e m e n t s a b o u t t h e s t u d y t o p
i c o r d r a m a t i c r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s f o r a c t i o n o r i n a c t i o n .
I n t h e e a r l i e r d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e s t u d y s a m p l e , a
r a t i o n a l e was p r e s e n t e d f o r why s t u d y d a t a c o u l d b e t r e a t
e d , a l b e i t c a u t i o u s l y , a s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f m a l t r e a t i n g
f a m i l i e s s e e n by t h e c h i l d r e n ' s p r o t e c t i v e s e r v i c e s w o r k e r s
i n O h i o . The p o s i t i o n t a k e n h e r e i n i s t h a t t h e a p p l i c a t i o n
o f i n f e r e n c e t o t h e t a s k o f d e c i d i n g w h a t i s a n d w h a t i s
n o t s i g n i f i c a n t f o r s t u d y d a t a i s j u s t i f i e d a s l o n g a s
r e s t r a i n t i s e x e r c i s e d i n t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h o s e f i n d
i n g s . C l e a r l y , i t w o u l d h a v e b e e n v e r y b e n e f i c i a l t o h a v e
t h e s t a t e r e g i s t r y d a t a f o r c o m p a r a t i v e p u r p o s e s t o e i t h e r
l e n d s u p p o r t t o o r h i g h l i g h t t h e i n a d e q u a c y o f t h i s a s s u m p
t i o n .
Mea su rem en t I s s n e s
As n o t e d e a r l i e r , b r o a d , g e n e r a l c a t e g o r i e s w e r e u s e d
f o r many s t u d y v a r i a b l e s b e c a u s e w o r k e r s w e r e l i k e l y t o
know m o s t o f t h e i r c a s e s o n l y i n b r o a d t e r m s . U n f o r t u n a t e
l y , i t i s a b a s i c p r i n c i p l e o f m e a s u r e m e n t t h a t when s p e
c i f i c c a t e g o r i e s a r e a g g r e g a t e d i n t o m o re g e n e r a l c a t e g o
r i e s , m e a s u r e m e n t e r r o r i s i n c r e a s e d ( N u n n a l l y , 1 9 7 8 ) .
F o r e x a m p l e , i f o n e w e r e i n t e r e s t e d i n m e a s u r i n g a g e ,
a n d d i d s o i n w h o l e y e a r s , s u c h a m e a s u r e m e n t w o u l d g e n e r
a l l y b e c o n s i d e r e d a c c u r a t e . I t w o u l d b e , h o w e v e r , i n a c c u
80
r a t e , i n t h a t i n d i v i d u a l m e a s u r e m e n t s w ou ld b e i n e r r o r t o
t h e e x t e n t o f t h e n u m b e r o f d a y s i n d i v i d u a l s h a d p r o c e e d e d
t o w a r d s t h e i r n e x t b i r t h d a y - As a r e s u l t , t h e t r u e a g e o f
s u c h i n d i v i d u a l s c o u l d b e t h o u g h t o f a s t h e i r a g e a t t h e
l a s t b i r t h d a y p l u s t h e n u m b e r o f d a y s h a v i n g p a s s e d s i n c e
t h a t b i r t h d a y ( T r u e Age = Age a t L a s t B i r t h d a y ♦ D ays S i n c e
L a s t B i r t h d a y ) - T h e d a y s n o t c o n s i d e r e d w o u l d be c l a s s i
f i e d a s m e a s u r e m e n t e r r o r .
To b e s u r e , m e a s u r e m e n t e r r o r i s a l w a y s p r e s e n t , b u t
o f t e u i s s u f f i c i e n t l y m i n i m a l a s t o p o s e n o p r o b l e m s t o a
r e s e a r c h e n d e a v o r . C e r t a i n l y , a g e a t l a s t b i r t h d a y w o u ld
b e m ore t h a n a c c u r a t e f o r m o s t a g e - r e l a t e d q u e s t i o n s . How
e v e r , i t i s n o t uncommon f o r a g e t o b e c a t e g o r i z e d e v e n
f u r t h e r , s u c h a s i n u n i t s o f f i v e o r t e n y e a r s . T h i s t y p e
o f c a t e g o r i z e d m e a s u r e m e n t p r e s e n t s y e t a n o t h e r s o u r c e o f
m e a s u r e m e n t e r r o r .
W h i l e s u c h e r r o r c a n b e t o l e r a t e d i n s o m e r e s e a r c h , i t
w o u l d p r o v e v e r y p r o b l e m a t i c f o r r e s e a r c h i n t o c h i l d m a l
t r e a t m e n t i n t h a t m o s t p e r p e t r a t o r s a r e i n t h e i r t w e n t i e s ,
a n d v i r t u a l l y a l l p e r p e t r a t o r s w ou ld f a l l i n t o t h e t h r e e
t e n - y e a r c a t e g o r i e s b e t w e e n e l e v e n an d f o r t y . What r e s u l t s
f r o m t h e u s e o f l a r g e r a g g r e g a t e c a t e g o r i e s i s a l o s s o f
v a r i a n c e , a n d t h i s i s p a r t i c u l a r l y p r o b l e m a t i c when a
r e s e a r c h e f f o r t s e e k s t o e x a m i n e c o v a r i a t i o n b e t w e e n a n d
among v a r i a b l e s .
81
W h i l e t h e d e g r e e o f a g g r e g a t i o n f o u n d i n t h e s t u d y
i n s t r u m e n t i s n o t a s s e v e r e a s t h a t p r e s e n t e d i n t h e exam
p l e , t h e l o s s o f p r e c i s i o n i n m e a s u r e m e n t c a n n o t b e a s s u m e d
t o be w i t h o u t e f f e c t . W h i l e s i m u l a t i o n s t u d i e s h a v e demon
s t r a t e d t h a t t h e c o r r e l a t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e o f d a t a i s t y p i
c a l l y n o t r a d i c a l l y a l t e r e d when c o n t i n u o u s d a t a a r e c o l
l a p s e d i n t o r a n g e c a t e g o r i e s , one c a n o n l y h o p e t h a t s u c h
w i l l b e t h e c a s e i n g i v e n i n s t a n c e s w h e r e c a t e g o r i z a t i o n
t a k e s p l a c e . F o r t u n a t e l y , w h e r e e f f e c t s a r e n o t e d , t h e
n a t u r e o f t h e e f f e c t i s t o r e d u c e t h e a p p a r e n t l e v e l o f
r e l a t i o n s h i p . H e n c e , t h e e f f e c t w o u ld b e t h a t o f a T y p e I
i n f e r e n t i a l e r r o r , n o t r e c o g n i z i n g a n e f f e c t t h a t a c t u a l l y
e x i s t s - I f o n e m u s t h a v e e r r o r , t h i s i s t h e m o s t t o l e r a b l e
t y p e .
A Mote on R e l i a b i l i t y a n d Val i d i t y
A t t i t u d e a s s e s s m e n t s w e r e n o t u s e d i n t h e s t u d y
i n s t r u m e n t b o t h o u t o f d e s i g n a s w e l l a s n e c e s s i t y .
B e c a u s e o f t h i s , i s s u e s o f r e l i a b i l i t y an d v a l i d i t y a r e n o t
a s c o m p l i c a t e d . T h e a p p r o a c h t a k e n i n t h e i n s t r u m e n t was
t o u s e o n l y c l e a r e m p i r i c a l r e f e r e n t s o f t h e c o n c e p t s u n d e r
s t u d y . Even t h e tw o m u l t i p l e - i t e m i n d i c a t o r s , s t r e s s a n d
i s o l a t i o n , s i m p l y summed c o n c r e t e i t e m s a s " l o s t j o b " o r
" n u m b e r o f d a y s p e r w e e k t h i s p e r s o n d o e s n o t l e a v e h o m e . "
The p r e c e d i n g d i s c u s s i o n a d d r e s s e d t h e e x i s t e n c e o f m ea s
u r e m e n t e r r o r , w h i c h i s a l s o a t t h e c r u x o f t h e r e l i a b i l i t y
a n d v a l i d i t y i s s u e -
82
T h e i t e m s a s s e s s e d i n t h e s t u d y i n s t r u m e n t d e m o n s t r a t e
f a c e v a l i d i t y , a t y p e o f v a l i d i t y t h a t , a s N u n n a l l y (1978)
n o t e s , r e q u i r e s t h a t i t e m s s t a n d upon t h e p o w e r o f t h e i r
own a p p e a l . A c l a i m o f f a c e v a l i d i t y i s m ade g i v e n t h a t
i t e m s m e a s u r e d w e r e e m p i r i c a l r e f e r e n t s d e r i v e d f r o m a n
e x t e n s i v e l i t e r a t u r e r e v i e w c o v e r i n g t h e t o p i c o f c h i l d
m a l t r e a t m e n t .
C h ap ter IT
DESCBIPTIOH O F SXQDI C A S E S
THE COUNTY LEVEL
D a t a w e r e c o l l e c t e d by c h i l d w e l f a r e w o r k e r s i n 21
O h i o c o u n t i e s f o r 491 c a s e s . Of t h e s e 491 c a s e s , 19 w e re
e l i m i n a t e d b e c a u s e o f m i s s i n g d a t a o r b e c a u s e t h e y w e r e
i n a p p r o p r i a t e f o r i n c l u s i o n i n t h e s t u d y . T a b l e 3 s h o w s
t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f t h e 472 s t u d y c a s e s by c o u n t y c l a s s i f i
c a t i o n . The u r b a n c o u n t i e s s u p p l i e d 4 4 . 7 p e r c e n t o f s t u d y
T a b l e 3
Ca s e s by C o u n t y T y p e
C o u n t y T ype C a s e s P r o v i d e d P e r c e n t
U r b a n 211 4 4 . 7U r b a n / R u r a l 136 2 8 - 8R u r a l 125 2 6 . 5
T o t a l 4 7 2 1 0 0 . 0
c a s e s , w h i l e t h e p a r t - u r b a n , p a r t - r u r a l a n d t h e r u r a l c o u n
t i e s e a c h p r o v i d e d s l i g h t l y o v e r 25 p e r c e n t - B o t h t h e
r u r a l a n d t h e p a r t - u r b a n , p a r t - r u r a l c o u n t i e s w e r e o v e r
r e p r e s e n t e d r e l a t i v e t o p o p u l a t i o n s o t h a t v a r i a n c e i n
s t u d y v a r i a b l e s w o u l d n o t b e d i c t a t e d by t h e u r b a n c a s e s .
- 83 -
34
BALTBEATHEKT CLASSIFICATION OF CASES
T h e o v e r a l l r a t i n g s f o r t h e d e g r e e o f a b u s e a n d n e g
l e c t p r e s e n t i n a f a m i l y , a s r e c o r d e d b y t h e o n g o i n g c a s e
w o r k e r i n t h e s u m m a ry r a t i n g s i n S e c t i o n I I o f t h e s t u d y
i n s t r u m e n t , v e r e u s e d t o c l a s s i f y c a s e s a s b e i n g e i t h e r
a b u s e , n e g l e c t , o r b o t h . T a b l e 4 p r e s e n t s t h e d i s t r i b u
t i o n s f o r t h e s e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s . H h i l e e s t i m a t e s i n t h e
l i t e r a t u r e c i t e r a t i o s f r o m b e t w e e n 1 t o 1 a n d 12 t o 1 f o r
t h e n u m b e r o f n e g l e c t c a s e s r e l a t i v e t o a b u s e , t h e r a t i o
f o r s t u d y c a s e s i s 3 . 7 t o 1 . T h i s i s i n t h e r a n g e o f t h e
p r o p o r t i o n s m o s t f r e q u e n t l y s u g g e s t e d . O f i n t e r e s t i s t h a t
3 1 . 8 p e r c e n t o f s t u d y c a s e s w e r e c l a s s i f i e d a s b o t h n e g
l e c t i n g a n d a b u s i n g . A l t h o u g h some a u t h o r s a r g u e t h a t n e g
l e c t a n d a b u s e a r e d i f f e r e n t m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f t h e s a m e
p h e n o m e n o n r a t h e r t h a n t w o s e p a r a t e p r o b l e m s , v i r t u a l l y no
a t t e n t i o n h a s b e e n a f f o r d e d c o n d i t i o n s t h a t a r e b o t h a b u
s i v e a n d n e g l e c t f u l .
T a b l e 4
T ype o f M a l t r e a t m e n t
C l a s s i f i c a t i o n F r e g u e n c y P e r c e n t
2 5 3 5 3 . 669 1 4 - 6
150 3 1 - 8
472 1 0 0 . 0
H e g l e c tA b u s eB o t h
T o t a l
85
. I n t h a t t h e p r e p o n d e r a n c e o f l i t e r a t u r e i s s u p p o r t i v e
o f t h e s e p a r a t e p r o b l e m c o n c e p t i o n , t h e c a u s a l a n a l y s e s
p r e s e n t e d i n C h a p t e r VI w i l l e x a m i n e s u b g r o u p s a s w e l l a s
t h e o v e r a l l g r o u p . T h i s w i l l p e r m i t t h e d e m o n s t r a t i o n o f
d i f f e r e n c e s i f t h e y i n f a c t e x i s t . H o w e v e r , u n l i k e o t h e r
s t u d i e s , t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f b o t h a b u s e a n d n e g l e c t was
u s e d a s a t h i r d c a t e g o r y -
A g u e s t i o n o f i n t e r e s t w a s w h e t h e r t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f
t y p e s o f m a l t r e a t m e n t d i f f e r e d b y c o u n t y t y p e . T a b l e 5
p r e s e n t s m a l t r e a t m e n t c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s by t y p e o f c o u n t y .
A l t h o u g h a c t u a l n u m e r i c d i f f e r e n c e s s u g g e s t a s l i g h t
i n c r e a s e o f a b u s e c a s e s i n u r b a n c o u n t i e s , t h e C h i s g u a r e
t e s t w a s n o t s t a t i s t i c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t . T h e r e f o r e , i t c a n
b e a s s u m e d t h a t p r o p o r t i o n a l c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f m a l t r e a t m e n t
c a s e s d o e s n o t d i f f e r a c r o s s c o u n t i e s o f d i f f e r i n g t y p e .
T a b l e 5
C l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f M a ltrea tm en t by C ounty Type
C l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f M a ltrea tm en t
C ounty Type N e g le c t Abuse Both T o ta l
Urban 113 35 63 2115 3 .6% 1 6 .6 % 29-9% 100.0%
U rb an /B u ra l 63 23 50 136U6.3% 16 .9% 36 .8 % 100.0%
R ural 77 11 37 1256 1 . 6% 8.8% 29-6% 100 .0%
To t a l 253 69 150 472
86
SOOBCE OF REFERRAL
T h e m a n n e r i n w h i c h s t u d y c a s e s came t o t h e a t t e n t i o n
o f c o u n t y p r o t e c t i v e s e r v i c e s w o r k e r s was v a r i e d - T a b l e 6
p r e s e n t s t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n o f c a s e s by r e f e r r a l s o u r c e .
W h i l e f a m i l y o r r e l a t i v e s r e p o r t e d t h e g r e a t e s t p r o p o r t i o n
o f c a s e s , no s i n g l e s o u r c e p r e d o m i n a t e d - F u r t h e r * t h e p r o
p o r t i o n s d i d n o t c h a n g e s i g n i f i c a n t l y a c r o s s c o u n t y t y p e s .
T a b le 6
S o u r c e s o f C a s e R e f e r r a l
S o u r c e C a s e s P e r c e n t
D o c t o r s o r H o s p i t a l 43 9- 1S c h o o l 67 1 4 - 2S o c i a l S e r v i c e 51 10- 8P o l i c e o r C o u r t 63 1 3 - 3F r i e n d o r N e i g h b o r 43 9- 1F a m i l y o r R e l a t i v e 83 1 7 - 5Anonym ous 28 5 . 9N o t R e c o r d e d 94 1 9 - 9
T o t a l 472 1 0 C - 0
FAMILY CH&BACTEBISTICS
T h e r e w e r e 1 , 9 2 4 p e o p l e i n t h e 4 7 2 s t u d y f a m i l i e s - Of
t h i s n u m b e r , 1 , 1 6 5 w e r e m i n o r c h i l d r e n , 4 9 8 w e r e a d u l t s
l i v i n g t o g e t h e r a s a c o u p l e ( b o t h m a r r i e d a n d c o h a t i t a t -
i n g ) , 223 w e r e s i n g l e p a r e n t s a n d 38 w e r e o t h e r a d u l t s - Of
t h e 1 , 1 6 5 c h i l d r e n , 954 ( 8 1 - 9 p e r c e n t ) w e r e c l a s s i f i e d a s
h a v i n g b e e n m a l t r e a t e d -
87
T h e m a j o r i t y o f t h e m a l t r e a t e d c h i l d r e n w e re l i v i n g
w i t h t h e i r p a r e n t s ( 9 5 . 2 p e r c e n t ) . S t e p p a r e n t s a n d a d o p
t i v e p a r e n t s w e r e g u a r d i a n s f o r 1 . 6 p e r c e n t . G r a n d p a r e n t s
a n d f r i e n d s o r n e i g h b o r s w e r e t h e g u a r d i a n s o f a l m o s t
a n o t h e r 3 p e r c e n t .
T h i s d i s t r i b u t i o n o f r e l a t i o n s h i p s w as v i r t u a l l y i d e n
t i c a l a c r o s s t h e t h r e e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s o f m a l t r e a t m e n t : .
N o t a b l y , w h i l e 1 p e r c e n t o f n e g l e c t e d c h i l d r e n were a d o p t e d
o r s t e p c h i l d r e n , t h a t p e r c e n t a g e d o u b l e d f o r b o t h a b u s e a n d
n e g l e c t , a n d d o u b l e d a g a i n t o 4 p e r c e n t f o r a b u s e o n l y .
T h e e c o n o m i c w e l l - b e i n g o f s t u d y f a m i l i e s v a r i e d w i d e
l y . I n c l u d i n g p u b l i c a s s i s t a n c e i n c o m e , t h e o v e r a l l mean
o f m o n t h l y f a m i l y i n c o m e w a s $ 7 0 5 - 3 9 w i t h a s t a n d a r d d e v i a
t i o n o f $ 5 6 8 . 0 1 . The r a n g e was $90 t o $ 6 0 0 0 . I n o r d e r t o
r e f l e c t f a m i l y c i r c u m s t a n c e s m o re m e a n i n g f u l l y , t h e i n c o m e
v a r i a b l e was c o n v e r t e d , u s i n g t h e p o v e r t y l e v e l b a s e d u p o n
f a m i l y s i z e , t o a p e r c e n t a g e o f p o v e r t y l e v e l .
T h e o v e r a l l m ean was 1 0 . 1 p e r c e n t b e l o w p o v e r t y l e v e l .
A o n e w a y a n a l y s i s o f v a r i a n c e r e v e a l e d t h a t t h e t h r e e c a t
e g o r i e s o f m a l t r e a t i n g f a m i l i e s d i f f e r e d s i g n i f i c a n t l y
{F = 9 - 1 1 7 , P < = 0 . 0 0 0 1 ) . The S c h e f f e p o s t h o c t e s t o f d i f f e r
e n c e s , s t a t i s t i c a l l y t h e m o s t c o n s e r v a t i v e o f t h e p o s t ho c
t e s t s , d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t t h e a b u s i n g f a m i l i e s h a d a s i g n i f
i c a n t l y h i g h e r i n c o m e t h e n t h a t o f t h e o t h e r t w o g r o u p s .
A b u s i n g f a m i l i e s ' i n c o m e a v e r a g e d 2 8 . 3 p e r c e n t a b o v e t h e
88
p o v e r t y l e v e l , v h e r e a s b o t h a b a s i n g a n d n e g l e c t i n g f a m i l i e s
a v e r a g e d 15 p e r c e n t b e l o w , a n d n e g l e c t i n g f a m i l i e s 1 7 . 6
p e r c e n t b e l o w p o v e r t y l e v e l .
CHABACTEBXSTICS OF ADULTS
T a b l e 7 s h o w s t h e a g e d i s t r i b u t i o n f o r b o t h m a l e a n d
f e m a l e a d u l t s . T h e a v e r a g e a g e o f a d u l t s was e q u i v a l e n t
f o r t h e t h r e e c a t e g o r i e s o f m a l t r e a t m e n t , r a n g i n g f r o m 3 0 . 7
t o 3 1 . 8 y e a r s .
T a b l e 7
Age D i s t r i b u t i o n f o r A d u l t s
M ale F e m a l e
Age R a n g e C o u n t P e r c e n t C o u n t P e r c e n t
16 t o 20 12 4 . 4 48 1 0 . 721 t o 25 51 1 8 - 7 114 2 5 . 426 t o 30 62 2 2 . 7 86 1 9 . 231 t o 35 42 1 5 - 4 97 2 1 - 736 t o 40 40 1 4 . 7 59 1 3 . 241 t o 45 34 1 2 . 5 2 5 5 . 646 t o 50 11 4 . 0 14 3 . 150 a n d o l d e r 21 7 . 7 12 2 - 7
T o t a l 273 1 0 0 . 0 448 1 0 0 . 0Mean 3 4 . 1 3 0 . 6S t d . D e v . 1 0 - 5 8 - 9
T a b l e 8 p r e s e n t s t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n f o r r a c e o f a d u l t s
by s e x . R a c e was a l s o e x a m i n e d i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e t y p e
o f m a l t r e a t m e n t . The C h i s g u a r e f o r t h e c r o s s t a b u l a t i o n o f
89
r a c e v i t h t h e t y p e o f m a l t r e a t m e n t d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t r a c e
w as n o t a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e t y p e o f m a l t r e a t m e n t .
T a b le 8
R ace by S e x f o r A d u l t s
M a le F e m a l e
R a c e C o u n t P e r c e n t C o u n t P e r c e n t
N o n w h i t e 40 1 4 . 7 113 2 5 . 2W h i t e 233 8 5 . 3 3 3 5 7 4 . 8
T o t a l 2 7 3 1 0 0 . 0 4 4 8 1 0 0 . 0
T h e n u m b e r o f y e a r s o f s c h o o l i n g c o m p l e t e d i s p r e s e n t
e d i n T a b l e 9 . What i s p a r t i c u l a r l y s t r i k i n g i s t h a t
a p p r o x i m a t e l y 63 p e r c e n t o f t h e m a l e s a n d 61 p e r c e n t o f t h e
f e m a l e s d i d n o t c o m p l e t e h i g h s c h o o l . A l s o , d i f f e r e n c e s
w ere e v i d e n t b y t y p e o f m a l t r e a t m e n t . Of t h e a d u l t s i n
n e g l e c t i n g f a m i l i e s , 6 6 - 4 h a d n o t c o m p l e t e d h i g h s c h o o l .
The p e r c e n t a g e was 6 2 . 6 i n f a m i l i e s w h e r e b o t h n e g l e c t a n d
a b u s e w e r e p r e s e n t . H o w e v e r , o n l y 3 1 . 8 p e r c e n t o f t h e
a d u l t s i n a b u s i n g f a m i l i e s h a d f a i l e d t o c o m p l e t e h i g h
s c h o o l . S i m i l a r l y , a b o u t t w i c e a s many a d u l t s i n a b u s i n g
f a m i l i e s h a d p u r s u e d e d u c a t i o n b e y o n d h i g h s c h o o l a s com
p a r e d t o t h e o t h e r t w o c a t e g o r i e s .
A d u l t s i n s t u d y f a m i l i e s h a d a n o t a b l e d e g r e e o f p h y s
i c a l d i f f i c u l t i e s . A l m o s t 14 p e r c e n t o f t h e m a l e s a n d 13
90
T a b l e 9
L e v e l o f S c h o o l i n a f o r A d u l t s
Male F e m a l e
Year C o u n t P e r c e n t C o u n t P e r c e n t
C o l l e g e Grad 8 2 . 9 7 1 . 6Some C o l l e g e 5 1 - 8 23 . 5 . 1H - S . G r a d 87 3 1 . 9 146 3 2 - 61 0 t h o r 1 1 t h 106 3 8 . 8 190 4 2 . 49 t h o r l e s s 67 2 4 . 6 82 1 8 . 3
T o t a l 273 1 0 0 . 0 448 1 0 0 . 0Mean 1 0 . 4 1 0 . 6S t d . D e v . 2 . 3 2 - 1
p e r c e n t o f t h e f e m a l e s had p h y s i c a l d i f f i c u l t i e s t h a t i n
som e way r e s u l t e d i n a m o d e r a t e o r m o re s e v e r e i n t e r f e r e n c e
w i t h t h e i r a b i l i t y t o f u n c t i o n i n t h e f a m i l y . A l s o , b o t h
m a l e s ’ a n d f e m a l e s ' a v e r a g e s on t h e m e a s u r e o f p s y c h o l o g i
c a l f u n c t i o n i n g i n d i c a t e d s o m e m i l d s y m p t o m s , a l t h o u g h a t a
l e v e l t h a t m a t c h e d t h e c a t e g o r y " m o s t l a y p e r s o n s w o u ld n o t
c o n s i d e r ( th e m ) s i c k . " T he d i s t r i b u t i o n s f o r t h e m e a s u r e
o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g a r e p r e s e n t e d i n T a b l e 1 0 .
Of t h e a d u l t m a l e s , 2 7 . 8 p e r c e n t w e r e i d e n t i f i e d a s
" v e r y l i k e l y " h a v i n g a d r u g o r a l c o h o l p r o b l e m , w h i l e t h e
v a l u e f o r f e m a l e s w as 1 7 - 9 p e r c e n t . . I n a d d i t i o n t o s u b
s t a n c e a b u s e , s u b c u l t u r a l i n f l u e n c e s w e r e a s i g n i f i c a n t
f a c t o r a f f e c t i n g b e l i e f a n d b e h a v i o r f o r 3 7 . 4 p e r c e n t o f
t h e m a l e s an d 3 3 . 7 p e r c e n t o f t h e f e m a l e s .
91
T a b le 10
Le v e l o f Ps y c h o l o g i c a l F u n c t i o n i n g f o r A d u l t s
H a l e F e m a l e
C o u n t P e r c e n t
17 3 - 86 9 1 5 - 4
103 2 3 . 0141 3 1 - 5
5 3 1 1 - 832 7 - 12 4 5 . 4
7 1 - 62 0 - 4
L e v e l C o u n t P e r c e n t
1- No Sym ptom s 9 3 . 32 . 44 1 6 . 13 . M i n i m a l Sym. 53 1 9 - 44 . 97 3 5 - 55 - M o d e r a t e Sym. 35 1 2 . 86 . 17 6 - 27 . M a j o r S ym ptom s 13 4 - 88- 4 1 - 59 . T o t a l D e p e n d e n t 1 0 - 4
T o t a l 273 1 0 0 - 0 4 4 8 1 0 0 . 0Mean 3 - 9 3 - 9S t d . D e v . 1 - 5 1 - 6
Hhen t h e s e t w o v a r i a b l e s a r e c o n t r a s t e d w i t h t y p e o f
m a l t r e a t m e n t , a b u s e s t o o d a p a r t f r o m t h e o t h e r t w o c a t e g o
r i e s . A d u l t s i n a b u s i n g f a m i l i e s h a v e a s i g n i f i c a n t l y
(X2= 1 7 - 2 , P = 0 . 0 0 0 2 ) l o w e r i n c i d e n c e o f s u b s t a n c e a b u s e
p r o b l e m s ( 1 1 . 6 p e r c e n t ) t h a n n e g l e c t ( 2 6 . 1 p e r c e n t ) o r f a m
i l i e s w h e r e b o t h a b u s e a n d n e g l e c t a x e p r e s e n t ( 3 8 . 0 p e r
c e n t ) . A l t h o u g h a b u s e w a s r e l a t i v e l y l o w e r , i t s h o u l d b e
n o t e d t h a t s u b s t a n c e a b u s e was a p r o b l e m i n m o re t h a n o n e
i n t e n a b u s i n g f a m i l i e s - I t i s a l s o n o t e w o r t h y t h a t , i n
f a m i l i e s w h e re b o t h t y p e s o f m a l t r e a t m e n t w e r e p r e s e n t , t h e
p r o p o r t i o n w as a l m o s t f o u r i n t e n . S i m i l a r l y , a d u l t s i n
a b u s i n g f a m i l i e s w e r e s i g n i f i c a n t l y (X2= 1 6 . 8 , P = 0 - 0 0 2 ) l e s s
i n f l u e n c e d by s u b c u l t u r a l v a l u e s .
A d u l t s i n a b o u t o n e - t h i r d o f a l l s t u d y f a m i l i e s M ere
c l a s s i f i e d a s h a v i n g a p r i o r v a l i d a t e d c h a r g e o f m a l t r e a t
m e n t . T h i s was s i g n i f i c a n t l y (X2= 1 0 . 9 , P = 0 . 0 0 4 ) r e l a t e d t o
t h e t y p e o f m a l t r e a t m e n t . A b u s e r s were l e s s l i k e l y t o h a v e
a p r i o r v a l i d a t e d c o m p l a i n t ; b u t e v e n s o , 1 8 - 8 p e r c e n t o f
a b u s i n g f a m i l i e s , a s o p p o s e d t o 3 2 - 4 f o r n e g l e c t i n g f a m i
l i e s a n a 4 1 . 3 f o r b o t h t y p e s , h a d p r i o r v a l i d a t e d com
p l a i n t s .
CHARACTER I S T I CS OF CHIIDBE8
Of t h e c h i l d r e n i d e n t i f i e d a s h a v i n g b e e n m a l t r e a t e d ,
5 0 . 1 p e r c e n t w e r e m a l e a n d 7 5 . 6 p e r c e n t w e r e w h i t e . T h e s e
p e r c e n t a g e s w e r e v i r t u a l l y i d e n t i c a l f o r a l l c h i l d r e n i n
s t u d y f a m i l i e s : 5 0 . 7 p e r c e n t w e r e m a l e s a n d 7 4 . 0 p e r c e n t
w e r e w h i t e . From a t o t a l o f 1 , 1 6 5 c h i l d r e n , 1 3 . 7 p e r c e n t
were known t o b e h a v i n g p r o b l e m s i n s c h o o l . A p p r o x i m a t e l y
13 p e r c e n t h a d s e v e r e o r c h r o n i c m e d i c a l p r o b l e m s , a n d 1 1 . 8
p e r c e n t h a d b e e n h o s p i t a l i z e d a s i n f a n t s - T h e y d i d , how
e v e r , a p p e a r a s a g r o u p t o b e p s y c h o l o g i c a l l y h e a l t h y , w i t h
an a v e r a g e o v e r a l l c h i l d r e n o f 2 . 7 on t h e a s s e s s m e n t
s c a l e . A l m o s t 2 0 p e r c e n t o f t h e c h i l d r e n w e r e c l a s s i f i e d
a s u n r u l y o r a s p r e s e n t i n g a d i s c i p l i n a r y p r o b l e m .
AREAS OF HALTREATHEMT
As d i s c u s s e d i n C h a p t e r I I I , d a t a w e r e c o l l e c t e d f o r
12 d i f f e r e n t a r e a s o f m a l t r e a t m e n t . T h e s e c a t e g o r i e s w e r e
s u g g e s t e d i n p a r t by G i o v a n n o n i a n d B e c e r r a ( 1 9 7 9 ) . E a c h
o f t h e 12 a r e a s w as a s s e s s e d f o r a l l s t u d y f a m i l i e s , s o
t h a t c o n c e i v a b l y a l l 12 a r e a s c o u l d h a v e b e e n n o t e d a s
T a b l e 11
E x t e n t o f H a l t r e a t m e n t bv A r e a
Area o f M a lt r e a t m e n t C a s e sP e t
R e s p o n s e sP et
C a s e s
P h y s i c a l A buse 120 9 . 2 3 0 . 8S e x u a l A b use 38 2 - 9 9 . 7S u p e r v i s i o n N e g l e c t 134 1 0 . 3 3 4 . 4M ora l C on d u ct 111 8 . 5 2 8 - 5M e d i c a l - D e n t a l N e g l e c t 89 6 . 8 2 2 . 8N u t r i t i o n a l N e g l e c t 145 1 1 . 5 3 7 . 2E m o t io n a l N e g l e c t 156 1 2 - 0 4 0 - 0S u b s t a n c e A b u se P r o b le m s 117 9 . 0 3 0 . 0C l e a n l i n e s s C o n d i t i o n s 113 8 . 7 2 9 - 0E d u c a t i o n a l N e g l e c t 58 4 . 5 1 4 . 9C l o t h i n g C o n d i t i o n s 121 9 - 3 3 1 - 0H o u s in g C o n d i t i o n s 101 7 . 8 2 5 . 9
T o t a l R e s p o n s e s 1303 1 0 0 . 0 3 3 4 . 1
p r o b l e m a t i c f o r a f a m i l y - T h e sum m a ry i n f o r m a t i o n f o r a r e
a s r a t e d a s l i k e l y t o be p r o b l e m a t i c f o r a l l s t u d y f a m i l i e s
i s p r e s e n t e d i n T a b l e 1 1 . The i n f o r m a t i o n i n T a b l e 11 w as
d e r i v e d f r o m S e c t i o n I I o f t h e s t u d y i n s t r u m e n t . T h i s s e c
t i o n was d e s i g n e d s u c h t h a t w h e n e v e r a p r o b l e m was i n d i c a t
e d , t h e w o r k e r c o m p l e t i n g t h e i n s t r u m e n t a l s o p r o v i d e d s e v
e r a l s e v e r i t y r a t i n g s .
T a b l e 12 p r e s e n t s t h e a r e a s o f m a l t r e a t m e n t a s s e s s e d
i n S e c t i o n I I r a n k e d i n d e s c e n d i n g o r d e r o f r a t e d s e v e r i t y
a c r o s s s t u d y c a s e s i n d i c a t e d a s h a v i n g p r o b l e m s i n a p a r
t i c u l a r a r e a - F o r a l l a r e a s t h e g u e s t i o n r e a d , " S h a t i s
t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d
r e s u l t i n l o n g - t e r m ha rm ( h a r m t h a t w o u ld r e s u l t i n a
• f l a w e d a d u l t * ) ? ” I t i s t h i s a u t h o r ' s c o n t e n t i o n t h a t t h e
a s s i g n m e n t o f a m a l t r e a t i n g l a b e l t o p a r e n t s o u g h t t o be
l i n k e d w i t h a l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i
t i o n s w i l l r e s u l t , i f i e f t u n c h a n g e d , i n a n a d u l t who h a s a
r e d u c e d c a p a c i t y t o f u n c t i o n i n t h e a d u l t w o r l d . G i v e n
t h i s p o s i t i o n , t h e a s s e s s m e n t s a s t o w h e t h e r o b s e r v e d o r
s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s w o u ld p r o d u c e a " f l a w e d a d u l t " w e r e o f
s i g n i f i c a n t - i n t e r e s t -
T h e a c t u a l a s s e s s m e n t s w e r e a c c o m p l i s h e d on a s e v e n -
p o i n t o r d i n a l s c a l e t h a t w a s a n c h o r e d w i t h " n o t l i k e l y " a n d
" e x t r e m e l y l i k e l y . " A l t h o u g h t h i s i s a g r o s s m e a s u r e m e n t ,
o n e c a n d raw som e i n t e r e s t i n g p o i n t s f r o m t h e r a n k i n g w h i l e
a t t h e s am e t i m e b e i n g c a r e f u l n o t t o m a g n i f y s m a l l n u m e r i c
d i f f e r e n c e s w r o n g f u l l y .
T h e m o s t s t r i k i n g f i n d i n g w as t h a t p h y s i c a l a b u s e ,
w h i c h h a s b e e n t h e m a i n f o c u s o f b o t h s e r v i c e a n d r e s e a r c h
e f f o r t s , r a n k e d o n l y n i n t h o f t h e t w e l v e a r e a s a c c o r d i n g t o
r a t e d s e v e r i t y o f m a l t r e a t m e n t c o n d i t i o n s . A l s o s t r i k i n g
was t h a t e m o t i o n a l n e g l e c t r a n k e d f i r s t . T h i s wou ld s e em
t o b e c o n s i s t e n t w i t h a r g u m e n t s t h a t p l a c e t h i s c a t e g o r y o f
m a l t r e a t m e n t a s l i k e l y t h e m o s t p r e v a l e n t , w h i l e p a r a d o x i
c a l l y b e i n g t h e m o s t d i f f i c u l t t o p r o v e - N o t a b l e t o o was
t h a t e d u c a t i o n a l n e g l e c t w as r a n k e d s e c o n d - I n t e r e s t i n g l y ,
p a r e n t a l b e h a v i o r s w i t h r e s p e c t t o m o r a l s a n d s u b s t a n c e
a b u s e w e r e r a n k e d t h i r d a n d f o u r t h , a l t h o u g h n u m e r i c a l l y
t h e y d i d n o t d i f f e r t o a g r e a t e x t e n t f r o m t h e n e x t t h r e e
c a t e g o r i e s .
T a b l e 12
A r e a s o f M a lt r e a t m e n t bv S e v e r i t y B a n k in g
A r e a o f M a l t r e a t m e n t N BankMean
B a t i n gS t d -D e v .
E m o t i o n a l N e g l e c t 156 1 5 . 2 9 1 . 6 2E d u c a t i o n a l N e g l e c t 58 2 4 - 8 3 1 . 6 7S u b s t a n c e A buse P r o b l e m s 152 3 4 . 7 4 1 . 8 8M o r a l C o n d u c t 111 4 4 . 6 8 1 . 9 9S e x u a l A b u s e 38 5 4 . 6 6 2- 12M e d i c a l - D e n t a l N e g l e c t 89 6 4 . 5 3 1 . 8 5S u p e r v i s i o n N e g l e c t 134 7 4 . 4 4 1 . 8 6N u t r i t i o n a l N e g l e c t 119 8 4 . 3 5 1 .7 1P h y s i c a l A b u s e 120 9 4 . 0 7 2 . 0 4C l e a n l i n e s s C o n d i t i o n s 113 10 3 . 9 3 1 . 8 5C l o t h i n g C o n d i t i o n s 121 11 3 . 5 6 1 . 8 8H o u s i n g C o n d i t i o n s 101 12 3 - 14 1 . 6 3
NOTE: Mean r a t i n g s a p p l y o n l y t o c a s e s f o r w h i c h a t h e a r e aw as i n d i c a t e d a s l i k e l y a p r o b l e m .
96
CHARACTERISTICS OF STODY HORKEBS
B e c a u s e t h e v a l i d i t y o f s t u d y d a t a r e l i e d h e a v i l y u p o n
t h e p r o f e s s i o n a l j u d g m e n t s o f t h e c h i l d w e l f a r e w o r k e r s who
p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h e s t u d y , i t was d e e m e d d e s i r a b l e t o s u r
v e y t h e i r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s - Of c o n c e r n was w h e t h e r p a r t i c i
p a t i n g w o r k e r s w e r e s u f f i c i e n t l y w e l l t r a i n e d a n d h a d s u f
f i c i e n t work e x p e r i e n c e t o w a r r a n t c o n f i d e n c e i n t h e i r
j u d g m e n t s . Each w o r k e r i n p a r t i c i p a t i n g c o u n t i e s was p r o
v i d e d a q u e s t i o n n a i r e . C o m p l e t i o n o f t h e q u e s t i o n n a i r e was
v o l u n t a r y , w i t h e a c h b e i n g r e t u r n e d i n d i v i d u a l l y by m a i l s o
t h a t s u p e r v i s o r s w o u l d n o t know w h i c h w o r k e r s h a d e l e c t e d
n o t t o c o m p l e t e t h e i n s t r u m e n t . T h e n e c e s s i t y f o r c o l l e c t
i n g p e r s o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t w o r k e r s was e x p l a i n e d d u r i n g
t h e o r i e n t a t i o n m e e t i n g s c o n d u c t e d a t e a c h a g e n c y . A c o p y
o f t h e w o r k e r i n s t r u m e n t i s p r e s e n t e d i n A p p e n d i x E .
I n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t w o r k e r s w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d f o r t h e
e n t i r e g r o u p o n l y . Two h u n d r e d a n d t e n w o r k e r s c o m p l e t e d
a n d r e t u r n e d q u e s t i o n n a i r e s o u t o f 232 w o r k e r s who c o m p l e t
e d c a s e i n s t r u m e n t s f o r t h e s t u d y . T h i s r e p r e s e n t s a p a r
t i c i p a t i o n r a t e o f 9 0 . 5 p e r c e n t .
T he y o u n g e s t w o r k e r w a s 21 y e a r s o l d , w h i l e t h e o l d e s t
was 6 0 . T h e a v e r a g e a g e was 3 3 . 5 y e a r s o f a g e . One h u n
d r e d a n d f i f t y - s e v e n w e r e women, a n d 46 w e r e n o n w h i t e .
W i th r e s p e c t t o t h e i r p e r s o n a l l i v e s , 104 w e r e m a r r i e d a n d
99 h a d c h i l d r e n -
97
On t h e w h o l e , t h i s was a w e l l e d u c a t e d g r o u p - O n l y 13
h a d a h i g h s c h o o l d i p l o m a o r l e s s . One h u n d r e d a n d
t h i r t y - f i v e h a d b a c h e l o r s d e g r e e s w h i l e 56 h a d g r a d u a t e
d e g r e e s . Of t h o s e w i t h d e g r e e s , h3 h a d a d e g r e e a c c r e d i t e d
by t h e C o u n c i l on S o c i a l H o r k E d u c a t i o n , a n d 73 { 3 4 . 8 p e r
c e n t ) h a d s t u d i e d s o c i a l w o r k . a l l b u t 27 ( 8 7 - 1 p e r c e n t )
h a d a d e g r e e i n s o c i a l w ork o r a r e l a t e d f i e l d - One h u n
d r e d a n d t h i r t y - s i x ( 6 4 . 8 p e r c e n t ) i n d i c a t e d t h a t s o m e p o r
t i o n o f t h e i r c o l l e g e c u r r i c u l u m s p e c i f i c a l l y p r e p a r e d them
f o r work i n c h i l d r e n s e r v i c e s .
T h e w o r k e r s who p a r t i c i p a t e d w e r e n o t new t o c h i l d
w e l f a r e . W h i l e t h e r a n g e o f t i m e w o r k e d i n c h i l d r e n ' s p r o
t e c t i v e s e r v i c e s r a n g e d f r o m one m o n th t o . 21 y e a r s , t h e
a v e r a g e was 4 . 6 y e a r s . W o r k e r s h a d b e e n i n t h e p o s i t i o n s
h e l d w h i l e p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n t h e s t u d y f o r an a v e r a g e o f 2 - 9
y e a r s -
• I n c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e t y p e a n d l e v e l o f e d u c a t i o n o f
p a r t i c i p a t i n g w o r k e r s a n d t h e i r t e n u r e i n c h i l d w e l f a r e ,
c o n c e r n o v e r t h e i n v a l i d i t y o f d a t a p r o v i d e d d u e t o i n a d e
q u a t e o r i r r e l e v a n t e d u c a t i o n i s m i n i m a l . A h i g h e r p r o p o r
t i o n o f s o c i a l work g r a d u a t e s t r a i n e d a t a c c r e d i t e d i n s t i
t u t i o n s w o u l d h a v e b e e n m o re w e l c o m e . H o w e v e r , i n t h a t t h e
S t a t e o f O h i o d o e s n o t r e c o g n i z e p r o f e s s i o n a l s o c i a l w o rk
e d u c a t i o n a s a l e g i t i m a t e r e q u i r e m e n t f o r s o c i a l s e r v i c e
p o s i t i o n s , t h e e x t e n t o f s o c i a l w o r k e r s p r e s e n t a n d t h e
98
n u m b e r o f p e r s o n s e d u c a t e d i n t h e a r e a o f s o c i a l s c i e n c e
a r e g r o u n d s f o r o p t i m i s m c o n c e r n i n g j u d g m e n t v a l i d i t y .
Chapter VRELIABILITY OF INVESTIGATIVE ASSESSHENTS
OVERVIEW
C h a p t e r s I a n d I I p r e s e n t e d a d i s c u s s i o n o f f a c t o r s
h a v i n g a n e g a t i v e e f f e c t u p o n k n o w l e d g e a n d t h e o r y r e l a t i n g
t o c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t - One o f t h e m o s t s i g n i f i c a n t o f
t h e s e f a c t o r s i s t h e l a c k o f s p e c i f i c ; g e n e r a l l y r e c o g n i z e d
d e f i n i t i o n s f o r s u c h k e y c o n c e p t s a s c h i l d a b u s e a n d n e g
l e c t , a m i n i m a l l y a c c e p t a b l e home e n v i r o n m e n t , a n d a p p r o
p r i a t e p a r e n t i n g p r a c t i c e s - W h i l e o n o n e h a n d t h e k n o w l
e d g e b a s e r e l a t i n g t o c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t i s w e a k , t h e r e
n e v e r t h e l e s s h a v e b e e n s e v e r a l a t t e m p t s t o d e v e l o p s t a n
d a r d i z e d i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n t o f u n c t i o n a s d e c i s i o n a i d s i n
t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n s o f s u s p e c t e d m a l t r e a t i n g c a s e s .
S u c h e n t e r p r i s e s a r e a c a u s e o f c o n s i d e r a b l e c o n c e r n
g i v e n t h e e x t e n t o f d e f i n i t i o n a l p r o b l e m s - G h i s e l l i , Camp
b e l l a n d S e d e c k ( 1 9 8 1 ) , i n a d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e i m p o r t a n c e
o f p r e c i s e d e f i n i t i o n s t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a m u l t i - i t e m
m e a s u r e m e n t i n s t r u m e n t , s t a t e :
' •The c l e a r e r a n d m ore s p e c i f i c t h e d e f i n i t i o n o f a v a r i a b l e , t h e m ore u s e f u l i t i s . N o t o n l y d o e s i t d e s c r i b e t h e n a t u r e o f t h e p r o p e r t y , b u t i t a l s o d i f f e r e n t i a t e s t h e p r o p e r t y f r o m o t h e r p r o p e r t i e s . I t d i r e c t l y s u g g e s t s t h e k i n d s o f o p e r a -
- 99 -
100
t i o n s t h a t s h o u l d b e e m p l o y e d i n o b t a i n i n g a c a t e g o r i z a t i o n o f i n d i v i d u a l s i n t e r m s o f t h a t p r o p e r t y . A d e f i n i t i o n t h a t i s v a g u e c o n v e y s o n l y i n a g e n e r a l way i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e n a t u r e o f t h e v a r i a b l e a n d i s o f l i t t l e v a l u e i n p r o v i d i n g g u i d e s f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f a p p r o p r i a t e o p e r a t i o n s " (p- 16) .
I n s p i t e o f t h e v a g u e n e s s o f m a l t r e a t m e n t d e f i n i t i o n s ,
e x p l i c i t o p e r a t i o n s f o r m e a s u r i n g m a l t r e a t m e n t h a v e b e e n
p u t f o r w a r d i n t h e f o r m o f t h e i n s t r u m e n t s d i s c u s s e d i n t h e
e a r l i e r c h a p t e r s .
FOCOS OF CHAPIEB
S e v e r a l i n s t r u m e n t s w e r e m e n t i o n e d i n C h a p t e r s I a n d
I I , a n d a d e t a i l e d d i s c u s s i o n was p r e s e n t e d a d d r e s s i n g
P o l a n s k y ' s C h i l d h o o d l e v e l o f l i v i n g S c a l e . T h i s s t u d y ,
h o w e v e r , d i d n o t a t t e m p t t o a d d r e s s t h e e f f i c a c y o f s t a n
d a r d i z e d m e a s u r e m e n t i n c h i l d w e l f a r e i n t h e c o n t e x t o f a n y
o f t h e s e e x i s t i n g i n s t r u m e n t s . The q u e s t i o n a d d r e s s e d by
t h i s s t u d y w a s m o r e f u n d a m e n t a l t h a n p a r t i c u l a r c o n c e r n s
a b o u t a g i v e n i n s t r u m e n t . T he b a s i c p o s i t i o n t a k e n q u e s
t i o n s w h e t h e r s u f f i c i e n t i n f o r m a t i o n i s g e n e r a l l y a v a i l a b l e
t o i n v e s t i g a t i v e w o r k e r s t o p e r m i t t h e r e l i a b l e u s e o f a n y
s t a n d a r d i z e d i n s t r u m e n t a s a d e c i s i o n a d j u n c t . B e c a u s e o f
t h e l a c k o f c o n s e n s u s a s t o w h a t c o n s t i t u t e s m a l t r e a t m e n t
a n d t h e o f t e n l i m i t e d a v a i l a b i l i t y o f d e c i s i o n - r e l e v a n t
i n f o r m a t i o n a t t h e t i m e o f a n i n v e s t i g a t i o n , t h e u s e o f
s t a n d a r d i z e d i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n w as v i e w e d a s b e i n g c o n t r a i n
d i c a t e d .
101
F o c u s was p l a c e d u p o n i n v e s t i g a t i v e w o r k e r s f o r two
r e a s o n s . F i r s t , i t i s i n t h e c o n t e x t o f m a l t r e a t m e n t
i n v e s t i g a t i o n s — w h e r e i n f o r m a t i o n i s t y p i c a l l y l i m i t e d , t h e
n e e d t o make a d e c i s i o n i s p r e s s i n g a n d w h e r e t h e t i m e f o r
m a k i n g d e c i s i o n s i s s h o r t — t h a t s t a n d a r d i z e d a s s e s s m e n t
i n s t r u m e n t s w o u ld b e o f g r e a t e s t v a l u e . S e c o n d l y , i t i s
t h e i n v e s t i g a t i v e w o r k e r who a s s i g n s t h e m a l t r e a t i n g l a b e l .
As S z a s z (1973 ) s u g g e s t s , o n c e a l a b e l h a s b e e n a t t a c h e d t o
a n i n d i v i d u a l , i t b e c o m e s t h e l e n s t h r o u g h w h i c h t h e i n d i
v i d u a l i s p e r c e i v e d . H a w k i n s a n d T i e d e m a n ( 1 9 7 5 ) o u t l i n e
h o w , o n c e a n i n d i v i d u a l h a s b e e n l a b e l e d , o r g a n i z a t i o n a l
“ p r o c e s s i n g s t e r e o t y p e s " p r o v i d e i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t a n i n d i
v i d u a l i n s u c h a way t h a t t h e t r u e n a t u r e o f a p e r s o n a n d
h i s o r h e r s i t u a t i o n may n o t b e c o m e k n o w n . H e n c e , t o t h e
e x t e n t t h e m e a n s u s e d t o a f f i x a l a b e l a r e u n r e l i a b l e ,
t h e r e m u s t b e c o n s i d e r a b l e c o n c e r n a b o u t t h e p r a g m a t i c a n d
e t h i c a l p r o b l e m s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h f a l s e - p o s i t i v e i n d i c a
t i o n s . A l s o o f c o n c e r n s h o u l d b e t h e f a l s e - n e g a t i v e i n d i
c a t i o n s , w h e r e i n m a l t r e a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s a r e n o t i d e n t i
f i e d .
To a s s e s s t h e d e g r e e o f r e l i a b i l i t y o f o b s e r v a t i o n s
and a s s e s s m e n t s made d u r i n g t h e i n v e s t i g a t i v e p r o c e s s , b o t h
i n v e s t i g a t o r s and o n g o i n g w o r k e r s c o m p l e t e d S e c t i o n I I o f
t h e s t u d y i n s t r u m e n t i n c o u n t i e s t h a t had t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i
t y f o r t h e s e tw o f u n c t i o n s a s s i g n e d t o d i f f e r e n t p e r s o n
n e l .
T a b le 13
C o u n t i e s by C l a s s i f i c a t i o n w i th I n t a k e - O n g o i n g
W o r k e r s ’ D a t a C o n t r i b u t e d
C o u n t y
C l a r kH a m i l t o nH a n c o c kM o n tg o m e ryM us k in g h a mB i c h i a n d
C l a s s i f i c a t i o n
U r b a n - B u r a lU r b a nU r b a n - B u r a lU r b a nU r b a n - B u r a lU r b a n - B u r a l
C a s e s
4124
2931714
P e r c e n t
2 1 - 51 2 - 6
1-04 8 - 7
8 - 97 - 3
T o t a l 191 100- 0
S i x s t u d y c o u n t i e s h a d s u c h a d i v i s i o n o f l a b o r . T a b l e 13
p r e s e n t s a l i s t o f t h e s e c o u n t i e s w i t h t h e n u m b e r o f p a i r e d
a s s e s s m e n t s p r o v i d e d . T h e s e n u m b e r s do n o t m a t c h t h o s e f o r
t h e t o t a l n u m b e r o f c a s e s p r o v i d e d b y t h e c o u n t i e s - T h e
r e a s o n f o r t h i s i s t h a t some c o u n t i e s h a v e a s y s t e m t h a t
u n d e r c e r t a i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s d i v i d e s t h e d u t i e s f o r a c a s e ,
a n d u n d e r o t h e r s d o e s n o t - E u r a l c o u n t i e s w e r e n o t r e p r e
s e n t e d i n t h a t t h e s t a f f s i z e o f t h e p r o t e c t i v e s e r v i c e s
o p e r a t i o n s i n s u c h c o u n t i e s d i d n o t p e r m i t t a s k s p e c i a l i z a
t i o n .
A s s e s s m e n t s o f r e l i a b i l i t y w e r e a c c o m p l i s h e d by com
p a r i n g t h e j u d g m e n t s o f t h e i n v e s t i g a t o r s w i t h t h o s e o f t h e
o n g o i n g w c r k e r s . I n c o n s i s t e n c i e s w e r e v i e w e d a s e r r o r s on
t h e p a r t o f t h e i n v e s t i g a t o r d u e t o i n a d e g u a t e i n f o r m a t i o n
o r t o t h e u s e o f d i f f e r e n t j u d g m e n t c r i t e r i a - I t s h o u l d b e
103
n o t e d t h a t e r r o r i n t h i s c o n t e x t d o e s n o t i m p u g n t h e q u a l i
t y o f i n v e s t i g a t i v e e f f o r t s . R a t h e r , e r r o r Has s e e n a s a n
u n a v o i d a b l e c o n s e q u e n c e o f t h e n a t u r e o f t h e t a s k a n d t h e
s t a t e o f k n o w l e d g e .
An a s s u m p t i o n i m p l i c i t i n t h i s s t r a t e g y f o r a s s e s s i n g
i n t e r r a t e r r e l i a b i l i t y H as t h a t t h e o n g o i n g w o r k e r s , who
t y p i c a l l y h a d s e v e r a l m o n t h s o f c o n t a c t w i t h s t u d y f a m i l i e s
b e f o r e c o m p l e t i n g t h e i r i n s t r u m e n t s , w o u l d m ak e t h e m ore
a c c u r a t e a s s e s s m e n t s . T h i s a s s u m p t i o n , o f c o u r s e , p e r t a i n s
o n l y t o t h e i s s u e o f a v a i l a b i l i t y o f i n f o r m a t i o n . A s s e s s
m e n t d i f f e r e n c e s r e s u l t i n g f r o m d i f f e r e n t j u d g m e n t c r i t e r i a
b r o u g h t t o b e a r on s i m i l a r i n f o r m a t i o n s h o u l d n o t b e
a f f e c t e d by t i m e - D i f f e r e n c e s i n j u d g m e n t c r i t e r i a w o u ld
r e p r e s e n t t r u e u n r e l i a b i l i t y .
ASSES S BEHT PRPCEDORES
To a s s e s s t h e d e g r e e o f j u d g m e n t r e l i a b i l i t y b e t w e e n
i n v e s t i q a t o r s a n d o n g o i n g w o r k e r s . S e c t i o n I I w a s d e s i g n e d
t o p r e s e n t v e r y g e n e r a l q u e s t i o n s a b o u t s p e c i f i c p r o b l e m
a r e a s . G u i d a n c e f o r i t e m s e l e c t i o n cam e f r o m a s t u d y by
G i o v a n n o n i a n d B e c e r r a ( 1 9 7 9 ) . I n t h i s s t u d y t h e y p r e s e n t
e d a w ide r a n g e o f d i f f e r e n t s i t u a t i o n s i n v i g n e t t e f o r m t o
r e s p o n d e n t s f r o m t h e f o u r p r o f e s s i o n a l g r o u p s m o s t o f t e n
i n v o l v e d w i t h c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t c a s e s ( s o c i a l w o r k e r s ,
d o c t o r s , l a w y e r s , a n d p o l i c e m e n ) . T h e s e a u t h o r s d e f i n e d 13
104
a r e a s o f m a l t r e a t m e n t a n d c o n s t r u c t e d v i g n e t t e s t o p r e s e n t
p r o b l e m s i n e a c h o f t h e s e 13 a r e a s . R e s p o n d e n t s r a t e d e a c h
v i g n e t t e a c c o r d i n g t o p e r c e i v e d s e v e r i t y o f t h e m a l t r e a t i n g
c i r c u m s t a n c e s .
I n S e c t i o n I I t h e 13 c a t e g o r i e s w e r e c o l l a p s e d i n t o
1 2 , w i t h m o r a l c o n d i t i o n s a n d f o s t e r i n g d e l i n g u e n c y b e i n g
c o m b i n e d . I t e m s f r o m e a c h o f t h e s e 12 a r e a s w e r e p r e s e n t e d
o n a s e p a r a t e p a g e , o r s u b s e c t i o n , i n S e c t i o n I I . I n e a c h
s u b s e c t i o n t h r e e g e n e r a l g u e s t i o n s w e r e a s k e d t h a t p e r
t a i n e d t o c o n d i t i o n s a d d r e s s e d b y t h a t s u b s e c t i o n . A
f o u r t h q u e s t i o n , w h i c h s e r v e d a s a c a t c h - a l l i t e m f o r c i r
c u m s t a n c e s n o t a d d r e s s e d b y t h e t h r e e s p e c i f i c g u e s t i o n s ,
was a l s o p r e s e n t e d .
T h e c h o i c e o f c o n t e n t f o r t h e s p e c i f i c i t e m s p r e s e n t e d
was g u i d e d b y t h e a s s e s s m e n t s o f s e v e r i t y r e p o r t e d f o r t h e
v i g u e t t e s by G i o v a n n o n i a n d B e c e r r a ( 1 9 7 9 , p p . 1 1 2 - 1 2 2 ) .
C o n d i t i o n s a s s e s s e d b y t h e t h r e e i t e m s i n e a c h s u b s e c t i o n
r e f l e c t e d t h e c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e v i g n e t t e s r a t e d a s m o s t
p r o b l e m a t i c a c r o s s t h e f o u r p r o f e s s i o n a l g r o u p s . T h i s w as
d o n e t o h e l p e n s u r e t h a t c o n d i t i o n s a s s e s s e d w ou ld h a v e a n
i n c r e a s e d p r o b a b i l i t y o f b e i n g v i e w e d a s p r o b l e m a t i c by a l l
p a r t i c i p a t i n g w o r k e r s - A s a r e s u l t , r e l i a b i l i t y w o u l d
l i k e l y n o t b e l o w e r e d d u e t o d i s a g r e e m e n t s b e t w e e n i n v e s t i
g a t i v e a n d o n g o i n g w o r k e r s c o n c e r n i n g w h e t h e r p a r t i c u l a r
c o n d i t i o n s a s s e s s e d c o n s t i t u t e d a p r o b l e m .
105
I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e f o u r a s s e s s m e n t s o f s p e c i f i c c o n d i
t i o n s , f i v e a s s e s s m e n t s o f s e v e r i t y w e r e m ad e i n e a c h s u b
s e c t i o n - w h e n e v e r c o n d i t i o n s w e r e d e e m e d p r e s e n t t h a t
m a t c h e d t h e p r o b l e m a r e a a d d r e s s e d b y a s u b s e c t i o n . The
s p e c i f i c i t e m s a d d r e s s e d t h e e x t e n t o f p r o b l e m s , f r e g u e n c y
o f o c c u r r e n c e , r i s k o f s h o r t - t e r m h a r m , r i s k o f l o n g - t e r m
h a r m , a n d t h e r i s k o f d e a t h . W o r k e r s w e r e i n s t r u c t e d t o
r e n d e r t h e i r a s s e s s m e n t s f o r t h e s e f i v e i t e m s o n l y a s t h e y
p e r t a i n e d t o t h e p r o b l e m a r e a a d d r e s s e d i n t h e p a r t i c u l a r
s u b s e c t i o n . The f i n a l p a g e i n t h e s e c t i o n p r o v i d e d f o r a
n u m b e r o f o v e r a l l a s s e s s m e n t s .
I t s h o u l d b e n o t e d t h a t o n g o i n g w o r k e r s w e r e i n s t r u c t
e d t o r e s p o n d t o i t e m s i n S e c t i o n XI i n s u c h a m a n n e r t h a t
t h e f a m i l y s i t u a t i o n a n d m a l t r e a t m e n t c i r c u m s t a n c e s a t t h e
t i m e o f r e f e r r a l b e i n d i c a t e d , e v e n i f t h e c o n d i t i o n s no
l o n g e r e x i s t e d . S i m i l a r l y , t h e o v e r a l l a s s e s s m e n t s w e r e t o
r e f l e c t t h e w o r s t c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e f a m i l y r e l a t i v e t o t h e
r e f e r r a l , e v e n i f i n t e r v e n t i o n s h a d l e s s e n e d t h e s e v e r i t y
s i n c e t h e t i m e o f i n i t i a l i n t e r v e n t i o n - X t w a s e m p h a s i z e d
t o t h e o n g o i n g w o r k e r s t h a t t h e s t u d y w as n o t c o n c e r n e d
w i t h t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f i n t e r v e n t i o n s , b u t r a t h e r was
a t t e m p t i n g t o d e t e r m i n e t h e r a n g e a n d s e v e r i t y o f p r o b l e m s
p r e s e n t i n f a m i l i e s a t t h e p o i n t o f a g e n c y i n t e r v e a t i o n -
Rhen more t h a n o n e c h i l d was i n v o l v e d , b o t h w o r k e r s w e r e
i n s t r u c t e d t o make a s s e s s m e n t s r e f l e c t t h e m o s t p r o b l e m a t i c
s i t u a t i o n o f a n y c h i l d .
106
THE KAPPA STATISTIC
F l e i s s (1981) d e v o t e s a c h a p t e r t o t h e t o p i c o f i n t e r
r a t e r r e l i a b i l i t y . One m i g h t a s a n i n i t i a l i m p r e s s i o n
a s s u m e t h a t a s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e p e r c e n t a g e
o f a g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n i n v e s t i g a t i v e a n d o n g o i n g w o r k e r s
w o u ld s u f f i c e a s a m e a s u r e o f i n t e r r a t e r r e l i a b i l i t y . How
e v e r , i n h i s r e v i e w o f v a r i o u s m e a s u r e s o f i n t e r r a t e r r e l i
a b i l i t y f l e i s s a r g u e s t h a t t h e r e e x i s t s a n e e d t o a c c o u n t
f o r c h a n c e a g r e e m e n t . He s t a t e s : " I f r a t e r A e m p l o y s o n e
s e t o f c r i t e r i a f o r d i s t i n g u i s h i n g b e t w e e n t h e p r e s e n c e o r
a b s e n c e o f a c o n d i t i o n , a n d i f r a t e r B e m p l o y s a n e n t i r e l y
d i f f e r e n t a n d i n d e p e n d e n t s e t o f c r i t e r i a , t h e n a l l t h e
o b s e r v e d a g r e e m e n t i s e x p l a i n a b l e b y c h a n c e " ( p . 2 1 6 ) .
T h e r e f o r e , p e r c e n t a g e o f a g r e e m e n t , Goodman a n d K r u s k a l * s
L a m L d a , R o g o t a n d G o l d b e r g * s " A , " a n d o t h e r l i k e m e a s u r e s
t e n d t o i n f l a t e , h e n c e m i s r e p r e s e n t , t h e t r u e d e g r e e o f
i n t e r r a t e r r e l i a b i l i t y -
F l e i s s a r g u e s t h a t b y i n c o r p o r a t i n g c h a n c e - e x p e c t e d
a g r e e m e n t . Kappa s t a n d s a s a s u p e r i o r m e a s u r e o f i n t e r r a t e r
a g r e e m e n t - T h e f o r m u l a f o r K a p p a i s :
Po - Pe
1 - P e
w h e r e :
t h e o v e r a l l p r o p o r t i o n o f o b s e r v e d a g r e e m e n t i s
107
kPo = E P i i
i= 1
t h e o v e r a l l p r o p o r t i o n o f c h a n c e - e x p e c t e d a g r e e m e n t i s
kPe = E P i - P - i a n d (3)
i = 1
k = t h e n u m b e r o f j u d g m e n t c a t e g o r i e s .
F o r h y p o t h e s i s t e s t i n g , s t a n d a r d e r r o r f o r m u l a s a r e p r e
s e n t e d f o r b o t h t h e n u l l a n d a l t e r n a t i v e h y p o t h e s e s
( F l e i s s , 1 9 8 1 , p p . 2 1 9 - 2 2 1 ) . T h e f o r m u l a f o r t h e n u l l
h y p o t h e s i s s t a n d a r d e r r o r i s ;
s . e . o (K) = - P e + P e 2 - £ P i . P . i ( P i - *■ P - i )k
i = 1
a n d t h e n u l l h y p o t h e s i s c a n b e t e s t e d by:
KZ
s . e .o ( K )
The s t a n d a r d e r r o r f o r a l t e r n a t i v e h y p o t h e s e s i s :
Y A+B-Cs - e - {K) ---------------~z
( 1 - P e ) V a
w h e r e ;
k ~A = E P i i ( 1 - ( P i . + P . i ) ( 1 - K ) ) 2
i = 1( 7 )
108
B = (1 —K) 2 ZZ P i j ( P . i + P j . ) z a n d (8)
C = (K—Pe (1 —K) ) 2 . (9)
W h e t h e r o r n o t a s p e c i f i e d p o p u l a t i o n Kappa u n d e r l i e s t h e
o b s e r v e d s a m p l e Kappa i s t e s t e d by : '
K - KZ ---------- (10)
s . e - (K)
H a v i n g t h e a b i l i t y t o t e s t an a l t e r n a t i v e h y p o t h e s i s
a s w e l l a s t h e n u l l i s o f c r u c i a l i m p o r t a n c e . T h e n u l l
h y p o t h e s i s f o r a g i v e n K a p p a t e s t s o n l y w h e t h e r o r n o t t h a t
Kappa d i f f e r s s i g n i f i c a n t l y f r o m z e r o . G i v e n t h a t som e
s h a r e d u n d e r s t a n d i n g s c o n c e r n i n g c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t e x i s t
i n b o t h t h e a c a d e m i c a n d p r a c t i c e c o m m u n i t i e s , i t i s r e a
s o n a b l e t o a s s u m e t h a t t h e l e v e l o f i n t e r r a t e r r e l i a b i l i t y
w o u l d be g r e a t e r t h a n z e r o . An i m p o r t a n t q u e s t i o n
a d d r e s s e d b y t h i s s t u d y was w h e t h e r o r n o t i n t e r r a t e r r e l i
a b i l i t y was s u f f i c i e n t l y h i g h t o w a r r a n t t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f
s t a n d a r d i z e d i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n . As a r e s u l t , t h e a p p r o p r i a t e
t e s t w o u ld be t h a t o f a n a l t e r n a t i v e h y p o t h e s i s t o t h e
n u l l .
F l e i s s p r e s e n t s c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n s f o r s t r e n g t h o f
a g r e e m e n t b a s e d u p o n d i f f e r e n t r a n g e s o f K a p p a - " F o r m o s t
109
p u r p o s e s , v a l u e s g r e a t e r t h a n 0 - 7 5 o r s o may b e t a k e n t o
r e p r e s e n t e x c e l l e n t a g r e e m e n t b e y o n d c h a n c e , v a l u e s b e t w e e n
0 - 4 0 a n d 0 - 7 5 may b e t a k e n t o r e p r e s e n t f a i r t o g o o d a g r e e
m e n t b e y o n d c h a n c e " ( . F l e i s s , 1 9 8 1 , p - 2 1 8 ) - I n t h a t i t e m s
u s e d i n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a m u l t i - i t e m i n s t r u m e n t m u s t
d i s p l a y a h i g h d e g r e e o f r e l i a b i l i t y , t h e a l t e r n a t i v e
h y p o t h e s i s t e s t e d was f o r a K a p p a o f 0 - 7 0 , o r a v e r y good
l e v e l o f i n t e r r a t e r r e l i a b i l i t y .
INTERPBETIHG THE "Z" TEST FOE THE AITERHATIVE HYPOTHESIS
When t e s t i n g t h e n u l l h y p o t h e s i s w i t h a " Z " t e s t , t h e
c r i t i c a l v a l u e u s e d t o r e j e c t t h e n u l l h y p o t h e s i s a t a 5
p e r c e n t e r r o r l e v e l i s 1 - 9 6 - A c c e p t a n c e o f t h e n u l l
h y p o t h e s i s i n d i c a t e s t h a t a n o b s e r v e d s a m p l e s t a t i s t i c c a n
n o t b e c o n s i d e r e d t o d i f f e r f r o m z e r o . When t e s t i n g a n
a l t e r n a t i v e h y p o t h e s i s w i t h t h e " Z " t e s t , t h e v a l u e u s e d t o
r e j e c t t h e h y p o t h e s i s i s a l s o 1 - 9 6 a t t h e 5 p e r c e n t e r r o r
l e v e l . O b s e r v e d " Z " v a l u e s l e s s t h a n t h i s a m o u n t c a n be
i n t e r p r e t e d a s s u p p o r t f o r an a s s e r t i o n t h a t t h e s a m p l e
s t a t i s t i c i s e g u i v a l e n t t o t h e p r o p o s e d p o p u l a t i o n v a l u e .
H o w e v e r , " Z " v a l u e s o f 1 - 9 6 o r m o r e i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e s am
p l e s t a t i s t i c i s e i t h e r g r e a t e r o r l e s s t h a n t h e h y p o t h
e s i z e d v a l u e - T h e r e f o r e , a s t a t i s t i c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t "Z"
s c o r e f o r t h e a l t e r n a t i v e h y p o t h e s i s , h e n c e r e j e c t i o n o f
t h e a l t e r n a t i v e h y p o t h e s i s , i n d i c a t e s t h a t a s a m p le Kappa
110
v a l u e i s l e s s t h a n t h e v a l u e o f 0 . 7 0 , a n d t h u s r e p r e s e n t s
l e s s t h a n v e r y g o o d i n t e r r a t e r a g r e e m e n t . a l t h o u g h i t i s
p o s s i b l e t o h a v e a s a m p l e K a p p a t h a t e x c e e d s t h e h y p o t h
e s i z e d v a l u e o f 0 . 7 0 , t h i s d i d n o t o c c u r i n t h e a n a l y s i s .
I n t h a t n o s t a n d a r d s t a t i s t i c a l s o f t w a r e a v a i l a b l e a t
t h e O h i o S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y p r o v i d e d f o r t h e c a l c u l a t i o n o f
K a p p a , a s h o r t P L /1 p r o g r a m w as d e v e l o p e d b y t h i s a u t h o r t o
c a l c u l a t e K a p p a a n d t e s t b o t h t h e n u l l a n d a l t e r n a t i v e
h y p o t h e s e s . T h e t e x t o f t h i s p r o g r a m c a n b e e x a m i n e d i n
A p p e n d i x 0 .
DATA TBAHSFOBflATIOHS
T h e r a t i n g s f o r t h e 1 9 9 c a s e s a n a l y z e d by t h i s p r o g r a m
h a d b e e n i n som e i n s t a n c e s r e c o d e d p r i o r t o a n a l y s i s . The
f i r s t f o u r i t e m s o f e a c h o f t h e t w e l v e s u b s e c t i o n s o r i g i
n a l l y p r e s e n t e d f o u r c a t e g o r i e s : " n o t a c o n d i t i o n , " " p o s
s i b l y a c o n d i t i o n , " " l i k e l y a c o n d i t i o n , " a n d " c a n n o t
d e t e r m i n e . ” So t h a t s m a l l d i f f e r e n c e s o f o p i n i o n o v e r
l i k e l i h o o d d i d n o t a r t i f i c i a l l y r e d u c e t h e c a l c u l a t e d K ap
p a s , " p o s s i b l y a c o n d i t i o n " a n d " l i X e l y a c o n d i t i o n " w e r e
c o l l a p s e d t o o n e c a t e g o r y . I n t h a t " n o t a c o n d i t i o n " a n d
" c a n n o t d e t e r m i n e " a d d r e s s t w o d i f f e r e n t c o n d i t i o n s , t h e y
w e r e n o t c o m b i n e d . A l s o , f o r t h e l a s t f i v e i t e m s i n e a c h
s u b s e c t i o n , i f t h e i n v e s t i g a t i n g w o r k e r ' s r a t i n g w as p l u s
o r m i n u s o n e p o i n t o f t h e o n g o i n g w o r k e r ' s , t h e y w e r e c o n
s i d e r e d e q u i v a l e n t f o r t h e a n a l y s i s o f a g r e e m e n t .
T ab le 14
Kappas f o r P h y s i c a l I n j u r y c o n d i t i o n s
111
S u b s e c t i o n I t e m K a ppa Z Ho Z Ha
1. C h i l d h a s b e e n s t r u c k a sp u n i s h m e n t . 0 . 4 1 3 6 . 6 7 2 4 . 9 3 1
2 . C h i l d h a s b e e n s t r u c k w i t h h a n d so r h a s b e e n k i c k e d b y c a r e g i v e r . 0 . 3 9 5 6 . 4 0 7 5 . 0 5 0
3 . C h i l d h a s b e e n s t r u c k w i t h a no b j e c t . 0 . 3 2 6 5 . 4 5 4 6 . 1 4 6
4 - O t h e r i n t e n t i o n a l p h y s i c a l i n j u r yc o n d i t i o n s p r e s e n t . 0 . 1 3 4 2 . 4 2 2 9 . 2 3 4
5- To w h a t d e g r e e do o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o n s t i t u t ea p r o b l e m ? 0 . 2 2 5 5 - 7 4 2 8 . 3 3 2
6 . W ha t d o you j u d g e t o b e t h e l i k e l y f r e q u e n c y o f o c c u r r e n c e o f o b s e r v e do r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s ? 0 . 2 8 1 6 . 6 6 8 6 . 8 7 2
7 . What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l t i n s h o r t - t e r m ha rm ( h a r m t h a t i s t r a n s i t o r y a n d i s n o t l i f e - t h r e a t e n i n g o r l i k e l y t o r e s u l ti n a " f l a w e d a d u l t " ) ? 0 . 3 0 4 7 . 5 1 8 6 . 7 7 0
8 . What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l t i n l o n g - t e r m h a r m ( h a r m t h a t w o u l dr e s u l t i n a " f l a w e d a d u l t " ) ? 0 . 2 3 0 5 . 8 5 4 8 . 5 9 0
9 . What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e do r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l ti n a c h i l d ’ s d e a t h ? 0 . 4 7 2 9 . 0 2 2 3 .9 4 1
112
T a b le 15
K a p p a s f o r S e x u a l M a l t r e a t m e n t C o n d i t i o n s
S u b s e c t i o n I t e m Kappa Z Ho Z Ha
1. C h i l d h a s h a d s e x u a l r e l a t i o n s w i t hp a r e n t o r g u a r d i a n . 0 . 3 7 8 6 . 6 7 6 3 . 8 8 5
2 . C h i l d h a s h a d s e x u a l r e l a t i o n s w i t h o t h e r r e l a t i v e o r f r i e n d o f p a r e n to r g u a r d i a n . 0 . 3 0 2 5 . 4 3 1 # . 9 9 5
3 . C h i l d h a s h a d s e x u a l r e l a t i o n s w i t hs i b l i n g . 0 . 1 3 1 2 . 3 4 0 7 . 2 6 3
4 . O t h e r s e x u a l m a l t r e a t m e n tc o n d i t i o n s p r e s e n t . 0 . 1 5 5 2 . 9 8 7 7 . 7 0 8
5 . To w h a t d e g r e e do o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o n s t i t u t ea p r o b l e m ? 0 . 3 1 1 5 . 2 5 7 4 . 5 7 1
6 . What d o you j u d g e t o b e t h e l i k e l y f r e q u e n c y o f o c c u r r e n c e o f o b s e r v e do r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s ? 0 - 3 7 9 6 . 3 4 7 3 . 7 9 5
7 - What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l t i n s h o r t - t e r m ha rm ( h a r m t h a t i s t r a n s i t o r y a nd i s n o t l i f e - t h r e a t e n i n g o r l i k e l y t o r e s u l ti n a " f l a w e d a d u l t " ) ? 0 - 2 4 3 4 . 0 5 4 5 . 6 4 3
8 . What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l t i n l o n g - t e r m h a rm ( h a r m t h a t w o u ldr e s u l t i n a " f l a w e d a d u l t " ) ? 0 . 2 0 9 3 . 7 6 5 6 . 3 3 8
9 . What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e do r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l ti n a c h i l d ' s d e a t h ? 0 . 4 2 7 5 . 2 4 4 3 -3 9 3
113
T a b le 16
Kappas f o r S u p e r v i s i o n C o n d i t i o n s
S u b s e c t i o n I t e m K a p p a Z Ho
1- C h i l d l e f t t o b e c a r e d f o r b y o t h e r s w i t h o u t s p e c i f i c a r r a n g e m e n t s h a v i n g b e e n m ade b y c a r e g i v e r . 0 . 3 0 8 5 . 0 5 7
2 . C h i l d l e f t i n c a r e o f a n o t h e r c h i l d t o o yo u n g o r o t h e r w i s e n o t a b l e t o be a r e s p o n s i b l e c a r e g i v e r . 0 . 3 0 5 5 . 0 0 0
3 . C h i l d l e f t f o r l o n g p e r i o d s o f t i m e e i t h e r u n a t t e n d e d o r i n a d e q u a t e l y s u p e r v i s e d . 0 . 3 3 4 5 . 2 2 5
4 . O t h e r s u p e r v i s o r y c o n d i t i o n sp r e s e n t . 0 . 1 2 2 2 . 3 2 8
5 . To w h a t d e g r e e d o o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o n s t i t u t ea p r o b l e m ? 0 . 2 1 0 5 . 7 5 3
6 . What do y o u j u d g e t o b e t h e l i k e l y f r e q u e n c y o f o c c u r r e n c e o f o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s ? 0 . 2 2 7 6 . 4 4 5
7 . What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t . o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l t i n s h o r t - t e r m ha rm ( h a r m t h a t i s t r a n s i t o r y a n d i s n o t l i f e - t h r e a t e n i n g o r l i k e l y t o r e s u l ti n a " f l a w e d a d u l t " ) ? 0 . 2 1 1 6 . 0 2 7
8 . What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l t i n l o n g - t e r m h a rm ( h a r m t h a t w o u ldr e s u l t i n a " f l a w e d a d u l t " ) ? 0 . 1 4 9 4 . 3 3 9 1
9 . What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l ti n a c h i l d ' s d e a t h ? 0 . 2 4 6 6 . 1 2 0
Z Ha
6 . 4 2 8
5 .6 8 1
5 . 9 8 9
0 . 1 4 5
9 . 7 0 1
9 . 2 4 0
9 . 7 9 2
1 . 7 9 5
9 . 7 4 8
Tab le 17
Kappas f o r Hor a l Deve lopm ent C o n d i t i o n s
S u b s e c t i o n I t e m K a p p a Z Ho
1- C a r e g i v e r a w a r e o f i n a p p r o p r i a t e a n d / o r d e l i n q u e n t b e h a v i o r a n d i s n e i t h e r s u p p o r t i v e n o r d i s c o u r a g i n g o f s u c h b e h a v i o r .
2- C a r e g i v e r i s p r o m i s c u o u s a n d d o e s n o t h i d e b e h a v i o r f r o m c h i l d .
3 . C a r e g i v e r e n c o u r a g e s i n a p p r o p r i a t e o r d e l i n q u e n t b e h a v i o r .
4 . O t h e r m o r a l d e v e l o p m e n t c o n d i t i o n s p r e s e n t .
5- To w h a t d e g r e e do o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o n s t i t u t e a p r o b l e m ?
6 . What do y o u j u d g e t o b e t h e l i k e l y f r e g u e n c y o f o c c u r r e n c e o f o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s ?
7 . What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l t i n s h o r t - t e r m ha rm (harm t h a t i s t r a n s i t o r y a n d i s n o t l i f e - t h r e a t e n i n g o r l i k e l y t o r e s u l ti n a ' ' f l a w e d a d u l t " ) ? 0 . 0 9 0 2 . 3 5 7 1
8 . What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l t i n l o n g - t e r m h a r m (harm t h a t w o u l d r e s u l t i n a " f l a w e d a d u l t " ) ? 0 . 1 2 5 3 . 2 7 2
0 . 1 7 4 2 . 9 9 1
0 . 1 5 6 2 . 8 6 1
0 . 2 8 5 5 . 3 0 2
0 . 1 3 2 2 . 4 6 8
0 . 0 4 1 1 . 0 3 1 1
0 - 0 8 0 1 . 9 7 9 1
Z Ha
8 - 4 7 0
9 - 8 5 2
6 - 4 2 7
9 - 1 2 0
1 . 3 8 2
0 . 4 3 8
0 - 5 8 0
9 - 8 1 1
9 . What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e dor s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l ti n a c h i l d ' s d e a t h ? 0 - 4 5 6 7 . 7 3 1 4 . 4 5 7
115
T ab le 18
Kappas f o r M e d i c a l / D e n t a l C o n d i t i o n s
S u b s e c t i o n I t e m K a p p a Z Ho
1 . C h i l d i s c l e a r l y i l l o r i n j u r e d , o r h a s o t h e r m e d i c a l p r o b l e m s b u t h a s n o t r e c e i v e d m e d i c a l a t t e n t i o n . 0 . 192 3 . 2 4 3
2- C h i l d h a s n o t b e e n a d e q u a t e l y v a c c i n a t e d a g a i n s t s e v e r e d i s e a s e ss u c h a s p o l i o . 0 . 3 5 2 5 . 9 0 4
3 . C h i l d h a s o b v i o u s d e n t a l c a v i t i e s o ro t h e r n o t i c e a b l e d e n t a l p r o b l e m . 0 . 2 8 2 5 - 1 9 9
4 . O t h e r m e d i c a l / d e n t a l c o n d i t i o n sp r e s e n t - 0 . 2 4 1 4- 555
To w h a t d e g r e e do o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o n s t i t u t ea p r o b l e m ? 0 . 0 3 1 0 . 5 6 9
6 . What d o you j u d g e t o b e t h e l i k e l y f r e q u e n c y o f o c c u r r e n c e o f o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s ? 0 . 178 3 . 4 6 4
7 . H h a t i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l t i n s h o r t - t e r m harm ( h a r m t h a t i s t r a n s i t o r y a n d i s n o t l i f e - t h r e a t e n i n g o r l i k e l y t o r e s u l ti n a " f l a w e d a d u l t " ) ? 0 . 0 6 3 1- 188
8 . H h a t i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l t i n l o n g - t e r m harm ( h a r m t h a t wou ld r e s u l t i n a " f l a w e d a d u l t " ) ? 0 . 132 2 - 5 1 7
Z Ha
6 . 9 5 8
4 . 2 4 0
5 - 5 6 9
6 . 6 7 3
9 - 1 9 5
6 . 5 6 2
8 . 3 9 8
7 . 5 2 5
9 . Hhat i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t ob servedo r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l ti n a c h i l d ' s d ea th ? 0 . 2 6 4 4 . 0 6 7 6 .8 5 1
116
T a b le 19
Kappas f o r Nutr i t i o n a l C o n d i t i o n s
S u b s e c t i o n I t e m K a ppa Z Ho Z Ha
1. C h i l d d o c s n o t g e t r e g u l a r m e a l s . 0 . 2 8 0 4 . 6 6 4 6 . 7 8 7
2 . Food a v a i l a b l e i n t h e home i s i n a d e g u a t e i n g u a n t i t y a n d / o rn u t r i t i o n a l q u a l i t y - 0 - 2 5 2 4 . 166 7 . 0 9 1
3 . C h i l d a p p e a r s m a l n o u r i s h e d a n d / o re x c e s s i v e l y u n d e r d e v e l o p e d f o r a g e . 0 - 3 1 5 5 . 2 8 4 4 . 8 3 6
4- O t h e r n u t r i t i o n a l p r o b l e m sp r e s e n t . 0 . 0 9 9 1 . 6 9 3 8 . 5 9 3
5 . To w h a t d e g r e e do o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o n s t i t u t ea p r o b l e m ? 0 . 0 8 4 1 . 6 9 4 9 . 2 5 5
6 . What d o you j u d g e t o b e t h e l i k e l y f r e q u e n c y o f o c c u r r e n c e o f o b s e r v e do r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s ? 0 . 0 3 2 0 . 6 5 4 1 0 . 9 6 2
7 . What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l t i n s h o r t - t e r m ha rm ( h a r m t h a t i s t r a n s i t o r y an d i s n o t l i f e - t h r e a t e n i n g o r l i k e l y t o r e s u l ti n a " f l a w e d a d u l t " ) ? 0 . 0 8 1 1 - 7 2 0 9 . 4 7 6
8 . What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l t i n l o n g - t e r m h a rm ( h a r m t h a t w ou ldr e s u l t i n a " f l a w e d a d u l t " ) ? 0 . 120 2 - 5 9 4 9 - 0 0 7
9 . What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b serv edo r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l ti n a c h i l d ' s d e a th ? 0 . 2 9 6 4 . 6 4 5 6 - 6 7 9
117
T a b le 20
Kappas f o r E m o t io n a l M a l tr e a tment C o n d i t i o n s
S u b s e c t i o n I t e m Kappa Z Ho Z Ha
1- C h i l d i s r e j e c t e d d u e t o c a r e g i v e r i n d i f f e r e n c e o r by b e i n g o v e r t l yi g n o r e d by c a r e g i v e r - 0 . 3 8 6 6 - 1 2 2 5 . 3 2 8
2 . C h i l d i s t o l d t h a t s h e / h e i sw o r t h l e s s a n d / o r u n w a n t e d 0 . 2 9 6 5 - 1 7 4 6 . 9 3 0
3 . C h i l d l o c k e d i n a room o r o t h e r w i s e i s o l a t e d f o r e x t e n d e d p e r i o d s o ft i m e . 0 - 1 4 6 2 . 6 3 6 8 . 3 3 3
4 . O t h e r e m o t i o n a l m a l t r e a t m e n tc o n d i t i o n s p r e s e n t . 0 . 1 2 9 2 . 4 0 5 9 . 8 9 5
5 . To w h a t d e g r e e do o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o n s t i t u t ea p r o b l e m ? 0 . 2 3 4 5 . 6 4 5 8 . 6 6 2
6 . What d o you j u d g e t o b e t h e l i k e l y f r e q u e n c y o f o c c u r r e n c e o f o b s e r v e do r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s ? 0 . 2 0 8 4 . 9 8 7 9 . 3 8 4
7 . What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l t i n s h o r t - t e r m ha rm ( h a r m t h a t i s t r a n s i t o r y a n d i s n o t l i f e - t h r e a t e n i n g o r l i k e l y t o r e s u l ti n a " f l a w e d a d u l t ” ) ? 0 . 115 2 . 9 8 1 1 2 - 2 8 3
8 . What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l t i n l o n g - t e r m ha rm ( h a r m t h a t wou ldr e s u l t i n a " f l a w e d a d u l t ” ) ? 0 . 171 4 . 4 8 5 1 0 - 4 2 3
9. What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e dor s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l ti n a c h i l d ' s d ea th ? 0 -5 0 2 8 - 1 7 0 3 -3 9 9
118
T a b le 21
Kappas f o r D r u g / Al c o h o l C o n d i t i o n s
S u b s e c t i o n I t e m Kappa Z Ho Z Ha
1- D r u g s a n d / o r a l c o h o l a r e i ne v i d e n c e i n t h e home- 0 . 3 4 6 5 - 9 9 9 6 . 3 2 9
2 . C h i l d h a s u s e d d r u g s / a l c o h o l i nt h e home w i t h p a r e n t s * c o n s e n t . 0 . 3 9 2 7 - 2 7 6 4 . 2 0 3
3 - P a r e n t i s a l c o h o l i c a n d / o r d r u ga d d i c t . 0 . 4 4 5 7 - 9 5 3 4 - 6 3 9
4,, O t h e r d r u g / a l c o h o l c o n d i t i o n sp r e s e n t . 0 . 0 8 2 1 . 5 1 2 9 . 9 5 6
5 . To w h a t d e g r e e d o o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o n s t i t u t ea p r o b l e m ? 0 . 3 0 3 7 . 6 1 7 7 . 2 1 9
6- H h a t do y o u j u d g e t o b e t h e l i k e l y f r e q u e n c y o f o c c u r r e n c e o f o b s e r v e do r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s ? 0 . 1 7 9 4 . 6 6 9 1 0 - 1 4 2
7 . What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l t i n s h o r t - t e r m ha rm ( h a r m t h a t i s t r a n s i t o r y a n d i s n o t l i f e - t h r e a t e n i n g o r l i k e l y t o r e s u l ti n a " f l a w e d a d u l t " ) ? 0 . 2 1 2 5 - 6 8 7 9 - 4 5 2
8 . What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l t i n l o n g - t e r m h a r m (harm t h a t w o u l dr e s u l t i n a " f l a w e d a d u l t " ) ? 0 . 2 1 8 5 - 8 7 9 9 - 3 5 2
9 . What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e dor s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l ti n a c h i l d ' s d e a t h ? 0 . 3 5 3 7 . 0 2 1 6 . 3 1 0
119
T a b le 22
Kappa s f o r C l e a n l i n e s s C o n d i t i o n s
S u b s e c t i o n I t e m K a p p a Z Ho Z Ha
1- C h i l d h a s n o t b e e n r e c e n t l y o r a d e g u a & e l y b a t h e d .
2 . C h i l d h a s f i l t h y o r m a t t e d h a i r .
3 . C h i l d ' s t e e t h a r e n o t b r u s h e d e i t h e r a d e q u a t e l y o r r e g u l a r l y -
4 . O t h e r c l e a n l i n e s s c o n d i t i o n s p r e s e n t -
5 . To w h a t d e g r e e do o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o n s t i t u t e a p r o b l e m ?
6- What do y o u j u d g e t o b e t h e l i k e l y f r e g u e n c y o f o c c u r r e n c e o f o b s e r v e do r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s ? 0 . 0 7 9 1 . 5 6 4 9 - 1 3 8
7 . What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l t i n s h o r t - t e r m h a r m ( h a r m t h a t i s t r a n s i t o r y a n d i s n o t l i f e - t h r e a t e n i n g o r l i k e l y t o r e s u l ti n a " f l a w e d a d u l t ” ) ? 0 . 1 2 1 2 . 4 0 9 8 - 2 2 9
8 . What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l t i n l o n g - t e r m h a rm (harm t h a t w o u l dr e s u l t i n a " f l a w e d a d u l t " ) ? 0 . 1 5 8 3 . 0 9 1 8 - 2 0 9
0 . 3 4 9
0 . 2 8 4
0 . 2 5 6
0 . 2 1 7
0 . 104
5 . 4 4 3
4 - 2 2 1
4 . 3 7 1
3 . 9 7 8
2 . 0 2 3
5 - 0 7 3
5 . 2 2 2
6 . 7 9 0
6 . 7 4 1
8 . 4 6 2
9- Hhat i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e dor s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l ti n a c h i l d ' s d e a t h ? 0 . 5 5 0 6 . 9 6 2 2 . 0 8 4
120
T a b le 23
Kappa s f or E d u c a t i o n a l C o n d i t i o n s
S u b s e c t i o n I t e m K a p p a Z Ho
1. C h i l d t r u a n t f r o m s c h o o l w i t hc a r e g i v e r ’ s k n o w l e d g e . 0 - 5 9 1 8 - 6 7 5
C h i l d a l l o w e d t o s t a y home f r o ms c h o o l when n o t i l l - 0 . 5 4 7 8 - 4 9 4
3 . C h i l d k e p t home f r o m s c h o o l byc a r e g i v e r when c h i l d i s n o t i l l - 0 - 3 5 3 5 - 8 3 8
4 . O t h e r e d u c a t i o n a l c o n d i t i o n sp r e s e n t - 0 . 0 8 5 1 - 5 9 1
To w h a t d e g r e e do o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o n s t i t u t ea p r o b l e m ? 0 - 2 4 0 4 - 7 9 6
6- What do y o u j u d g e t o b e t h e l i k e l y f r e q u e n c y o f o c c u r r e n c e o f o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s ? 0 - 1 3 1 2 - 5 1 7
7 - What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l t i n s h o r t - t e r m ha rm {harm t h a t i s t r a n s i t o r y a n d i s n o t l i f e - t h r e a t e n i n g o r l i k e l y t o r e s u l ti n a " f l a w e d a d u l t ” ) ? 0 . 0 8 4 1 - 8 0 6 1
8- What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l t i n l o n g - t e r m h a rm (harm t h a t w o u l dr e s u l t i n a " f l a w e d a d u l t " ) ? 0 - 0 6 0 1 . 2 3 4 1
Z Ha
1 - 6 1 7
2 - 4 2 0
5 . 0 3 6
9 - 2 1 3
6 - 4 9 5
8 - 6 9 5
0 - 0 3 4
0 - 4 9 7
9- Khat i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e dor s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u ld r e s u l ti n a c h i l d ’ s d e a t h ? 0 - 5 5 5 6-8C7 1-160
121
Table 24
Kappas f o r C l o t h i n g C o n d i t i o n s
S u b s e c t i o n I t e m Kappa Z Ho Z Ha
1- C h i l d w e a r s p o o r l y f i t t i n g o rworn o u t c l o t h e s / s h o e s . 0 , 3 1 3 4 , 9 3 7 5 . 5 6 3
2. C h i l d w e a r s f i l t h y c l o t h e s - 0 . 3 6 0 5 , 6 5 1 4 . 4 1 5
3- C h i l d i s n o t d r e s s e d a p p r o p r i a t e l yf o r w e a t h e r , 0 . 2 9 0 4 . 5 2 5 5 . 7 3 4
4 . O t h e r c l o t h i n g c o n d i t i o n sp r e s e n t - 0- 115 2 . 0 7 7 8 . 4 7 2
5- To w h a t d e g r e e do o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o n s t i t u t ea p r o b l e m ? 0 . 0 9 2 1 - 7 8 6 8 . 5 5 6
6 . Wha t d o you j u d g e t o b e t h e l i k e l y f r e g u e n c y o f o c c u r r e n c e o f o b s e r v e do r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s ? 0 . 0 4 1 0 . 8 2 6 1 0 . 1 3 0
7 - What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l t i n s h o r t - t e r m h a rm ( h a r m t h a t i s t r a n s i t o r y an d i s n o t l i f e - t h r e a t e n i n g o r l i k e l y t o r e s u l ti n a " f l a w e d a d u l t " ) ? 0 . 124 2 . 5 9 3 8 . 3 7 0
8 . What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l t i n l o n g - t e r m ha rm ( h a r m t h a t wouldr e s u l t i n a " f l a w e d a d u l t " ) ? 0 . 2 4 8 4 . 7 2 7 6 . 2 7 1
9- What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e do r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l ti n a c h i l d ’ s d e a t h ? 0 . 3 0 6 4 . 4 1 8 4 . 2 9 0
T a b le 25
Kappas f o r Housing C o n d i t i o n s
S u b s e c t i o n I t e m ' K a p p a 2 Ho
1- Home i s i n p o o r p h y s i c a lc o n d i t i o n - 0 . 3 8 0 5 - 6 3 7
2- Home h a s t o o l i t t l e s p a c e f o r t h es i z e o f t h e f a m i l y - 0 . 2 8 7 4 . 4 3 4
3 . Home s t i n k s a n d / o r i s f i l t h y , a n d a p p e a r s n o t t o b e r e g u l a r l yc l e a n e d . 0 . 3 1 5 4 . 9 0 7
4 . O t h e r h o u s i n g c o n d i t i o n sp r e s e n t - 0 . 186 3 . 4 0 7
5 . To w h a t d e g r e e do o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o n s t i t u t ea p r o b l e m ? 0 - 1 7 1 3 . 9 7 1
6 . What d o y o u j u d g e t o b e t h e . l i k e l y f r e q u e n c y o f o c c u r r e n c e o f o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s ? 0 . 1 4 7 3 . 3 1 2
7 - What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l t i n s h o r t - t e r m ha rm ( h a r m t h a t i s t r a n s i t o r y an d i s n o t l i f e - t h r e a t e n i n g o r l i k e l y t o r e s u l ti n a " f l a w e d a d u l t " ) ? 0 . 2 0 1 4 . 7 0 7
8- What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e d o r s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l t i n l o n g - t e r m ha rm ( h a r m t h a t w ou ld r e s u l t i n a " f l a w e d a d u l t " ) ? 0 - 3 1 9 7 . 1 7 6
122
Z Ha
4 - 6 9 8
5 . 5 6 8
5 . 5 6 8
8 - 4 5 2
8 - 8 6 8
9 - 3 2 4
8 . 4 0 0
6 - 3 2 7
9- What i s t h e l i k e l i h o o d t h a t o b s e r v e dor s u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s c o u l d r e s u l tin a c h i l d ' s d e a th ? 0 . 5 6 4 8 - 7 2 5 8 -3 0 9
123
Tab le 26
Kappas f o r O v e r a l l A s s e s s m e n t s
S u b s e c t i o n I t e m K a p p a 2 Ho Z Ha
1 . To w h a t e x t e n t d o e s t h i s f a m i l yn e e d s e r v i c e s ? 0 - 3 9 6 1 3 - 0 7 2 7 - 6 2 8
3 - To w h a t e x t e n t d o e s r e m o v a l o f ac h i l d seem t o b e i n d i c a t e d ? 0 - 5 0 4 1 5 . 8 6 4 4 - 6 6 4
4 . L i k e l y o u t c o m e f o r o b s e r v e d o rs u s p e c t e d c o n d i t i o n s ? 0 - 6 4 4 1 6 - 3 0 7 1 . 3 3 0
5 . To w h a t d e g r e e i s c h i l d a b u s ep r e s e n t i n t h e f a m i l y ? 0 - 4 8 0 1 4 - 5 9 6 5 . 2 8 0
6 - To w h a t d e g r e e i s c h i l d n e g l e c tp r e s e n t i n t h e f a m i l y ? 0 . 3 6 8 1 4 - 0 5 6 8 . 3 0 9
FXHDIHGS
T h e r e s u l t s o f t h e a n a l y s i s a r e p r e s e n t e d i n T a b l e s 14
t h r o u g h 26- K a p p a s a n d ”ZU s t a t i s t i c s f o r t h e n u l l a n d
a l t e r n a t i v e h y p o t h e s e s a r e p r e s e n t e d by i t e m - Of t h e 108
i t e m s e v a l u a t e d i n t h e 12 s u b s e c t i o n s , 11 , o r 1 0 . 2 p e r c e n t ,
y i e l d e d K a p p a s o f 0 - 4 o r g r e a t e r - O n l y t w o i t e m s , o r 1 -9
p e r c e n t w e r e o f s u f f i c i e n t m a g n i t u d e t o a p p e a r s t a t i s t i c a l
l y c o m p a r a b l e t o K a p p a = 0 - 7 a t t h e 5 p e r c e n t e r r o r l e v e l .
Worth c o n s i d e r i n g i s t h a t h a v i n g p e r f o r m e d 108 s i g n i f i c a n c e
t e s t s w i t h a l p h a e g u a l t o 0 . 0 5 , o n e w o u l d e x p e c t a s many a s
5 p e r c e n t o f t h e s e t e s t s , o r a p p r o x i m a t e l y f i v e , t o h a v e
124
d e m o n s t r a t e d s t a t i s t i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e d u e t o e r r o r a l o n e .
E x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e r e s u l t s f o r t h e o v e r a l l e v a l u a t i v e i t e m s
show ed t h a t t h r e e o f t h e f i v e i t e m s h a d K a p p a s o f 0 . 4 o r
g r e a t e r . H o w e v e r , o n l y o n e d e m o n s t r a t e d s t a t i s t i c a l s i g
n i f i c a n c e u n d e r t h e a l t e r n a t i v e h y p o t h e s i s -
F i n a l l y , a c o m p a r i s o n w as made b e t w e e n t h e c l a s s i f i c a
t i o n o f t y p e o f m a l t r e a t m e n t u s i n g i n v e s t i g a t i v e w o r k e r s ’
c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s f r o m S e c t i o n I a n d t h e o n g o i n g w o r k e r s ’
c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s f r o m t h e o v e r a l l a s s e s s m e n t s i n S e c t i o n I I .
The o v e r a l l Kappa was 0 - 3 8 9 , i n d i c a t i n g v e r y p o o r a g r e e
m e n t . H o w e v e r , much o f t h e d i s a g r e e m e n t a r o s e when t h e
i n v e s t i g a t o r s c l a s s i f i e d a c a s e a s e i t h e r a b u s e o r n e g l e c t
w h i l e t h e o n g o i n g w o r k e r s c l a s s i f i e d t h e c a s e a s b o t h a b u s e
a n d n e g l e c t . Hhen o n l y t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s o f a b u s e a n d
n e g l e c t w e r e a s s e s s e d , t h e K a p p a was 0 . 7 9 4 , i n d i c a t i n g a
v e r y h i g h d e g r e e o f i n t e r r a t e r r e l i a b i l i t y .
C h ap ter VI
HEGBESSION AND PATH ANALYSIS BESDLTS
OVEBVIEB
The f i n d i n g s p r e s e n t e d i n t h i s c h a p t e r a r e s t r u c t u r e d
i n t o t w o s e c t i o n s - The f i r s t s e c t i o n w i l l p r e s e n t t h e
f i n d i n g s d e r i v e d u s i n g o r d i n a r y l e a s t s q u a r e s (OLS) r e g r e s
s i o n - T h e s e c o n d s e c t i o n w i l l p r e s e n t p a t h m o d e l s a n d
r e s u l t s f o r t h e f o u r t h e o r e t i c a l c o n c e p t i o n s o f c h i l d m a l
t r e a t m e n t d i s c u s s e d i n C h a p t e r I I - A n a l y s i s r e s u l t s w i l l
b e p r e s e n t e d f o r t h e e n t i r e s a m p l e o f U72 f a m i l i e s a s w e l l
a s e a c h o f t h e t h r e e s u b g r o u p s o f m a l t r e a t i n g f a m i l i e s
i d e n t i f i e d i n t h i s s t u d y .
T h e c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t l i t e r a t u r e a b o u n d s w i t h f a c t o r s
h y p o t h e s i z e d a s b e i n g c a u s a l i n m a l t r e a t m e n t o c c u r r e n c e a n d
s e v e r i t y - T h i s s t u d y a t t e m p t e d t o m e a s u r e t h o s e f a c t o r s
t h a t h a v e r e c e i v e d t h e w i d e s t a t t e n t i o n i n l i t e r a t u r e . T h e
a n a l y s e s i n t h i s c h a p t e r a r e b u i l t a r o u n d 16 f a c t o r s
h y p o t h e s i z e d a s b e i n g p o t e n t i a l l y c a u s a l a n d t h r e e o u t c o m e
f a c t o r s : p r i o r v a l i d a t e d m a l t r e a t m e n t , n u m b e r o f p r o b l e m
a r e a s p r e s e n t i n a f a m i l y , a n d s e v e r i t y o f m a l t r e a t m e n t .
- 125 -
126
Tab le 27
L i s t o f V a r i a b l e s Used i n A n a l y s i s
(N = 472)
SyabolAGE
Variable DescriptionStandard
Haan Daviation
Aga of aothar or, where no Bother was present, 31.160 the age of the father.
9.344
HOHWHITE
SUBCULT
Duaay variable indicating non-white feaily. 0.246
Duaay variable indicating cultural/subcultural 0.33S practices were a significant factor.
0.431
0.472
PARNTHAL Duaay variable Indicating parent either abused 0.223 or neglected by their parents as children.
0.423
YRSEDUC Huaber of years of school coapleted by aothar or, where no aothar was present, the father.
10.604 2.142
CAREKNOV Duaay variable indicating that Bother's child care knowledge was "generally deficient" or, where no aothar was present, the father's.
0 .2 2 2 0.416
DISABLED Duaay variable indicating the aother's capa- aclty to function in the faaily waa iapared physical disability.
0.133 0.343
SXHPARNT Duaay variable indicating a single parent faaily.
0.472 0.300
PCTOFPOV Calculated variable that representing total faaily incoaa froa all sources as a percentage of the Departaent of Labor poverty level by faaily size. Zero indicates velusa equal to the poverty level, positive values Indicates below poverty level but wars reflected so that higher values would indicate greater degrees of poverty.
0.104 0.779
ISOLATE Isolation score for the aotber or, where no 6.624 1.966aothar was present, the father. Higher values indicate greater degrees of isolation.
T a b l e 27 ( c o n t i n u e d )
SyabolSTRESSZ
Varlabla DascrlptlonStandard
Haan Deviation
Streaa score for the aothor or, where no ■other was present, the father. Higher values indicate higher levels of external ■tress. Variable is expressed as scores. See discussion in Chapter III for detailed description of this variable's construction.
0.000 1.000
CROWDING A ratio of the nusber of faaily seaborndivided by the nusber of roosa in the hose. Higher values indicate greater crowding.
0.698 0.477
SPACING Constructed variable indicating the extent of spacing between children. Higher values indicate sore spacing. Values have no direct Interpretable seanlng.
11.203 1.041
PSYCHFUN Mother'a level of psychological functioningor, where no Bother was present, the father' Higher values Indicate greater degrees of disfunctionlng.
3.841 1.563
ALCOHOL Dussy variable indicating whether mother or father had a substance abuse problea.
0.278 0.448
KID3ICK Dussy variable indicating that one or sore children had severe or chronic sedlcal probleaa.
0.250 0.433
PRIORMAL Dussy variable indicating that parents had a prior validated abuse or neglect cosplalnt.
0.333 0.472
NPR0B3 A count fros the twelve probles areas inSection II indicating the nusber of areas in which a faaily was judged to have probless.
3.320 2.386
SEVERE Severity of saltreataant as indicated by theongoing workers in the overall assessment portion of Section II. One indicated no or ■lnisal saltreatsent end ten indicated extras* maltreatment were death of a child was probable.
4.894 2.593
128T ab le 28
f i e a n s and S t a n d a r d D e v i a t i o n s f o r S u b g r o u p s
Neglect Abuse Both(N=-253) <N=69) (N= 150)
Variable_________ Mean_Std_Dev__ ____Megn_ _Std_Dey______Meon_ _5td_DeyAGi ~3l7316 ~ I o 7m " 31.797~ 87465" 307667~ 87i62NONWHITE 0.245 0.431 0.333 0.475 0.207 0.4065UBCULT 0.360 0.481 0.174 0.382 0.367 0.484PARNTMAL 0.202 0.402 0.145 0.355 0.327 0.471SINPARNT 0.545 0.499 0.333 0.475 0.413 0.494DISABLED 0.174 0.380 0.087 0.284 0.093 0.292KID5ICK 0.265 0.442 0.174 0.382 0.260 0.440YR5EDUC 10.411 2.108 11.623 2.120 10.460 2.089CAREKNOW 0.221 0.416 0.087 0.284 0.287 0.454BELOWPOV 0.186 0.781 -0.281 0.860 0.143 0.684ISOLATE 6.794 1.947 7.188 2.334 6.707 1.870STRESSZ 0.053 0.966 -0.322 0.906 0.060 1.073CROWDING 0.907 0.509 0.777 0.367 0.939 0.459SPACING 11.091 1.230 11.419 0.622 11.293 0.799PSYCHFUN 3.877 1.534 2.899 1.487 4.213 1.477ALCOHOL 0.261 0.440 0.116 0.323 0.380 0.487PRIORMAL 0.324 0.469 0.188 0.394 0.413 0.494NPR0B5 3.253 2.151 1.638 0.985 4.207 2.759SEVERE 5.217 2.194 1.217 0.415 6.040 2.296
129
T a b l e 27 p r e s e n t s t h e s y m b o l b y w h i c h e a c h v a r i a b l e
w i l l b e i d e n t i f i e d i n s u b s e q u e n t t a b l e s a n d f i g u r e s . A
d e s c r i p t i o n o f e a c h v a r i a b l e a n d v a r i a b l e m e a n s a n d s t a n
d a r d d e v i a t i o n s f o r t h e e n t i r e s a m p l e a r e a l s o p r e s e n t e d i n
T a b l e 2 7 . T a b l e 28 p r e s e n t s t h e m e a n s a n d s t a n d a r d d e v i a
t i o n s f o r t h e t h r e e s u b g r o u p s : n e g l e c t i n g f a m i l i e s , a b u s
i n g f a m i l i e s , a n d t h o s e f a m i l i e s t h a t b o t h a b u s e a n d n e g
l e c t .
THE PBOBLEM WITH COBBELATION COEFPICENTS
The P e a r s o n p r o d u c t - m o m e n t c o r r e l a t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t i s
c a p a b l e o f s u m m a r i z i n g t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n t w o v a r i
a b l e s w h e r e t h e u n d e r l y i n g a s s u m p t i o n s o f t h e s t a t i s t i c
c o n c e r n i n g l e v e l , o f m e a s u r e m e n t a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n a r e n o t
f l a g r a n t l y v i o l a t e d . T a b l e 29 p r e s e n t s t h e c o r r e l a t i o n
m a t r i x f o r t h e c o m p l e t e s a m p l e t h a t was u s e d f o r t h e a n a l y
s e s i n t h i s c h a p t e r . T a b l e s 30 t h r o u g h 3 2 p r e s e n t t h e c o r
r e l a t i o n m a t r i x e s f o r t h e t h r e e s u b g r o u p s .
F o r a s a m p l e s i z e o f 4 7 2 , t h e c r i t i c a l v a l u e o f r ,
P < = 0 . 05 i s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 0 . 1 0 . The m a t r i x i n T a b l e 29
s h o w s n u m e r o u s c o e f f i c i e n t s t h a t a r e e q u a l t o o r g r e a t e r
t h a n 0 . 10 , w h e r e e x p l a n a t o r y v a r i a b l e s a r e c o r r e l a t e d w i t h
t h e t h r e e o u t c o m e v a r i a b l e s . H o w e v e r , t h e r e a r e a l s o
n u m e r o u s s i g n i f i c a n t c o e f f i c i e n t s among t h e e x p l a n a t o r y
v a r i a b l e s . The s a m e s i t u a t i o n h o l d s t r u e f o r t h e o t h e r
130
t h r e e m a t r i x e s - As a r e s u l t o f t h e i n t e r c o r r e l a t i o n s
b e t w e e n t h e e x p l a n a t o r y v a r i a b l e s , t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p s o f
t h o s e v a r i a b l e s ' t o t h e o u t c o m e v a r i a b l e s c a n n o t b e d i r e c t l y
d e c i p h e r e d u s i n g P e a r s o n c o e f f i c i e n t s .
A more c o m p l e x a n a l y t i c s y s t e m , w h i c h l i k e P e a r s o n ' s
c o r r e l a t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t i s d e r i v e d f r o m t h e g e n e r a l l i n e a r
m o d e l , m u l t i p l e r e g r e s s i o n a n a l y s i s p e r m i t s t h e p a r t i t i o n
i n g o f e f f e c t s i n d a t a t h a t h a v e c o r r e l a t e d e x p l a n a t o r y
v a r i a b l e s . C o h e n a n d C ohen ( 1 9 8 3 , p . 7 ) s t a t e t h a t " t h e
g r e a t e s t v i r t u e o f ( m u l t i p l e r e g r e s s i o n ) i s i t s c a p a c i t y t o
m i r r o r , w i t h h i g h f i d e l i t y , t h e c o m p l e x i t y o f t h e r e l a t i o n
s h i p s t h a t c h a r a c t e r i z e t h e b e h a v i o r s c i e n c e s - " B e c a u s e o f
t h i s c a p a c i t y , OLS r e g r e s s i o n i s i d e a l l y s u i t e d f o r e x a m i n
i n g t h e s y s t e m o f i m p l i c i t h y p o t h e s e s among t h e 19 v a r i
a b l e s e x a m i n e d i n t h i s c h a p t e r .
AGE NONWHITE SUBCULT PARNTNAL SINPARNT DISABLED KIDSICK YRSEDUC CAREKNQW BELOUPOV ISOLATE STRESSZ CROWDING
NONWHITESUBCULT
-9.0450.072 -0.040
PARNTMAL -0.065 -0.070 0.267SINPARNT 0.034 0.278 -0.051 -0. 100DISABLED 0.196 0.090 0.073 0.060 0.096KIDSICK -0.001 0.011 -0.047 0.029 -0.056 0.014YRSEDUC -0.002 0.113 -0.132 -0.164 0.040 -0.106 -0.058CAREKNOW -0.075 -0.057 . 0.074 0.284 -0.108 0.011 0.068 -0.178BELOWPOV -0.166 0.149 0.147 0.100 0.101 0.040 0.075 -0.228 0.058ISOLATE 0.128 0.073 -0.082 0.001 -0.010 0.007 0.024 -0.036 -0.066 -0.045STRESSZ -0.146 -0.052 0.062 0.167 -0.007 0.092 0.026 -0.063 0.062 0.192 -8.003CROWDING -0.091 -0.021 0.073 -0.038 -0.244 0.014 0.132 -0.134 0.001 0.238 -0.066 0.059SPACING 0.272 -0.158 -0.066 -0.070 0.049 0.048 -0.148 0.055 0.006 -0.233 0.122 -0.064 -0.364PSYCHFUN 0.077 -0.005 0.144 0.191 0.015 0.246 0.040 -0.123 0.185 0.031 0.156 0.286 -0.027ALCOHOL 0.076 -0.090 0.152 0.084 -0.056 0.059 -0.0% -0.147 0.044 0.024 -0.012 0.224 0.024PRIORMAL 0.113 -0.037 0.109 0.164 -0.029 0.101 0.060 -0.187 0.260 0.059 0.013 0.149 0.125NPROBS 0.039 -0.159 0.246 0.317 -0.107 0.069 0.097 -0.247 0.189 0.130 -0.011 0.261 0.136SEVERE 0.061 -0.072 0.188 0.202 -0.033 0.045 0.126 -0.283 0.230 0.1% -0.038 0.188 0.142
SPACING PSYCHFUN ALCOHOL PRIORMAL IfflROBS
PSYCHFUNALCOHOL
0.0460.041 0.227
PRIORMBL 0.002 0.207 0.095NPROBS -0.069 0.369 0.298 0.324SEVERE -0.079 0.306 0.256 0.333
oo
Correiation
Matrix
AGE NONWHITE SUBCULT PARNTMAL SINPARNT DISABLED KIDSICK YRSEDUC CAREKNQW BELOWPOV ISOLATE STRESSZ CROWDING
NONWHITE -0.068SUBCULT 0.0S3 -0.044PARNTMALSINPARNT
-0.0770.071
-0.0800.262
0.301-0.093 -0.135
DISABLED 0.233 0.078 0.069 0.081 0.084KIDSICK -0.068 0.054 -0.095 0.011 -0.100 0.008YRSEDUC -0.032 0.042 -0.088 -0.133 0.058 -0.107 -0.009CAREKNQW -0.054 -0.038 0.037 0.278 -0.106 -0.044 0.090 -0.156BELOWPOV -0.129 0.146 0.087 0.032 0.006 0.046 0.082 -0.177 -0.077ISOLATE 0.097 0.060 -0.090 0.002 0.071 -0.048 0.054 -0.067 -0.042 0.042STRESSZ -0.166 -0.002 0.052 0.204 -0.045 0.095 0.097 -0.054 0.006 0.190 -0.015CROWDING -0.096 -0.019 0.014 -0.081 -0.261 0.022 0.138 -0.048 -0.049 0.188 -0.115 0.089SPACING 0.283 -0.253 -0.054 -0.040 0.058 0.029 -0.160 -0.014 0.079 -0.214 0.144 -0.065 -0.380PSYCHFUN 0.031 0.040 0.028 0.240 0.051 0.248 0.083 -0.045 0.211 0.024 0.119 0.235 -0.047ALCOHOL 0.115 -0.045 0.042 -0.007 -0.018 0.036 -0.112 -0.078 -0.057 -0.098 -0.132 0.146 -0.021PRIORMAL 0.125 -0.061 0.150 0.199 -0.012 0.150 0.025 -0.153 0.241 0.012 0.034 0.14B 0.102NPROBS 0.082 -0.136 0.203 0.354 -0.111 0.082 0.059 -0.090 0.159 0.003 -0.020 0.159 0.098SEVERE 0.131 -0.010 0.087 0.139 -0.149 0.097 0.116 -0.130 0.186 0.018 -0.010 0.130 0.066
SPACING PSYCHFUN ALCOHOL PRIORMAL NPROBS
PSYCHFUN 0.042RLCOHOL 0.088 0.106PRioRWRL -e.e ia b. ibb -B.eeaNPROBS -0.030 0.279 0.186 0.320SEVERE -0.018___0.191___0.167___0.371. ,_0.481
U)K)
Co
rrelation
M
atrix for
Neg
lecting
S
ub
samp
le
____________ AGE NONHHITE SUBCULT PARNTMAL SINPARNT DISABLED KIDSICK YRSEDUC CAREKNQW BELOWPOV ISOLATE STRESSZ CROWDING
NOWHITE -0.165SUBCULT 0.14S -8.080PARNTMAL 0.088 -0.029 0.354SINPARNT -0.195 0.217 -0.162 -0.029DISABLED 0.197 0.103 -0.006 0.165 -0.000KIDSICK 0.047 0.090 -0.009 0.028 0.000 -0.e96YRSEDUC 0.062 0.229 -0.236 -0.161 0.119 -0.128 0.064CAREKNOW 0.105 0.109 -0.006 0.457 -0.109 0.270 0.265 -0.128BELOWPOV -0.274 0.384 0.022 -0.016 0.186 -0.069 -0.014 -0.130 0.198ISOLATE 0.125 0.075 -0.103 0.197 -0.177 0.152 -0.103 -0.158 0.152 -0.079STRESSZ -0.115 0.023 0.086 0.135 0.025 0.243 -0.049 0.279 0.078 0.051 0.025CROWDING -0.0S0 0.037 0.239 -0.064 -0.284 -0.221 0.019 -0.249 0.090 0.340 -0.096 -0.059SPACING 0.297 -0.258 -0.038 0.119 -0.071 0.179 -0.205 -0.057 -0.043 -0.298 0.134 -0.034 -0.243PSYCHFUN 0.088 -0.014 0.394 0.363 -0.181 0.439 0.083 -0.297 0.195 -0.055 0.400 0.323 -0.037ALCOHOL 0.088 -0.064 0.312 0.108 -0.256 0.049 -0.166 -0.086 0.210 -0.061 0.244 0.165 0.259PRIORMAL 0.095 -0.026 0.170 0.223 -0.341 0.246 0.268 -0.134 0.377 -0.148 0.105 0.054 0.285NPROBS 0.203 -0.084 0.170 0.195 -0.210 0.220 0.092 0.050 0.114 -0.086 0.209 0.261 -0.015SEVERE 0.021 -0.149 0.129 0.082 -0.149 -0.163 0.036 -0.248 0.087 -0.001 0.154 -0.026 0.236
SPACING PSYCHFUN ALCOHOL PRIORMAL NPROBS
PSYCHFUNALCOHOL
0.0250.024 0.240
PRIORMAL 0.112 0.184 0.289NPROBS 0.115 0.507 0.273 0.065SEVERE -0.229 0.155 0.248 0.105 0.052
u> uI
Co
rrelation
M
atrix for
abusing S
ub
samp
le
AGE NQNWHITE SUBCULT PARNTMAL SINPARNT DISABLED KIDSICK YRSEDUC CAREKNQW BELOWPOV ISOLATE STRESSZ CROWDING
NONWHITESUBCULT
0.0540.100 -0.013
PARNTMAL -0.081 -0.040 0.178SINPARNT 0.060 0.374 0.007 -0.065DISABLED 0.098 0.119 0.089 0.021 0.103KIDSICK 0.122 -0.040 -0.009 0.041 -0.035 0.019YRSEDUC 0.011 0.132 -0.095 -0.181 0.058 -0.060 -0.149CAREKNOW -0.134 -0.105 0.099 0.219 -0.143 0.050 -0.040 -0.172BELOWPOV -0.187 0.088 0.241 0.230 0.155 0.029 0.060 -0.272 0.173ISOLATE 0.193 0.071 -0.029 -0.058 -0.042 0.063 0.053 0.035 -0.153 -0.144STRESSZ -0.119 -0.133 0.018 0.106 -0.006 0.014 -0.086 -0.138 0.090 0.198 0.033CROWDING -0.073 -0.015 0.092 -0.004 -0.247 0.068 0.138 -0.198 0.016 0.252 0.069 0.004SPACING 0.256 0.099 -0.069 -0.217 0.161 0.139 -0.093 0.214 -0.137 -0.229 0.063 -0.039 -0.364PSYCHFUN 0.218 0.004 0.162 -0.014 -0.020 0.187 -0.107 -0.037 0.048 -0.085 0.183 0.289 -0.093ALCOHOL 0.038 -0.128 0.231 0.128 -0.071 0.127 -0.088 -0.209 0.081 0.184 0.123 0.309 -0.013PRIORMAL 0.123 0.040 -0.021 0.050 0.038 -0.037 0.027 -0.205 0.216 0.166 -0.028 0.141 0.079NPROBS -0.003 -0.164 0.255 0.237 -0.152 0.051 0.116 -0.425 0.140 0.246 0.029 0.338 0.141SEVERE 0.066 -0.031 0.216 0.230 -0.050 -0.086 0.103 -0.386 0.182 0.286 0.037 0.176 0.147
SPACING PSYCHFUN ALCOHOL PRIORMAL NPROBS
PSYCHFUN __AJ2iALCOHOL -0.046 0.306PRIORMAL 0.817 0.154 0.124NPROBS -0.164 0.341 0.336 8.381SEVERE -0.133 0.219 0.838 0.263 0.568
u>•t
Co
rrelation
M
atrix foe
"Bo
th11
Su
bsam
ple
135
INTEBPBETI HG STANDARDIZED PABTXAL RESBESSJOB COEFFI CIEHTS
T he e a s i e s t way i n w h i c h t o c h a r a c t e r i z e t h e m e a n i n g
o f OLS b e t a s i s by v i e w i n g them a s r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e a v e r a g e
n e t e f f e c t s f o r v a r i a b l e s i n t h e r e g r e s s i o n e g u a t i o n . The
n e t e f f e c t s a r e u n i g u e e f f e c t s , r e p r e s e n t i n g e x p l a i n e d v a r
i a n c e s h a r e d w i t h n o o t h e r e x p l a n a t o r y v a r i a b l e s - T he y
r e p r e s e n t a v e r a g e e f f e c t s b e c a u s e o f t h e n a t u r e o f l i n e a r
e s t i m a t i o n a c r o s s d i f f e r e n t d a t a v a l u e s . T h e r e f o r e , when
i n d i s c u s s i o n i t i s s t a t e d t h a t a p a r t i c u l a r a m o u n t o f
i n c r e a s e i n a n e x p l a n a t o r y v a r i a b l e r e s u l t e d i n a c e r t a i n
i n c r e a s e i n a n o u t c o m e v a r i a b l e , i t m u s t b e u n d e r s t o o d t h a t
t h e s t a t e m e n t s p e a k s t o t h e a v e r a g e c a s e , n o t e v e r y c a s e .
T he s t a t i s t i c i s d e s c r i p t i v e o f a g r o u p o f c a s e s i n a sum
m ary s e n s e , n o t o f p a r t i c u l a r c a s e s t a k e n i n d i v i d u a l l y .
HOLri P iE BEGBESSIOH BESULTS
T a b l e 33 p r e s e n t s e s t i m a t e s f r o m t h e c o m p l e t e s a m p l e
f o r t h e 16 e x p l a n a t o r y v a r i a b l e s r e g r e s s e d o n t h e t h r e e
o u t c o m e v a r i a b l e s . E x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e e f f e c t s on p r i o r
m a l t r e a t m e n t (PRIOHHAL) s h o w s t h a t CABEKNOTJ, t h e dummy
v a r i a b l e i n d i c a t i n g g e n e r a l l y d e f i c i e n t c h i l d c a r e k n o w l
e d g e , h a d by f a r t h e l a r g e s t e f f e c t . AGE was a l s o s t a t i s
t i c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t . T h a t p a r e n t a g e was s t a t i s t i c a l l y
s i g n i f i c a n t w a s n o t u n e x p e c t e d i n t h a t o l d e r p a r e n t s h a v e
136
T a b le 33
Re g r e s s i o n R e s u l t s f o r O u t c o m e V a r i a b l e s E n t i r e S a m p l e
Outcome Variable
Prior Number of OverallVariable______ Maltreatment_________Problems^____________ SeverityINTERCEPT -0.109 (-0.3) 2.809 ( 2.0)* 4.956 ( 3.2)**AGE 0.006 < 2.8)** 0.013 < 1.2) 0.028 < 2.2)*NONWHITE 0.003 ( 0.0) -0.575 <-2.4)* -0.213 (-0.8)SUBCULT 0.027 ( 0.6) 0.471 < 2.2)* 0.325 ( 1.3)PARNTMAL 0.070 < 1.3) 0.983 ( 4.0)**** 0.389 ( 1.4)VR5EDUC -0.022 <-2.1)“ -0.113 <-2.4)* -0.189 (-3.5)***CAREKNOW 0.238 < 4.5)«»»« 0.236 ( 0.9) 0.778 < 2.8)**DISABLED 0.020 ( 0.3) -0.315 <-1.1) -0.536 <-1.6)KID5ICK 0.023 ( 0.4) 0.380 ( 1.7) 0.570 ( 2.2)*SINPARNT 0,033 ( 0.7) -0.068 <-0.3) 0.161 < 0.7)PCTOFPOV -0.012 (-0.4) 0.123 < 0.9) 0.340 ( 2.2)*ISOLATE 0.000 (-0.0) -0.041 <-0.8) -0.077 <-1.3)STRE5SZ 0.049 ( 2.1)* 0.235 < 2.3)* 0.136 ( 1.1)CROWDING 0.138 ( 2.8)** 0.409 ( 1.8) 0.448 < 1.7)SPACING 0.011 < 0.5) -0.076 (-0.7) -0.079 <-0.6)P5YCHFUN 0.029 < 1.9) 0.365 ( 5.4)**** 0.345 ( 4.5)***ALCOHOL 0.004 ( 0.1) 0.882 < 4.0)**** 0.890 ( 3.5)***R-sgugre_______________ 0^3265***;__________0^2632****
k P < = 0.0500« * P < = 0.0100««« P < = 0.0010
P < = 0.0001
N ote: v a lu e s a r e p a r t i a l r e g r e s s io n c o e f f i c i e n t s , w ith a s s o c ia t e d”t" s t a t i s t i c s in p a r e n th e s e s .
137
h a d m ore o p p o r t u n i t i e s , t e m p o r a l l y , t o be i d e n t i f i e d a s
m a l t r e a t i n g - I t s h o u l d b e n o t e d t h a t c o m p a r e d t o t h e dummy
v a r i a b l e CAREKNOE b e i n g 1 , i t w o u l d r e q u i r e 35 y e a r s o f a g e
t o y i e l d t h e s a m e m a g n i t u d e o f e f f e c t , o r r o u g h l y t h e d i f
f e r e n c e b e t v e e n a n 1 8 - y e a r - o l d a n d a 5 3 - y e a r - o l d p a r e n t -
CROWDING was a l s o s t a t i s t i c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t , w i t h t h e
e f f e c t f o r t h e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n h a v i n g t w o r o o m s p e r p e r
s o n i n a f a m i l y a n d h a v i n g t w o p e r s o n s p e r room b e i n g 0 . 2 1 .
A l t h o u g h s t a t i s t i c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t , t h e a c t u a l m a g n i t u d e o f
e f f e c t s f o r STRESSZ a n d YBSEDUC w e r e c o m p a r a t i v e l y s m a l l .
T h e r e w e r e t h r e e s t r o n g a n d s i g n i f i c a n t e f f e c t s f o r
t h e n u m b e r o f p r o b l e m s p r e s e n t i n a f a m i l y (NPROBS). Two
dummy c o d e d v a r i a b l e s , PARNTilAL a n d ALCOHOL, e a c h h a d
r o u g h l y t h e e f f e c t o f a d d i n g o n e p r o b l e m t o t h e c o u n t f o r a
f a m i l y w h e n e v e r p r e s e n t - F o r PSYCHFUN, t h e d i f f e r e n c e
b e t v e e n h a v i n g no p r o b l e m s a n d h a v i n g s u b c l i n i c a l s y m p t o m s ,
t h r e e p o i n t s on t h e m e a s u r e m e n t s c a l e , h a d t h e e f f e c t o f
a d d i n g o n e p r o b l e m . Two o t h e r dummy v a r i a b l e s , NONKHITE
a n d SUBCULT, e a c h h a d t h e e f f e c t o f a d d i n g a b o u t o n e h a l f
p r o b l e m . As a r e s u l t , b e i n g w h i t e a n d h a v i n g b e h a v i o r s a n d
b e l i e f s a f f e c t e d by s u b c u l t u r a l i n f l u e n c e s t e n d e d t o a d d
one p r o b l e m t o a f a m i l y ' s r e c o r d e d c o u n t . A ' i t h r e s p e c t t o
YBSEDUC, an i n d i v i d u a l who ha d tw o y e a r s o f e d u c a t i o n
b e y o n d h i g h s c h o o l on a v e r a g e h a d o n e - h a l f f e w e r p r o b l e m s
t h a n a n i n d i v i d u a l who d r o p p e d o u t o f h i g h s c h o o l i n t h e
1 0 t h g r a d e .
138
T h e e f f e c t s f o p PSYCHFUH a n d ALCOHOL on o v e r a l l m a l
t r e a t m e n t s e v e r i t y (SEVERE) w e r e a l m o s t i d e n t i c a l i n m a g n i
t u d e t o t h e i r e f f e c t s on NPHOBS, o n l y t h e outc fome m e a s u r e
was i n u n i t s o f s e v e r i t y r a t h e r t h a n a c o u n t o f p r o b l e m s .
Two dummy v a r i a b l e s , CABEKMOW a n d KIDS1CK, h a d s i z a b l e
e f f e c t s . B e i n g g e n e r a l l y d e f i c i e n t i n c h i l d c a r e k n o w l e d g e
r e s u l t e d i n a b o u t t h r e e - q u a r t e r s o f a u n i t o f s e v e r i t y
i n c r e a s e a n d h a v i n g a c h r o n i c o r s e v e r e l y i l l c h i l d r e s u l t
e d i n s l i g h t l y m o re t h a n o n e - h a l f o f a u n i t i n c r e a s e . An
i n d i v i d u a l who h a d tw o y e a r s o f s c h o o l i n g b e y o n d h i g h
s c h o o l was f o u n d t o b e on a v e r a g e o n e u n i t l e s s s e v e r e l y
m a l t r e a t i n g t h a n a n i n d i v i d u a l who d r o p p e d o u t o f h i g h
s c h o o l i n t h e 1 0 t h g r a d e .
AGE a n d PCTOFPOV a l s o had s t a t i s t i c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t
e f f e c t s on s e v e r i t y . The d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n a
t w e n t y - y e a r - o l d a n d a t h i r t y - y e a r - o l d m o t h e r was an
i n c r e a s e o f 0 . 3 3 6 s e v e r i t y u n i t s . As c o m p a r e d w i t h f a m i l i e s
t h a t h a d i n c o m e s d o u b l e t h e p o v e r t y l e v e l , f a m i l i e s t h a t
h a d i n c o m e s w h ic h w e r e h a l f t h e p o v e r t y l e v e l t e n d e d t o b e
o n e h a l f o f a u n i t h i g h e r o n t h e s e v e r i t y m e a s u r e -
E - s g u a r e s f o r a l l t h r e e o u t c o m e v a r i a b l e s w e r e h i g h l y
s t a t i s t i c a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t . The m o d e l a c c o u n t e d f o r a b o u t
one t h i r d o f t h e v a r i a n c e f o r NPEQBS, a b o u t o n e f o u r t h f o r
SEVERE, a n d a b o u t 16 p e r c e n t f o r PRIORMAL.
139
F o r t h e m o s t p a r t , t h e s t r u c t u r e o f e f f e c t s o b s e r v e d
i n t h e c o m p l e t e s a m p l e h e l d f o r t h e n e g l e c t i n g a n d t h e b o t h
a b u s i n g a n d n e g l e c t i n g s u b g r o u p s . T h e r e s u l t s f o r t h e
a b u s i n g s u b g r o u p d i f f e r e d . The m a i n d i f f e r e n c e s a r o s e f r o m
v a r i a b l e s f a i l i n g t o a c h i e v e s t a t i s t i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e , a
s i t u a t i o n t h a t i s i n p a r t d u e t o t h e l o s s o f d e g r e e s o f
f r e e d o m i n t h e s u b g r o u p a n a l y s e s . A d d i t i o n a l l y , C o h e n a n d
Cohen (19 75) h a v e a r g u e d t h a t m u l t i p l e r e g r e s s i o n s h o u l d
n o t b e u s e d when t h e n u m b e r o f c o n t r o l v a r i a b l e s e x c e e d s
t h e n u m b e r o f c a s e s d i v i d e d by 10 . E h e n t h i s i s d o n e t h e
p a r a m e t e r e s t i m a t e s a r e m ore s u b j e c t t o d r a m a t i c c h a n g e i n
c r o s s - v a l i d a t i o n a n a l y s e s . T h i s was an i s s u e o f c o n c e r n
f o r t h e a b u s i n g s u b g r o u p .
I n t h a t o n l y 69 a b u s e c a s e s w e r e p r e s e n t i n t h e sam
p l e , t h e s u b g r o u p a n a l y s e s f o r t h i s g r o u p m u s t b e i n t e r
p r e t e d w i t h c a r e . A l t h o u g h t h e a s s e s s m e n t s o f s t a t i s t i c a l
s i g n i f i c a n c e f o r t h e a b u s e s u b g r o u p a r e v a l i d s t a t i s t i c a l
r e s u l t s , a b e t t e r a p p r o a c h t o e x a m i n i n g t h i s s u b g r o u p ' s
r e s u l t s m i g h t w e l l b e r e a l i z e d t h r o u g h i n s p e c t i o n o f t h e
a c t u a l c o e f f i c i e n t s w i t h o u t r e g a r d f o r s i g n i f i c a n c e t e s t
i n g . I n t h i s way , t h e r e s u l t s r e p r e s e n t d e s c r i p t i o n s o f
t h e s u b s a m p l e o n l y , a n d c a n n o t b e u s e d t o i n f e r d i r e c t l y t o
t h e p o p u l a t i o n f r o m w h i c h t h e d a t a w e r e d r a w n .
By v i e w i n g t h e a b u s e r s ’ w e i g h t s i n t h i s m a n n e r , t h e
s t r u c t u r e o f r e s u l t s a p p e a r s s o m e w h a t d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h e
140
o t h e r t w o g r o u p s . CAREKNOW, DISABLED, KIDSICK, a n d
CROWDING w e r e a l l p o s i t i v e l y r e l a t e d t o p r i o r v a l i d a t e d
m a l t r e a t m e n t , w h i l e PCTOFPOV was i n v e r s e l y r e l a t e d . The
c o e f f i c i e n t f o r PCTOFPOV i n d i c a t e s t h a t i n t h e a b u s i n g s u b
g r o u p , t h o s e w i t h r e l a t i v e l y h i g h e r l e v e l s o f i n c o m e w e r e
more l i k e l y t o h a v e a p r i o r v a l i d a t e d c h a r g e o f m a l t r e a t
m e n t .
E x a m i n i n g t h e r e s u l t s f o r t h e n u m b e r o f p r o b l e m s p r e s
e n t i n t h e a b u s i n g s u b g r o u p s h o w s t h a t PSYCHFUN, ALCOHOL,
a n d YBSEDUC w e r e p o s i t i v e l y r e l a t e d t o i n c r e a s e d n u m b e r s o f
p r o b l e m s . A l s o p o s i t i v e l y r e l a t e d w e r e n o t h a v i n g a s u b c u l
t u r a l i n f l u e n c e on m a l t r e a t i n g b e h a v i o r s a n d n o t b e i n g d i s
a b l e d . F o r s e v e r i t y o f m a l t r e a t m e n t , DISABLED was r e l a t e d
t o l e s s e r l e y e l s o f s e v e r i t y w h i l e ALCOHOL w a s r e l a t e d t o
g r e a t e r l e v e l s o f s e v e r i t y -
141
Table 34
Reg r e s s i o n R e s u l t s f o r O u tc o m e V a r i a b l e s Ne g l e c t i n g S u b s a m p l e
(N=22 3)
Outcome Variable
Prior Number of OverallVariable___ _Maltreatment_______ Problems__________ _Severity______INTERCEPT 0.124 < 0.3) 1.457 ( 0.8) 4.527 ( 2.5)*AGE 0.008 C 2.1)* 0.022 ( 1.6) 0.035 ( 2.4)*NONWHITE -0.071 (-1.0) -0.544 (-1.7) 0.165 ( 0.4)SUBCULT 0.089 ( 1.4) 0.444 < 1.6) 0.193 ( 0.6)PARNTMAL 0.088 ( 1.1) 1.413 ( 4.0)**** 0.185 ( 0.4)YRSEDUC -0.018 C-1.3) -0.005 (-0.0) -0.066 (-1.0)CAREKNOW 0.235 ( 3.1)** 0.289 ( 0.8) 0.788 ( 2.2)**DISABLED 0.090 < 1.1) -0.090 (-0.2) 0.152 ( 0.4)KIDSICK -0.022 (-0.3) 0.235 ( 0.8) 0.476 ( 1.5)5INPARNT 0.061 ( 1.0) -0.021 (-0.0) -0.539 (-1.8)PCTOFPOV -0.020 (-0.5) -0.033 (-0.1) 0.007 ( 0.0)ISOLATE 0.009 < 0.5) 0.003 ( 0.0) 0.005 ( 0.0)STRESS2 0.059 ( 1.8) 0.080 ( 0.5) 0.172 ( 1.1)CROWDING 0.114 ( 1.7) 0.479 ( 1.7) 0.135 ( 0.4)SPACING -0.017 (-0.6) -0.082 (-0.6) -0.071 (-0.5)PSYCHFUN 0.022 ( 1.0) 0.257 ( 2.8)** 0.151 ( 1.5)ALCOHOL______Z2-Q51_< -0.7) 0.760 ( 2.5)* 0.715_ ( 2.2);_.R-sgugre____.IgJzIii 1 * 1 * 1 * 1 1 1 1 1 1__ 0.2472;;;;________ _0.1532;;______
* P <= 0.0500*« p <= 0.0100
*«< P <= 0.0010P <= 0.0001
N o te: v a lu e s a r e p a r t i a l r e g r e s s io n c o e f f i c i e n t s , w ith a s s o c ia t e d"t" s t a t i s t i c s in p a r e n th e s e s .
1 42
T ab le 35
B e g r e s s i o n R e s u l t s f o r O u tc om e V a r i a b l e s A b u s i n g S u b s a m p l e
(N=tf9)
Outcome Variable
Prior Number of OverallVariable______Maltreatment________Problems____________ SeverityINTERCEPT -1.243 (-1.2) -2.306 (-0.8) 3.545 ( 2.9)**AGE -0.005 (-0.9) 0.013 ( 0.9) 0.004 ( 0.6)NONWHITE 0.062 ( 0.5) -0.139 (-0.4) -0.092 (-0.6)SUBCULT 0.089 ( 0.5) -0.344 (-0.8) -0.083 (-0.4)PARNTKAL 0.110 ( 0.7) 0.155 ( 0.3) 0.023 C 0.1)YRSEDUC -0.003 (-0.1) 0.098 ( 1.3) -0.042 (-1.3)CAREKN0W 0.252 ( 1.2) -0.257 (-0.4) 0.060 < 0.2)DISABLED 0.382 < 2.0)* -0.092 (-0.1) -0.350 (-1.5)KID5ICK 0.317 < 2.5)* 0.182 ( 0.5) -0.027 (-0.1)SINPARNT -0.143 <-1.4) -0.186 (-0.6) 0.010 ( 0.0)PCTOFPOV -0.134 (-2.1)* 0.159 ( 0.9) -0.012 (-0.1)ISOLATE 0.012 ( 0.5) -0.036 (-0.5) 0.010 ( 0.3)STRES5Z 0.009 < 0.1) 0.036 ( 0.2) 0.021 ( 0.3)CROWDING 0.379 ( 2.6)* -0.007 (-0.0) 0.080 ( 0.4)SPACING 0.108 ( 1.4) 0.139 ( 0.6) -0.193 (-2.0)*PSYCHFUN -0.041 (-0.9) 0.373 ( 3.2)** 0.033 ( 0.6)ALCOHOL 0.134 ( 0.8) 0.669 ( 1.5) 0.245 ( 1.2)R-souare 0.4728** 0.3909* 0.2733
* P <= 0.0500** P <= 0.0100
*«* P <= 0.0010p <= 0.0001
N ote: v a lu e s a r e p a r t i a l r e g r e s s io n c o e f f i c i e n t s , w ith a s s o c ia t e d"t" s t a t i s t i c s in p a r e n th e s e s .
143
T a b le 36
R e g r e s s i o n R e s u l t s f o r O u t c o m e V a r i a b l e s B o t h Ab u s i n g a n d n e g l e c t i n g S u b s a m p i e
(N = 1 50)
Outcome Variable
Variable__PriorMaltreatment
Number of Problems
OverallSeverity
INTERCEPT -0.359 (-0.5) 6.402 ( 1.9)* 5.695 ( 1.8)AGE 0.010 ( 2.0)* -0.012 (-0.5) 0.024 ( 1.0)NONWHITE 0.077 ( 0.7) -0.331 (-0.6) 0.217 ( 0.4)SUBCULT -0.132 (-1.5) 0.706 ( 1.7) 0.380 ( 1.0)PARNTMAL 0.007 ( 0.0) 0.570 ( 1.3) 0.603 ( 1.5)YRSEDUC -0.034 (-1.6) -0.364 (-3.7)*** -0.308 (-3.4)***CAREKN0W 0.232 ( 2.5)* -0.086 (-0.1) 0.439 ( 1.1)DISABLED -0.196 (-1.3) -0.338 (-0.5) -1.401 (-2.3)*KIDSICK 0.012 ( 0.1) 0.686 ( 1.5) 0.343 ( 0.8)SINPARNT 0.049 ( 0.5) -0.484 (-1.1) -0.084 (-0.2)PCTOFPOV 0.081 ( 1.1) 0.352 ( 1.0) 0.506 ( 1.7)ISOLATE -0.012 (-0.5) -0.013 (-0.1) 0.037 ( 0.4)STRESSZ 0.029 ( 0.7) 0.412 ( 2.1)* 0.065 ( 0.3)CROWDING 0.118 ( 1.1) 0.191 ( 0.4) 0.378 ( 0.8)SPACING 0.047 ( 0.8) -0.079 (-0.2) 0.030 ( 0.1)PSYCHFUN 0.046 ( 1.5) 0.501 ( 3.4)*** 0.327 ( 2.4)*ALCOHOL____ 0.059 ( 0.6) 0.508 ( 1.1) 0.322 ( 0.8)R-sauare 0.1793 0.4186**** 0.3168****
* P <= 0.0500** P <= 0.0100
»*# p <= 0.0010**** p <= 0.0001
N ote: v a lu e s a r e p a r t i a l r e g r e s s io n c o e f f i c i e n t s , w ith a s s o c ia t e d"t" s t a t i s t i c s in p a r e n th e s e s .
141*
THE FOLL HODEL
T h e m o d e l s t h a t h a v e b e e n d i s c u s s e d t o t h i s p o i n t
p r e s e n t a n i n c o m p l e t e p i c t u r e o f m a l t r e a t m e n t a s i t i s
d e s c r i b e d i n l i t e r a t u r e . A l t h o u g h PRIOBHAL a u d NPROBS a r e
r e a s o n a b l e a n d v a l i d o u t c o m e m e a s u r e s , t h e y a r e a l s o f r a m e d
a s c a u s a l i n l i t e r a t u r e . T a b l e 37 p r e s e n t s t h e r e s u l t s o f
t h e m o d e l i n c l u d i n g t h e s e tw o v a r i a b l e s t o e x p l a i n SEVERE-
R e s u i t s a r e p r e s e n t e d f o r t h e c o m p l e t e s a m p l e a s v e i l a s
t h e t h r e e s u b g r o u p s -
A l t h o u g h t h e s e tw o v a r i a b l e s a r e o u t c o m e m e a s u r e s ,
t h e r e s h o u l d b e n o a n a l y t i c p r o b l e m s d u e t o s i m u l t a n e i t y .
To be s u r e , PRIORMAL o c c u r r e d b e f o r e SEVERE a n d , m o s t l i k e
l y , t h e c o u n t o f p r o b l e m s p r e s e n t i n t h e f a m i l y - A l s o , i t
s h o u l d be s a f e t o a s s u m e t h a t t h e p r o b l e m s r e l a t e d t o m a l
t r e a t m e n t i n t h e f a m i l y o c c u r r e d b e f o r e t h e c o n s e g u e n c e s o f
m a l t r e a t m e n t . I f t h e s e a s s u m p t i o n s a r e t r u e , OLS r e g r e s
s i o n w i l l p r o v i d e u n b i a s e d e s t i m a t e s , t h u s n e g a t i n g t h e
n e e d f o r s u c h p r o c e d u r e s a s t w o - s t a g e e s t i m a t i o n .
I n t e r e s t i n g l y , many o f t h e v a r i a b l e s i d e n t i f i e d i n t h e
l i t e r a t u r e a s b e i n g s i g n i f i c a n t c a u s a l f a c t o r s f a i l e d t o
a c h i e v e s t a t i s t i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e e v e n t h o u g h many h a d n o n
t r i v i a l c o e f f i c i e n t s i n t h e c o r r e l a t i o n m a t r i x e s a n d som e
h a d a t t a i n e d s t a t i s t i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e i n t h e r e s t r i c t e d
m o d e l . T h i s o c c u r r e n c e i s p r o b a b l y n o t d u e t o s o m e o f t h e
m o re s u b t l e p r o b l e m s t h a t c a n p l a g u e r e g r e s s i o n a n a l y s i s -
1 45
T ab le 37
R e g r e s s i o n R e s u l t s f o e M a l t r e a t m e n t S e v e r i t y ~F u 11 Model
C o m p l e t e S a mp l e a n d Al l S u b s a m p l e s
V£"laII;S
Case Eroaoin:
Lcrr.piEwwfii'iJ 1 5
e Nee lect:bL j SSuiJ i
insle
ftbusir.:Suosat;,::;e
BothSaosatsoie
INTERCEPT 7 P<CC«J( Uiub ( 2 .3 )* 3.5974 ( 2 .8)** 3.4282 ( 1.2) 3.3717 ( 2 .7)**
nJu £.£157 ( 1.55 8.8855 ( 8 .7) 8.0279 ( 1.3) 8.0176 ( 1.6)NuNnri*Ti £.4591 ; i.5 ! -£.8996 (-8 .7) 8.3253 I 8 .7) 0.0528 ( 8 .2)SJBuul. < -8 . £.737 (-8 .3) -e.0S55 (-0 .4) 8.1367 ( 8 .3) 0.0881 (,0 .4)SfixtfTittu -£.4693 (-1 .3 ) 8.0188 ( 8 .8) 0.3366 ( 1.1) -B .1122 (-8 .5)YftSEDJC -£.£441 (-8 .7 ) -£.8487 (-1 .2) -0.1738 (-2 .8 )* -8.1215 (-2 .6)*whR-'Au/i 0 .4)72 ( 1.3) 8.0378 ( 8 .1) 0.4484 ( 1.2) 8.5148 ( 2.1)*n rc rtL' Ct\ uiOnsJtu e .eegs ( 8 .2! -8.3799 (-1 .5) -1.2504 (-2 .2 )* -0.4038 (-1 .4)CD3IC< 2 ,4£83 ( 1.4) -8.8478 (-8 .2) 8.0942 ( 0.2) 8.2788 ( 1.7)SINrSRN’T -0.5962 (-2 .3 )* £.8182 ( 8 .1) 8.8857 ( 8 .2) • 0.1721 ( 0.8)-‘DTCrPuv 8.0431 ! 8 .2) 8 .88ei ( 8.8) 8.3715 ( 1.3) 0.2913 ( 2 .1 )*ISD-PTE - ? . 0££l (-0 .8 ) 8.8826 ! 8 .2) 8.0*41 ( 8 .5) -8.0571 (-1.2)S73I5E2 £.0754 ! £.5) £.8218 i 8.3) -0.0358 (-8 .5! -0.0852 (-8.1).•.’."jAi/i!*.! -2.1787 (-8 .6) 8.8528 ( 8.2) 8.2379 ( 8 .7 ) 0.1654 ( 8.7)
-8.0155 (-0 .1) -£.1939 (-2 .8 )* 0.0544 ( 0.2) —8.8:11 (-8.5)-SYCH'Lf** 8.0256 ( £ .2! 0.8431 ! 8.7! 0.1423 ( 1.1) 8.1553 i 2 .2 )*
£.*705 ( 1.6) 0.2467 ( 1.1) 0.13 32 ( 8 .3) 0.4754 ( 2 .1 )*
GR; JS'fL. 1.8913 ( 2.8)**** 8.8733 ( 8 .4) e.094£ ( 8 .2) 8.6448 ! 2 .5) **
'.33DBE £.3352 ( £.1;**** -£.8178 (-8 .2) 8.3506 ( 4.8)**** 8.4664 ( 5.6)****•2______8.*135****__________ 2.3414****__________ C. £773______________ I?. 423!****
* ? i - 0.8580 ** o {= 0.0)00.
*** * <=**** f' ;= 3.&361
hota: values are partial repression cpefficients, with associate: “t': statistics it: parent neses.
146
An e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e r e s i d u a l p l o t s s h o v e d n o r m a l l y d i s
t r i b u t e d r e s i d u a l s , s u g g e s t i n g t h a t d r a m a t i c r n i s -
s p e c i f i c a t i o n o f t h e m o d e l o r c o r r e l a t e d e r r o r t e r m s w e r e
n o t a p r o b l e m . M ore l i k e l y , t h e c h a n g e i n t h e p a t t e r n o f
s t a t i s t i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e f o r t h e f u l l m o d e l e s t i m a t e s i s
t h e r e s u l t o f d e c r e a s e d s e m i p a r t i a l c o e f f i c i e n t s b r o u g h t
a b o u t by t h e p r e s e n c e o f NPROBS a n d PRIORMAL. T h i s c o n
f o u n d i n g o f e f f e c t s w o u l d b e d u e t o t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e i r
c o r r e l a t i o n s v i t h t h e o t h e r r e g r e s s o r s i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e
i n t e r c o r r e l a t i o n among t h e o t h e r r e g r e s s o r s a l r e a d y n o t e d -
A PROBLEM B1TH OLS OSIHG SIHPLTAMEOOS ENTRY
C l a s s i c s i m u l t a n e o u s e n t r y o f v a r i a b l e s i n a n OLS
r e g r e s s i o n m o d e l c a n y i e l d m i s l e a d i n g r e s u l t s s i n c e u n s u
s p e c t e d s p u r i o u s n e s s i n t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p s
among v a r i a b l e s c a n go u n r e c o g n i z e d . T h i s c a n h a v e t h e
e f f e c t o f m a k in g a n e x p l a n a t o r y v a r i a b l e , w h i c h i s t o a
g r e a t d e q r e e a f u n c t i o n o f a n o t h e r e x p l a n a t o r y v a r i a b l e ,
a p p e a r a s a s i g n i f i c a n t e f f e c t w h i l e t h e v a r i a b l e t h a t
" c a u s e d ” i t m i g h t f a i l t o a c h i e v e s i g n i f i c a n c e . C o h e n a n d
C o h e n (1983 ) s u g g e s t t h a t t h e u s e o f h i e r a r c h i c a l e n t r y o f
v a r i a b l e s i n o r d e r o f t e m p o r a l o r t h e o r e t i c a l l y d e s i g n a t e d
c a u s a l p r e c e d e n c e i s a n e x c e l l e n t a n a l y t i c a p p r o a c h f o r
c o n t r o l l i n g s p u r i o u s n e s s .
1«7
W h i l e h i e r a r c h i c a l e n t r y c o n t r o l s f o r s p u r i o u s n e s s a n d
t h u s p r o v i d e s m ore i n s i g h t t o i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , i t , t o o , h a s
a s e r i o u s l i m i t a t i o n . V a r i a b l e s m u s t b e e n t e r e d i n s e r i a l
o r d e r e i t h e r i n d i v i d u a l l y o r i n s e t s . T h i s a p p r o a c h t o
a n a l y s i s i s n o t c a p a b l e o f d o i n g j u s t i c e t o a o r e c o m p l e x
h y p o t h e t i c a l s t r u c t u r e s .
PATH AKALYSIS
T he a n a l y s i s t h u s f a r h a s e x a m i n e d a s s o c i a t i o n b e t w e e n
v a r i o u s " c a u s e " v a r i a b l e s a n d m a l t r e a t m e n t o u t c o m e s . T h i s
h a s b e e n d o n e w i t h i n t h e l i m i t a t i o n s n o t e d a b o v e . The
i n t e n t o f t h i s s t u d y w a s t o c a s t d a t a i n a c a u s a l f r a m e w o r k
a n d t e s t t h e v a l i d i t y o f p r e v a i l i n g t h e o r e t i c a l c o n c e p t i o n s
o f c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t - To f a c i l i t a t e t h i s t e s t i n g , p a t h
a n a l y s i s , a s p e c i a l a p p l i c a t i o n o f OLS r e g r e s s i o n , was
e m p l o y e d t o c i r c u m v e n t t h e l i m i t a t i o n d i s c u s s e d a b o v e .
H e i s e {19 7 5 , p . 111) n o t e s t h a t " (m) o s t c a u s a l a n a l y s e s i n
t h e s o c i a l s c i e n c e s a r e c o n d u c t e d w i t h i n t h e f r a m e w o r k o f
c r o s s - s e c t i o n a l s t a t i c s , " a s was t h i s s t u d y . He c o n t i n u e s
t o a r g u e t h a t p a t h a n a l y s i s r e p r e s e n t s a u s e f u l t o o l f o r
t h e e x a m i n a t i o n o f c a u s a l i t y i n s u c h a f r a m e w o r k .
P a t h a n a l y s i s was t h e t o o l e m p l o y e d by S e a b u r g {1980)
i n h i s e f f o r t t o e x a m i n e v a r i o u s c o n c e p t i o n s o f m a l t r e a t
m e n t c a u s a t i o n u s i n g d a t a c o l l e c t e d by G i l { 1 9 7 0 ) .
A l t h o u g h h i s s e c o n d a r y a n a l y s i s was l i m i t e d by p r o b l e m s
1hB
s u c h a s t h e m a n n e r i n w h i c h v a r i a b l e s w e r e m e a s u r e d , h i s
g e n e r a l a n a l y t i c a p p r o a c h p r o v i d e d a f r a m e w o r k f o r c o n c e p
t u a l i z i n g t h e a n a l y s i s i n t h i s s t u d y .
ISSUES CONNECTED HITH CAOSAL &5ALYSX5
C a us e
T he m o s t s i g n i f i c a n t i s s u e a r i s i n g f r o m c a u s a l a n a l y
s i s i s t h e s p e c i f i c a t i o n o f c a u s e . The p h i l o s o p h i c a l c o n
s i d e r a t i o n s o f c a u s e a n d e f f e c t a r e c o m p l e x a n d w i l l n o t b e
d e a l t w i t h a t l e n g t h i n t h i s c o n t e x t . T a y l o r (1 9 6 7 ) d i s
c u s s e s t h e d i f f e r i n g p h i l o s o p h i c a l p e r s p e c t i v e s on c a u s a
t i o n i n t h e E n c y c l o p e d i a o f P h i l o s o p h y -
H e i s e ( 1 9 7 5 ) , B l a l o c k (196U) , a n d A s h e r (1983 ) e a c h
o f f e r a d i s c u s s i o n o f c a u s a t i o n i n t h e c o n t e x t o f s o c i a l
s c i e n c e d a t a a n a l y s i s . T h r e e g e n e r a l c r i t e r i a a r e d i s
c u s s e d by e a c h o f t h e s e a u t h o r s a s b e i n g n e c e s s a r y f o r a n y
i n f e r e n c e o f c a u s a l i t y :
1. c o v a r i a t i o n b e t w e e n a n y t w o v a r i a b l e s w h e r e o n e i s
i d e n t i f i e d a s c a u s i n g t h e o t h e r ;
2 . t e m p o r a l o r d e r t h a t i s e i t h e r i m p l i c i t o r d e l i n e a t e d
b y t h e o r y , w h e r e b y a c a u s e a l w a y s p r e c e d e s a n e f f e c t ;
a n d ,
3 . r e l e v a n t v a r i a b l e s t h a t a r e n o t a b s e n t f r o m t h e c a u s a l
s y s t e m , t h u s i n s u r i n g t h a t t h e h y p o t h e s i z e d c a u s e a n d
e f f e c t a r e n o t b o t h a f u n c t i o n o f y e t a n o t h e r , unmea
s u r e d c a u s a l f a c t o r -
149
T h e s e t h r e e c r i t e r i a h a v e b e e n a d d r e s s e d w i t h r e s p e c t t o
t h e a n a l y s e s t o b e p r e s e n t e d i n t h e f o l l o w i n g p a g e s .
F i r s t , t h e c o r r e l a t i o n m a t r i x e s p r o v i d e d a b a s i s f o r d e t e r
m i n i n g c o v a r i a t i o n - S e c o n d l y , i m p l i c i t t i m e o r d e r i n g a n d
t h e g e n e r a l s t r u c t u r e o f t h e t h e o r i e s c o n s i d e r e d i n t h e
c o n t e x t o f t h i s s t u d y p r o v i d e d t h e o r d e r t h a t d e t e r m i n e d
t h e i n i t i a l s t r u c t u r e f o r t h e m o d e l s . L a s t l y , t o t h e
e x t e n t o f t h e a d e q u a c y o f l i t e r a t u r e a d d r e s s i n g c h i l d m a l
t r e a t m e n t , a s u b s t a n t i a l n u m b e r o f p o t e n t i a l l y r e l e v a n t
v a r i a b l e s h a v e b e e n m e a s u r e d .
The B e s t Hode l
& c r i t i c a l i s s u e i n i n t e r p r e t i n g t h e r e s u l t s o f a p a t h
a n a l y s i s i s t h a t n o m o d e l c a n b e p r o v e n c o r r e c t o r t r u e .
T h i s m u s t b e u n d e r s t o o d . C a u s a l a n a l y s i s t e c h n i q u e s s u c h
a s p a t h a n a l y s i s e n a b l e a n i n v e s t i g a t o r t o d e t e r m i n e i f a
h y p o t h e s i z e d s e t o f c a u s a l l i n k a g e s a r e e m p i r i c a l l y s u p
p o r t e d b y a d a t a s e t . H o w e v e r , f i n d i n g e m p i r i c a l s u p p o r t
d o e s n o t o u t o f h a n d i n d i c a t e t h a t a c a u s a l c o n f i g u r a t i o n
i s v a l i d . I n s h o r t , c a u s a l a n a l y s i s c a n i d e n t i f y m o d e l s
n o t s u p p o r t e d by d a t a , b u t c a n n o t " p r o v e " a m o d e l ’ s v a l i d i
t y by f i n d i n g t h a t i t i s s u p p o r t e d by d a t a . I t i s b e c a u s e
o f t h i s l i m i t a t i o n t h a t t h e T o b a c c o I n s t i t u t e c a n c o n t i n u e
t o c l a i m t h a t i t h a s y e t t o b e p r o v e n t h a t c i g a r e t t e smok
i n g c a u s e s c a n c e r . T h e r e f o r e , i t m u s t b e r e m e m b e r e d t h a t
t h e b e s t m o d e l w h i c h e m e r g e s f r o m a n a l y s i s may n o t , i n
150
f a c t , r e f l e c t t h e t r u e s t r u c t u r e o f f a c t o r s o p e r a t i n g i n
m a l t r e a t m e n t c a u s a t i o n .
D i s f c r i b n t i o n a l L i m i t a t i o n s
Two a s p e c t s o f v a r i a b l e d i s t r i b u t i o n s a f f e c t c o r r e l a
t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t s , a n d h e n c e a n y a n a l y s i s , s u c h a s p a t h
a n a l y s i s , t h a t i s b u i l t u p o n t h e m . F i r s t i s t h e p r o b l e m o f
r e s t r i c t e d r a n g e . I n t h a t t h i s s t u d y o n l y e x a m i n e d f a m i
l i e s i n w h i c h m a l t r e a t m e n t w as c o n f i r m e d , n o n m a l t r e a t i n g
f a m i l i e s w e r e n o t i n c l u d e d . B e c a u s e o f t h i s , t h e r a n g e o f
v a r i a t i o n f o r t h e s e v e r i t y m e a s u r e a n d t h e c o u n t o f p r o b
l e m s was r e s t r i c t e d , e x c l u d i n g no h a r m a n d no p r o b l e m f a m i
l i e s . C o h e n a n d C ohe n (1 9 8 3 ) n o t e t h a t r e s t r i c t i n g t h e
r a n g e o f v a r i a t i o n f o r a v a r i a b l e t e n d s t o r e s u l t i n c o r r e
l a t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t s t h a t u n d e r e s t i m a t e , t h e m a g n i t u d e o f
r e l a t i o n s h i p i n a p o p u l a t i o n w h e r e i n t h e v a r i a b l e i s f r e e
t o v a r y .
The s e c o n d p r o b l e m a r i s e s f r o m d i f f e r e n t d i s t r i b u t i o n
a l s h a p e s a c r o s s v a r i a b l e s . T h i s i s p a r t i c u l a r l y o b v i o u s
i n t h e c a s e o f dummy v a r i a b l e s . C o h e n a n d Cohen (19 83)
o b s e r v e t h a t a s t h e s h a p e s o f tw o d i s t r i b u t i o n s b e c o m e m ore
d i s s i m i l a r , t h e m a g n i t u d e o f t h e h i g h e s t p o s s i b l e c o r r e l a
t i o n c o e f f i c i e n t s h r i n k s away f r o m p l u s o r m i n u s o n e - As
i n t h e c a s e o f r e s t r i c t e d r a n g e o f v a r i a t i o n , t h e e f f e c t i s
t o f i n d c o e f f i c i e n t s t h a t u n d e r e s t i m a t e t h e t r u e d e g r e e o f
r e l a t i o n s h i p .
151
A l t h o u g h t h e e f f e c t s o f t h e s e l i m i t a t i o n s a r e u n a v o i
d a b l e , t h e b i a s t h e y i n t r o d u c e i s t o l e r a b l e i n t h a t a n y
e r r o r w i l l t e n d t o t h a t o f u n d e r e s t i m a t i o n o f e f f e c t s o r
f a i l u r e t o d e t e c t e f f e c t s , r a t h e r t h a n i d e n t i f y i n g e f f e c t s
t h a t d o n o t a c t u a l l y e x i s t .
K ote a b o u t I n i t i a l S t r u c t u r e o f M od els
P e r h a p s t h e l a r g e s t d i f f i c u l t y c o n f r o n t i n g t h i s a n a l y
s i s was c o n s t r u c t i n g m o d e l s t h a t w ou ld d o j u s t i c e t o t h e
f o u r t h e o r e t i c a l d o m a i n s . The f i r s t d e c i s i o n s h a d t o do
w i t h w h i c h v a r i a b l e s w o u l d b e i n c l u d e d i n e a c h o f t h e f o u r
m o d e l s . S w e e t a u d B e s i c k * s (1979 ) a r t i c l e p r o v i d e d s i g n i f
i c a n t g u i d a n c e , a s w e l l a s t h o s e b y G e l l e s {1975) a n d
n u m e r o u s o t h e r a u t h o r s . The s e c o n d d e c i s i o n a d d r e s s e d t e m
p o r a l o r d e r w i t h i n t h e m o d e l s . The a u t h o r s m e n t i o n e d a b o v e
a n d a u t h o r s a d d r e s s i n g a s p e c i f i c t h e o r y , s u c h a s B a n d u r a
( 1 9 7 7 ) , p r o v i d e d t h e g u i d a n c e f o r p o s i t i o n i n g t h e d i f f e r e n t
v a r i a b l e s i n t h e m o d e l s b e y o n d l o g i c a l t i m e o r d e r , a s w e l l
a s w h e r e t h e i n i t i a l l i n k a g e s w o u l d b e d r a w n .
T he i n i t i a l l i n k a g e s t r u c t u r e was t h e l e a s t p r o b l e m a t
i c i s s u e . The c o m p u t e r p r o g r a m u s e d f o r a n a l y s i s , t h e
I n t e r a c t i v e P a t h A n a l y s e r ( I P A ) , p r o v i d e d a r e s i d u a l c o r r e
l a t i o n m a t r i x a f t e r an a n a l y s i s s o t h a t a r e s e a r c h e r may
i d e n t i f y l a r g e r c o e f f i c i e n t s t h a t h a v e n o t b e e n e x p l a i n e d
i n t h e m o d e l . A f t e r t h i s i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , a m o d e l c o u l d b e
r e v i s e d a n d r e a n a l y z e d . B e c a u s e o f t h i s , f a c t o r s i n c l u d e d
152
i n m o d e l s t h a t h a d b e e n i d e n t i f i e d a s b e i n g c a s u a l i n l i t
e r a t u r e w e r e a l m o s t a l l i n i t i a l l y l i n k e d t o t h e t h r e e o u t
come v a r i a b l e s .
By p r o c e e d i n g i n t h i s m a n n e r , a n e x p l o r a t o r y a n a l y s i s
s u c h a s t h e o n e i n t h i s s t u d y c a n be c a r r i e d f o r w a r d w i t h
o u t a g o n i z i n g a t l e n g t h o v e r t h e l i n k a g e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e
m o d e l t o be a n a l y z e d , o n c e t h e t e m p o r a l p o s i t i o n o f v a r i
a b l e s h a s b e e n d e c i d e d . A l t h o u g h s u c h s p e c i f i c a t i o n i s n o t
a n i d e a l a n a l y t i c a p p r o a c h , " m o d e l b u i l d i n g w i t h o u t f u l l
i n f o r m a t i o n o n c a u s a l p r i o r i t i e s may b e j u s t i f i e d a s a way
o f s u m m a r i z i n g p r e s e n t k n o w l e d g e i n o r d e r t o g u i d e f u t u r e
r e s e a r c h " ( S e a b u r g , 1 9 8 0 , p - 4 0) - I t s h o u l d b e n o t e d t h a t
i n p r e s e n t i n g t h e r e s u l t s f o r t h e s e a n a l y s e s , l i n k a g e s t o
a n d f ro m e n d o g e n o u s v a r i a b l e s t h a t p r o v e d t o b e d e a d e n d s ,
n o t a f f e c t i n g a n y o t h e r v a r i a b l e s , w e re d e l e t e d f o r c l a r i t y
i n t h e f i g u r e s .
153
F i a u r e _ 1 . : I n i t i a l C o n f i g u r a t i o n f o r P s y c h o d y n a m i c Model
NPROBSPRIORMAL
SEVEREPSYCHFUN
154
THE PSTCHODTNAflIC HODEL
F i g u r e 1 s h o w s t h e i n i t i a l m o d e l t e s t e d f o r t h e p s y -
c h o d y n a m i c c o n c e p t i o n o f c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t . The m o d e l i s
q u i t e s i m p l e , p r o b a b l y m ore s i m p l e t h a n a d v o c a t e s o f p s y
c h o d y n a m i c c a u s a l i t y w o u l d p o s i t - H o w e v e r , t h e b o t t o m l i n e
f o r w r i t e r s s u c h a s H e i f e r a n d Kempe ( 1 9 7 6 ) a n d P o l a n s k y ,
e t a l - ( 1968 ) i s t h a t m a l t r e a t m e n t o c c u r s b e c a u s e o f t h e
m o t h e r ' s p o o r p s y c h o l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g . The m o d e l i n F i g
u r e 1 s t a t e s t h a t p r i o r c o n f i r m e d m a l t r e a t m e n t , t h e n u m b e r
o f p r o b l e m s p r e s e n t i n a f a m i l y a n d t h e s e v e r i t y o f m a l
t r e a t m e n t a r e a l l t h e r e s u l t o f t h e m o t h e r ' s l e v e l o f p s y
c h o l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g ( f a t h e r ' s i n t h e c a s e o f a m a l e
h e a d e d s i n g l e p a r e n t h o u s e h o l d ) . The m o d e l f u r t h e r i n d i
c a t e s t h a t t h e e f f e c t o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g i s c a r
r i e d i n d i r e c t l y t h r o u g h PRIORHAL a n d NPBOBS.
F i g u r e 2 p r e s e n t s t h e r e s u l t s f o r t h e c o m p l e t e s a m p l e .
W h i l e p s y c h o l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g was f o u n d t o b e d i r e c t l y
r e l a t e d t o b o t h PRIORNAL a n d NPBOBS, n o s i g n i f i c a n t d i r e c t
e f f e c t w a s f o u n d on SEVERE. The t o t a l i n d i r e c t e f f e c t on
SEVERE f r o m PSYCIIFUH was 0 . 2 2 7 , w h i l e t h e t o t a l d i r e c t a n d
i n d i r e c t e f f e c t s o f PRIOBHAL a n d NPROBS w e r e 0 . 2 9 8 a n d
0 . 5 2 5 r e s p e c t i v e l y . As s h o w n i n F i g u r e 3 , t h i s p a t t e r n
h e l d t r u e f o r t h e n e g l e c t s u b g r o u p . H o w e v e r , t h e t o t a l
e f f e c t o f PSYCHFUN w a s l e s s a t 0 . 1 5 8 . T h e t o t a l e f f e c t s
f o r PRIOBHAL a n d NPROBS w e r e 0 . 3 5 4 a n d 0 . 4 0 4 respectively.
155
F i g u r e 2 : B e s u l t s f o r P s y c h o d y n a m i c M o d e l , c o m p l e t e S a m p l e
u u
NPROBSPRIORMAL
SEVEREPSYCHFUN
156
F i g u r e 3 : R e s u l t s f o r P sych od yn am ic f l o d e l , N e g l e c t i n g Sub-s a m p le
u u
0277NPROBSPRIORMAL
SEVEREPSYCHFUN
157
F i g u r e 4 ; R e s u l t s f o r P s y c h o d y n a m i c M o d e l , M u s i n g S u b s a n p i e
NPROBSPRIORMAL
§
C PSYCHFUN ^ <* 4 8EVERE D
F i g u r e 5: f l e s u l t s f o r P sych od yn am ic Model f o r Doth Abusingand N e g l e c t i n g Subsaraple
tl
NPROBSPRIORMAL
SEVERE
159
F i g u r e 4 s h o w s t h e r e s u l t s f o r t h e a b u s i n g s u b s a m p l e ,
w h ic h w e r e n o t a b l y d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h e n e g l e c t i n g s u b s a m p l e .
The a b u s i n g s u b s a m p l e d e m o n s t r a t e d a s t r o n g d i r e c t e f f e c t
f r o m PSYCHFUN o n m a l t r e a t m e n t s e v e r i t y - H o w e v e r , i t h a d no
e f f e c t on e i t h e r PBIOBHAL o r NPBOBS- F u r t h e r , PBXORNAL a n d
NPBOBS d e m o n s t r a t e d no e f f e c t o n SEVEBE, a l t h o u g h PBIOBH&L
d i d a f f e c t t h e n u m b e r o f p r o b l e m s p r e s e n t i n a f a m i l y .
T h e f a m i l i e s t h a t b o t h a b u s e d a n d n e g l e c t e d s h o w e d y e t
a d i f f e r e n t c o n f i g u r a t i o n - i s i n t h e o v e r a l l a n d n e g l e c t
a n a l y s e s , no d i r e c t e f f e c t w as o b s e r v e d f o r p s y c h o l o g i c a l
f u n c t i o n i n g on s e v e r i t y o f m a l t r e a t m e n t . H o w e v e r , u n l i k e
t h o s e a n a l y s e s , n o d i r e c t e f f e c t was o b s e r v e d f o r PSYCHFUN
on PBIOBMAL. T h e t o t a l i n d i r e c t e f f e c t o f PSYCHFUN on
SEVERE w as 0 . 1 7 2 . T he t o t a l i n d i r e c t e f f e c t o f PBIOBHAL on
SEVEBE was 0 . 1 4 5 , w h i l e t h e d i r e c t e f f e c t o f NPBOBS w a s a
s t r o n g 0 . 5 6 9 .
S u m m a r i z i n g t h e s e f o u r a n a l y s e s , i t i s c l e a r t h a t w i t h
t h e e x c e p t i o n o f t h e 69 a b u s e c a s e s , t h e e f f e c t o f p a r e n t a l
p s y c h o l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g on m a l t r e a t m e n t s e v e r i t y i s r e a l
i z e d i n d i r e c t l y o n l y i n s o f a r a s i t a f f e c t s t h e o c c u r r e n c e
o f p r i o r m a l t r e a t m e n t e v e n t s a n d t h e n u m b e r o f p r o b l e m s
p r e s e n t i n a f a m i l y .
160
THE LEARNING THEORY HODEL
The i n i t i a l m o d e l u s e d t o t e s t t h e l e a r n i n g t h e o r y
c o n c e p t i o n o f m a l t r e a t m e n t c a u s a t i o n i s p r e s e n t e d i n F i g u r e
6- Two v a r i a b l e s w o u l d b e e x p e c t e d t o c a r r y b a c k g r o u n d
i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t w h a t t h e p a r e n t s e x p e r i e n c e d w i t h r e s p e c t
t o c h i l d r e a r i n g i n t h e i r own c h i l d h o o d : SUBCULT a n d
PARNTNAL. T h e m e a s u r e o f y e a r s o f e d u c a t i o n , YRSEDUC, was
i n c l u d e d a s was CAHEKNOH, t h e dummy v a r i a b l e i n d i c a t i n g
g e n e r a l l y d e f i c i e n t c h i l d c a r e k n o w l e d g e .
F i g u r e 7 s h o w s t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e a n a l y s i s f o r t h e
c o m p l e t e s a m p l e . SUBCOLT a n d PABNTHAL h a d o n l y i n d i r e c t
e f f e c t s o n m a l t r e a t m e n t s e v e r i t y , 0 - 1 1 3 a n d 0 . 1 3 4 r e s p e c
t i v e l y . T h e s e tw o v a r i a b l e s h a d l a r g e r d i r e c t a n d i n d i r e c t
e f f e c t s o n NPROBS, 0 . 2 04 a n d 0 . 2 1 8 , b u t o n l y t r i v i a l
e f f e c t s o n PRI02MAL. CABEKNOH d i r e c t l y a f f e c t e d PHIOHHAL,
b u t h a d t r i v i a l e f f e c t s o n NPROBS a n d SEVERE. I n t e r e s t i n g
l y , YRSEDUC h a d d i r e c t e f f e c t s on CAREKNOS a s w e l l a s on
t h e t h r e e o u t c o m e v a r i a b l e s . I t s t o t a l e f f e c t s on
PRIOR#AL, NPROBS a n d SEVERE w e r e - 0 . 1 4 5 , - 0 . 1 8 4 , a n d - 0 . 1 8 1
r e s p e c t i v e l y .
E x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e a n a l y s i s r e s u l t s f o r t h e n e g l e c t
s u b s a m p l e s h o w s a d i f f e r e n t p a t t e r n o f e f f e c t s . N o t a b l y ,
SUBCULT h a d o n l y t r i v i a l i n d i r e c t e f f e c t s o n t h e t h r e e o u t
come v a r i a b l e s . A d d i t i o n a l l y , t h e e f f e c t o f e d u c a t i o n w a s
s u b s t a n t i a l l y d i m i n i s h e d a s c o m p a r e d t o t h e c o m p l e t e m o d e l .
161
w i t h o n l y a m o d e s t d i r e c t e f f e c t on CABEKNOH. PARNTMAL a n d
CABEKNOH h a d m o d e s t e f f e c t s o n SEVEBE, 0 . 1 5 7 a n d 0 . 1 7 2
r e s p e c t i v e l y - CABEKNOH h a d d i r e c t e f f e c t s on o n l y
PEIORHAL. I t s h o u l d be n o t e d t h a t t h e n e g l e c t i n g s u b s a m
p l e , h a v i n g t h e l o w e s t s u b g r o u p mean f o r YBSEDUC, m i g h t
h a v e f a i l e d t o r e v e a l e f f e c t s f o r y e a r s o f e d u c a t i o n
b e c a u s e o f t h e n a t u r e o f t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n f o r t h a t v a r i a b l e
i n t h e s u b s a m p l e .
F i g u r e 9 s h o w s t h e a n a l y s i s r e s u l t s f o r t h e a b u s i n g
s u b s u m p i e . T h e t h r e e p a t h s t h a t a r e p r e s e n t i n t h e m o d e l
a r e n o t e w o r t h y , b u t w h a t i s m ore n o t e w o r t h y i s t h e f a c t
t h a t n o v a r i a b l e s w e r e c a u s a l l y l i n k e d t o e i t h e r NPBOBS o r
SEVERE. The p r i n c i p a l r e a s o n f o r t h i s i s l i k e l y t h e s m a l l
n u m b e r o f c a s e s i n t h e s u b s a m p l e , a n d t h e r e s u l t i n g l a r g e
s t a n d a r d e r r o r f o r p a r a m e t e r e s t i m a t e s . I n f a c t , t h e n e g
a t i v e p a t h s l i n k i n g StIBCtJLT a n d YBSEDDC, a n d YBSEDUC a n d
SEVERE w e r e e a c h - l a r g e r t h a n 0 . 2 3 5 . H o w e v e r , s i n c e t h e
s t a n d a r d e r r o r f o r b o t h e s t i m a t e s was 0 . 1 2 6 , t h e s e p a t h s
f a i l e d t o a t t a i n s t a t i s t i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e -
N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e r e s u l t s a r e o f i n t e r e s t i f v i e w e d
d e s c r i p t i v e l y r a t h e r t h a n i n f e r e n t i a l l y . T h e m o d e l s h o w s
t h a t p a r e n t s c o m i n g f r o m a m a l t r e a t i n g s u b c u l t u r a l b a c k
g r o u n d h a v e a g r e a t e r l i k e l i h o o d o f h a v i n g b e e n m a l t r e a t e d
t h e m s e l v e s a s c h i l d r e n . H a v i n g b e e n m a l t r e a t e d a s a c h i l d
i s i n t u r n c a u s a l l y l i n k e d t o a g e n e r a l d e f i c i e n c y i n c h i l d
164
F i g u r e 8; R e s u l t s f o r L e a r n i n g Model , N e g l e c t i n g Sufasample
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F i g u r e 10: B e s u l t s f o r L e a r n i n g M o d e l B o t h A b u s i n g a n dN e g l e c t i n g S u b s a m p l e
»
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c a r e k n o w l e d g e - T h i s d e f i c i e n c y i s i t s e l f r e l a t e d t o p r i o r
v a l i d a t e d m a l t r e a t m e n t . I f one w i s h e d t o i n t e r p r e t t h e
p a t h b e t w e e n y e a r s o f e d u c a t i o n a n d s e v e r i t y o f m a l t r e a t
m e n t , t h e m o d e l w o u l d show t h a t l e s s e d u c a t i o n i s r e l a t e d
t o m ore s e v e r e c h i l d a b u s e .
T h e r e s u l t s f o r t h e s u b s a m p l e o f b o t h a b u s i n g a n d n e g
l e c t i n g f a m i l i e s a r e p r e s e n t e d i n F i g u r e 1 0 . T h e s t r u c t u r e
o f e f f e c t s i s a l m o s t i d e n t i c a l t o t h a t o f t h e c o m p l e t e s a m
p l e , w i t h t h e m a in d i f f e r e n c e b e i n g t h a t PARNTMAL d i d n o t
h a v e a d i r e c t e f f e c t on HPROBS, a n d PRIORMAL d i d n o t h a v e a
d i r e c t e f f e c t on SEVERE. T he e f f e c t s o f y e a r s o f e d u c a t i o n
w e r e s t r o n g e r t h a n i n t h e c o m p l e t e m o d e l , p a r t i c u l a r l y on
HPROBS a n d SEVERE. T h e t o t a l e f f e c t o f YBSEDUC on t h e s e
t w o v a r i a b l e s was - 0 - 3 9 6 a n d - 0 . 3 7 2 r e s p e c t i v e l y - C l e a r l y ,
c h i l d r e n o f p a r e n t s w i t h l e s s e d u c a t i o n a r e a t g r e a t e r r i s k
o f b e i n g c o n f r o n t e d w i t h p r o b l e m s i n s e v e r a l a r e a s a n d f a c e
more s e v e r e c o n s e q u e n c e s a s a r e s u l t o f t h o s e p r o b l e m s .
T HE S OCIOLOGICAL HOPEI
F i g u r e 11 p r e s e n t s t h e i n i t i a l c o n f i g u r a t i o n f o r t h e
s o c i o l o g i c a l m o d e l . A l t h o u g h o t h e r v a r i a b l e s s u c h a s
CBOKDIHG a n d SUBCULT c o u l d h a v e b e e n i n c l u d e d , t h e f a c t o r s
h i g h l i g h t e d b y S w e e t a n d R e s i c k (1979 ) d e a l t m o r e w i t h
d e m o g r a p h i c c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f p a r e n t s a n d p o v e r t y -
B e c a u s e t h e n i n e v a r i a b l e s i n t h i s a n a l y s i s e x c e e d e d t h e 10
168
t o 1 r a t i o o f c a s e s t o v a r i a b l e s s u g g e s t e d b y C o h e n a n d
Cohe n ( 1 9 8 3 ) , t h e a n a l y s i s o f t h i s m o d e l w a s n o t p e r f o r m e d
f o r t h e a b u s i n g s u b s a m p l e .
E x a m i n a t i o n o f F i g u r e 12 s h o w s t h a t SINPARNT a n d
DISABLED d r o p p e d o u t o f t h e m o d e l . Y e a r s o f e d u c a t i o n had
t h e s t r o n g e s t o v e r a l l e f f e c t , n e g a t i v e l y a f f e c t i n g a l l
t h r e e o u t c o m e m e a s u r e s . The t o t a l e f f e c t on NPROBS a n d
SEVERE was - 0 . 208 a n d - 0 . 2 6 5 r e s p e c t i v e l y . P o v e r t y p o s i
t i v e l y a f f e c t e d SEVERE, i n d i c a t i n g t h a t i n c r e a s i n g p o v e r t y
t e n d e d t o c a u s e i n c r e a s e d l e v e l s o f m a l t r e a t m e n t s e v e r i t y -
SOBCULI a n d NONEHITE h a d m o d e s t e f f e c t s . NONHHITE was
l i n k e d t o f e w e r p r o b l e m s i n t h e f a m i l y .
T h e r e s u l t s o f t h e n e g l e c t s u b g r o u p a n a l y s i s a r e p r e
s e n t e d i n F i g u r e 1 3 . The m o d e l c l e a r l y w a s n o t s u p p o r t e d
by t h e d a t a . A s i d e f r o m t h e e f f e c t s o f SUBCULT a n d
DISABLED on PRIORMAL, a n d SUBCULT o n NPROBS, t h e v a r i a b l e s
e i t h e r d r o p p e d o u t o f t h e m o d e l o r h a d t r i v i a l e f f e c t s -
The a n a l y s i s f o r t h e b o t h a b u s i n g a n d n e g l e c t i n g s u b s a m p l e
y i e l d e d a s i m i l a r l a c k o f e f f e c t f c r m o s t v a r i a b l e s a s c a n
b e s e e n i n F i g u r e 1h . H o w e v e r , e f f e c t s o b s e r v e d f o r
YRSEDUC a n d SUBCULT w e r e n o t t r i v i a l . T h e i r i n d i r e c t
e f f e c t s o n SEVERE w e r e - 0 . 2 3 0 a n d 0 - 1 2 9 r e s p e c t i v e l y -
170
F i g u r e 12; R e s u l t s f o r S o c i o l o g i c a l Model , C om plete Sample
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F i gure 13.: R e s u l t s f o r S o c i o l o g i c a l H o d e l , N e g l e c t i n g Sub-” sample
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F ia u r e 14: B e s u l t s f o r S o c i o l o g i c a l ao f le l Both Abusing andN e g l e c t i n g Subsample
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THE SOCIAL-PSYCHOLOGICAL HOPEI
A s o c i a l - p s y c l i o l o g i c a l m o d e l o f c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t
c o u l d i n c l u d e a l m o s t an y c o n c e i v a b l e h y p o t h e t i c a l f a c t o r ,
a n d h e n c e m i g h t p r o v e d i f f i c u l t t o s u b j e c t t o c a u s a l a n a l y
s i s - H o w e v e r , S w e e t a n d R e s i c k (1979) n o t e t h a t s u c h a
m o d e l w o u l d n o t o n l y b e c o m p a t i b l e w i t h e n v i r o n m e n t a l a n d
i n d i v i d u a l v a r i a b l e s b u t c o u l d a l s o a c c o m m o d a t e f a c t o r s
r e p r e s e n t i n g l e a r n i n g t h e o r y - F i g u r e 15 p r e s e n t s t h e i n i
t i a l c o n f i g u r a t i o n o f v a r i a b l e s u s e d t o t e s t t h e s o c i a l -
p s y c h o l o g i c a l m o d e l - The m o d e l i n c l u d e s a l l v a r i a b l e s p r e
s e n t e d i n T a b l e 2 7 , an d a l t h o u g h c o m p l e x , i t i s n o t s o
o v e r s p e c i f i e d a s t o b e u n t e s t a b l e -
F i g u r e 16 p r e s e n t s t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e a n a l y s i s f o r t h e
c o m p l e t e s a m p l e - O n l y f o u r v a r i a b l e s d r o p p e d o u t o f t h e
a n a l y s i s : SIHPASNT, KIPSICK , CROWDING, a n d SPACING- P a r
t i c u l a r l y n o t a b l e i s t h a t v a r i a b l e s u s e d i n g r o u p s t o r e p
r e s e n t t h e o t h e r t h e o r e t i c a l c o n f i g u r a t i o n s c o n t i n u e t o
h a v e e f f e c t s when a l l v a r i a b l e s a r e a n a l y s e d t o g e t h e r . The
v a r i a b l e s f r o m t h e l e a r n i n g t h e o r y c o n f i g u r a t i o n , PARNTHAL,
YRSEDtJC, a n d CABEKNOH i n p a r t i c u l a r , h a v e t h e g r e a t e s t
e f f e c t o f a n y g r o u p .
T h e t o t a l e f f e c t o f YRSEDUC on SEVERE, - 0 . 1 8 2 , e x c e e d
e d t h a t o f a n y o t h e r v a r i a b l e i n c l u d i n g PSYCH.FUN, w h i c h h a d
a t o t a l e f f e c t o f 0 . 1 3 7 . T h e t o t a l e f f e c t o f PARNTMAL,
0 - 1 2 5 was a l m o s t a s l a r g e a s t h a t o f PSYCHFUN. W h i l e o f t e n
OtS
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D
174
F i g u r e 15; I n i t i a l C o n f i g u r a t i o n f o r S o c i a l —P s y c h o l o g i c a l M ode l
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175
F i g u r e 16: E e s u l t s f o r S o c i a l - P s y c h o l o g i c a l Model C om pleteSample
176
F i g u r e 17: R e s u l t s f o r S o c i a l - P s y c h o l o g i c a l Model H e g i e c t -” i n g S u h s a o p le
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F i g ure 18: R e s u l t s f o r S o c i a l - P s y c h o l o g i c a l Model f o r BothAbusing and N e g l e c t i n g Subsample
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178
c a s t a s t h e p r i m a r y c a u s e o f m a l t r e a t m e n t i n l i t e r a t u r e ,
PSYCHFtJN i t s e l f w a s c a u s a l l y a f f e c t e d b y s e v e r a l v a r i a b l e s .
B e i n g p h y s i c a l l y d i s a b l e d , s o c i a l l y i s o l a t e d , a n d s u b j e c t
t o h i g h e r l e v e l s o f p e r s o n a l s t r e s s a l l t e n d e d t o c a u s e
h i g h e r l e v e l s o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l d y s f u n c t i o n . I t i s a l s o
w o r t h n o t i n g t h a t PSYCHFON h a d n o d i r e c t e f f e c t on SEVERE.
T h e p o v e r t y h y p o t h e s i s was v a l i d a t e d i n t h a t PCTOFPOV
d e m o n s t r a t e d d i r e c t a n d i n d i r e c t e f f e c t s o n SEVERE. A l s o o f
i n t e r e s t was t h e f a c t t h a t , a l t h o u g h a s u b s t a n c e a b u s e
p r o b l e m t e n d e d t o c a u s e a n i n c r e a s e i n t h e n u m b e r o f p r o b
l e m s p r e s e n t i n a f a m i l y , i t d i d n o t d i r e c t l y a f f e c t t h e
s e v e r i t y o f m a l t r e a t m e n t , h a v i n g o n l y a n i n d i r e c t e f f e c t
t h r o u g h NPROES-
F i g u r e 17 p r e s e n t s t h e r e s u l t s f o r t h e n e g l e c t s u b s a m
p l e - S u b s t a n t i v e l y , t h e n e g l e c t r e s u l t s d o n o t d i f f e r
g r e a t l y f r o m t h o s e o f t h e c o m p l e t e s a m p l e . T h e b i g g e s t
p o i n t o f d e p a r t u r e i s t h a t t h e e f f e c t o f y e a r s o f e d u c a t i o n
a n d p o v e r t y d i s a p p e a r e d e x c e p t f o r weak i n d i r e c t e f f e c t s -
As m e n t i o n e d i n a n e a r l i e r d i s c u s s i o n c o n n e c t e d w i t h
YBSEDUC, t h e f a c t t h a t t h e n e g l e c t i n g s u b s a m p l e h a d t h e
l o w e s t mean o f t h e t h r e e s u b s a m p l e s f o r b o t h o f t h e s e v a r i
a b l e s may i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e l i m i t e d r a n g e o f v a r i a t i o n
p r e s e n t i n t h e s u b s a m p l e m a s k s t h e t r u e n a t u r e o f t h e r e l a
t i o n s h i p . T h i s w o u l d h a v e t h e i d e n t i c a l e f f e c t o f c o r r e
l a t i n g S t u d e n t A p t i t u d e T e s t (SAT) s c o r e w i t h i n t e l l i g e n c e
179
q u o t i e n t f o r i n d i v i d u a l s h a v i n g a 135 I - Q . o r g r e a t e r : no
o r l i t t l e r e l a t i o n s h i p w o u l d b e d e t e c t e d b e t w e e n i n t e l l i
g e n c e a n d SAT s c o r e s .
Two o t h e r l e s s d r a m a t i c d i f f e r e n c e s c o n c e r n PABNTMAL
a n d DISABLED- PARNTMAL w as s h o w n t o h a v e a d i r e c t a s w e l l
a s a n i n d i r e c t e f f e c t on PSYCHFUN f o r a t o t a l e f f e c t o f
0 . 2 1 9 . T h i s i n d i c a t e s t h a t h a v i n g b e e n m a l t r e a t e d a s a
c h i l d , a p a r e n t w i l l t e n d t o e x p e r i e n c e p o o r e r l e v e l s o f
p s y c h o l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g . A l s o , DISABLED h a d a d i r e c t a s
w e l l a s a n i n d i r e c t e f f e c t on PRIORMAL.
A n o t h e r n o t e w o r t h y p o i n t , g i v e n t h e e m p h a s i s o f P o l a n -
s k y a n d h i s a s s o c i a t e s on t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l c a u s a t i o n
h y p o t h e s i s w i t h r e s p e c t t o c h i l d n e g l e c t , i s t h a t t h e t o t a l
e f f e c t o f PSYCHFUE on SEVERE, w h i c h w a s o n l y i n d i r e c t , was
o n l y 0 . 0 9 8.
The l a s t f i g u r e . F i g u r e 1 8 , s h o w s t h e r e s u l t s f o r t h e
s u b s a m p l e t h a t b o t h a b u s e d a n d n e g l e c t e d - The s t r u c t u r e o f
t h e m o d e l i s much s i m p l e r t h a n t h a t o f t h e c o m p l e t e s a m p l e ,
a n d t o a d e g r e e , t h a n t h e n e g l e c t i n g s u b s a m p l e . One e x p l a
n a t i o n f o r s o many p a t h s f a i l i n g t o a t t a i n s t a t i s t i c a l s i g
n i f i c a n c e r e l a t e s t o t h e n u m b e r o f v a r i a b l e s i n t h e m o d e l
r e l a t i v e t o t h e n u m b e r o f c a s e s . The r a t i o o f c a s e s t o
v a r i a b l e s i s 9 . 3 t o 1 , w h i c h i s l e s s t h a n t h e 10 t o 1 s u g
g e s t e d a s a minimum by C o h e n a n d C o h e n ( 1 9 8 3 } . A l s o ,
b e c a u s e o f t h e s a m p l e s i z e , t h e s t a n d a r d e r r o r s f o r t h e
180
e s t i m a t e s w e r e r e l a t i v e l y l a r g e r , a n d h e n c e a t t a i n i n g s t a
t i s t i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e r e q u i r e d l a r g e r e f f e c t s -
A l t h o u g h t h e r e w e r e f e w e r s i g n i f i c a n t p a t h s , t h e b a s i c
s t r u c t u r e o f t h e r e s u l t s was s i m i l a r t o t h a t o f t h e com
p l e t e s a m p l e . The l e a r n i n g t h e o r y v a r i a b l e s h a d t h e
s t r o n g e s t e f f e c t on SEVERE a s a g r o u p , w i t h YHSEDUC h a v i n g
a g r e a t e r e f f e c t , - 0 . 1 9 4 , t h a n PSYCHFUN, 0 . 1 4 5 . A l s o ,
SIRESSZ h a d b o t h d i r e c t a n d i n d i r e c t e f f e c t s o n NPROBS a n d
SEVERE, w h i l e i n a l l o t h e r m o d e l s i t h a d o n l y i n d i r e c t
e f f e c t s m e d i a t e d t h r o u g h PSYCHFUN. A l s o o f i n t e r e s t i s
t h a t ALCOHOL h a d no e f f e c t s a n d t h a t PRIOBtlAL o n l y h a d
i n d i r e c t e f f e c t s o n SEVERE.
SUHHART
T h e s e a n a l y s e s d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t n o m o d e l , e x c e p t i n
some s u b g r o u p a n a l y s e s , w as c l e a r l y r e f u t e d . K h a t i s p a r
t i c u l a r l y n o t e w o r t h y i s t h e f a c t t h a t t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l ,
l e a r n i n g , an d s o c i o l o g i c a l m o d e l s a r e a l l s u b s e t s o f t h e
m o re c o m p l e x s o c i a l - p s y c h o l o g i c a l m o d e l , a n d t h a t t h e m ore
c o m p l e x m o d e l was s u p p o r t e d by t h e d a t a . T h i s w o u l d s e e m
t o i n d i c a t e t h a t m a l t r e a t m e n t c a u s a t i o n i s b e s t d e s c r i b e d
a s a b r o a d , c o m p l e x s y s t e m o f f a c t o r s , a n d t h a t u s i n g t h e
m o re s p e c i a l i z e d m o d e l s a r t i f i c i a l l y t r u n c a t e s c o n s i d e r a
t i o n o f r e l e v a n t f a c t o r s .
181
G i v e n t h e e m p h a s i s i n l i t e r a t u r e on t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l
h y p o t h e s i s , i t i s o f s i g n i f i c a n t i n t e r e s t t h a t e v e n i n t h e
s i m p l e m o d e l w h e r e p s y c h o l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g was t h e o n l y
e x o g e n o u s v a r i a b l e , i t h a d n o d i r e c t e f f e c t u p o n m a l t r e a t
men t s e v e r i t y - I n f a c t , t h e s o c i a l - p s y c h o l o g i c a l m o d e l
d e m o n s t r a t e d o t h e r f a c t o r s t h a t h a d g r e a t e r t o t a l e f f e c t s
t h a n p s y c h o l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g .
L a s t l y , i t i s u n f o r t u n a t e t h a t t h e l i m i t e d n u m b e r o f
c a s e s a v a i l a b l e t h a t w e r e " a b u s i n g o n l y " p r o h i b i t e d a n a l y
s i s w i t h t h e s o c i o l o g i c a l , a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e s o c i a l -
p s y c h o l o g i c a l , m o d e l - The s t r u c t u r e o f f i n d i n g s f o r t h e
o t h e r two s u b g r o u p s was s o m e w h a t i d e n t i c a l , s a v e f o r l o s s
o f s i g n i f i c a n t v a r i a b l e s d u e t o f e w e r d e g r e e s o f f r e e d o m -
H o w e v e r , t h e r e s u l t s f o r t h e a b u s i n g s u b g r o u p f o r t h e t w o
t h a t w e r e t e s t e d s e e m e d t o i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e a b u s i n g c a s e s
were d i s p l a y i n g a d i f f e r e n t p a t t e r n o f c a u s a l i t y .
C h a p t e r TXZ
d z s c u s s io h
T h i s s t u d y a t t e m p t e d t o a d d r e s s two g e n e r a l c o n c e r n s .
The f i r s t c o n c e r n was w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e d i v e r s e v i e w s o f
c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t a n d t h e f a c t o r s w h i c h a r e deem ed t o b e
c a u s a l l y l i n k e d t o i t s o c c u r r e n c e , a s e v i d e n c e d b y t h e
d i v e r g e n c i e s f o u n d i n l i t e r a t u r e , p r o v i d e d a n e n v i r o n m e n t
a m e n a b l e t o t h e c r e a t i o n a n d u s e o f s t a n d a r d i z e d a s s e s s m e n t
i n s t r u m e n t s . A t t e m p t s a t s u c h i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n w e r e d i s
c u s s e d i n e a r l i e r c h a p t e r s , w i t h p a r t i c u l a r e m p h a s i s b e i n g
g i v e n t o t h e e x a m i n a t i o n o f P o l a n s k y * s ( 1 9 7 2 ) C h i l d h o o d
L e v e l o f L i v i n g S c a l e .
The p r o c e s s o f i n i t i a l c a s e i n v e s t i g a t i o n w a s i d e n t i
f i e d a s t h e p o i n t a t w h i c h a s t a n d a r d i z e d a s s e s s m e n t
i n s t r u m e n t w o u l d b e o f g r e a t e s t p r a c t i c e v a l u e - T h e q u e s
t i o n a s k e d i n t h e s t u d y w a s w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e a s s e s s m e n t s
o f a n i n v e s t i g a t o r u s i n g a v e r y g e n e r a l i n s t r u m e n t c o u l d b e
c o r r o b o r a t e d b y a n o n g o i n g c a s e w o r k e r who h a d a c c e s s t o
g r e a t e r i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t a f a m i l y d u e t o a m o re e x t e n s i v e
p e r i o d o f c o n t a c t . T o a n s w e r t h i s g u e s t i o n , p a i r e d r a t i n g s
w e r e g a t h e r e d f o r 199 c a s e s i n s i x O h i o c o u n t i e s f o r new
- 182 -
183
r e p o r t e d c a s e s o f c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t . The Kappa s t a t i s t i c
w a s u s e d t o a s s e s s t h e d e g r e e o f a g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n r a t e r s
o r , m o re p r e c i s e l y , t h e d e g r e e o f i n t e r r a t e r r e l i a b i l i t y .
T he s e c o n d c o n c e r n a d d r e s s e d b y t h i s s t u d y was t h e
v a l i d i t y o f d i f f e r i n g t h e o r e t i c a l f o r m u l a t i o n s o f m a l t r e a t
m e n t c a u s a t i o n . F o u r g e n e r a l t h e o r e t i c a l m o d e l s w e re i d e n
t i f i e d a n d d i s c u s s e d i n S w e e t a n d E e s i c k * s ( 1 9 7 9 ) r e v i e w o f
t h e m a l t r e a t m e n t l i t e r a t u r e . T h e s e p r o v i d e d t h e b a s i s upon
w h i c h s t u d y v a r i a b l e s w e r e u s e d t o c o n s t r u c t g e n e r a l m o d e l s
f o r p s y c h o d y n a m i c , s o c i o l o g i c a l , l e a r n i n g , a n d s o c i a l -
p s y c h o l o g i c a l t h e o r i e s o f m a l t r e a t m e n t c a u s a t i o n . D a t a
w e re g a t h e r e d i n 21 O h io c o u n t i e s f o r 4 7 2 new c a s e s o f
c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t , A w i d e r a n g e o f v a r i a b l e s d i s c u s s e d i n
l i t e r a t u r e was a s s e s s e d by t h e c a s e w o r k e r s , who c o m p l e t e d
a l l s t u d y i n s t r u m e n t s . P a t h a n a l y s i s , a s p e c i a l c a s e o f
OLS r e g r e s s i o n , w a s u s e d t o t e s t t h e l i n k a g e s b e t w e e n v a r i
a b l e s i n e a c h o f t h e s e m o d e l s . A d d i t i o n a l l y , t h e s e m o d e l s
w e r e a n a l y z e d f o r t h e t h r e e m a l t r e a t i n g s u b g r o u p s i d e n t i
f i e d i n t h e s t u d y : n e g l e c t , a b u s e , an d b o t h n e g l e c t a n d
a b u s e .
IHTEBBATEB BE1.I ABILITY FINDINGS
A s s e s s m e n t s w e r e made i n 12 d i f f e r e n t a r e a s o f p o t e n
t i a l m a l t r e a t m e n t , a s w e l l a s a n o v e r a l l a s s e s s m e n t . B h i l e
t h e r e l i a b i l i t y f o r t h e a s s e s s m e n t o f a b u s e a n d n e g l e c t w as
I s a
q u i t e g o o d , t h e r e l i a b i l i t y o f a s s e s s m e n t s f o r s p e c i f i c
c o n d i t i o n s i n d i c a t i n g m a l t r e a t m e n t was e x t r e m e l y b a d . O n l y
a b o u t 10 p e r c e n t o f t h e c o n d i t i o n s a s s e s s e d h a d a n i n t e r r a
t e r r e l i a b i l i t y v h i c h f e l l i n t h e weak t o g o o d r a n g e . Of
t h o s e i t e m s d e m o n s t r a t i n g som e d e g r e e o f r e l i a b i l i t y , t h e
m a j o r i t y a s s e s s e d t h e " l i k e l i h o o d o f d e a t h " f r o m c o n d i t i o n s
n o t e d i n t h e s u b s e c t i o n — t h e m o s t e x t r e m e c o n s e q u e n c e . The
r e l i a b i l i t y o f g l o b a l a s s e s s m e n t s f a r e d s o m e w h a t b e t t e r ,
w i t h t h r e e o f t h e f i v e i t e m s h a v i n g v a l u e s i n d i c a t i n g w e a k
t o g o o d r e l i a b i l i t y . A g r e e m e n t w as b e s t f o r p r o j e c t e d c a s e
o u t c o m e . T h e r e was a l s o a m o d e r a t e d e g r e e o f a g r e e m e n t a s
t o t h e n e e d t o r e m o v e a c h i l d f r o m t h e hom e. H o w e v e r , n o n e
o f t h e Kappa v a l u e s was i n t h e r a n g e o f h i g h r e l i a b i l i t y .
DISCIISSIOH OF IKTEBRATER BELIAB1LITI BESU1TS
C l e a r l y , t h e l e v e l o f d e m o n s t r a t e d d i s a g r e e m e n t j u s t i
f i e s a s e v e r e q u e s t i o n i n g o f a n y c l a i m s f o r t h e v a l i d i t y o f
s t a n d a r d i z e d i n s t r u m e n t s d e s i g n e d t o a s s e s s c h i l d m a l t r e a t
m e n t , The weak d e g r e e o f i n t e r r a t e r r e l i a b i l i t y r e v e a l e d
b y t h i s s t u d y ’ s a n a l y s i s was i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h o n l y v e r y
g e n e r a l i t e m s . T h i s g e n e r a l i t y i s p a r t i c u l a r l y c r u c i a l i n
t h a t e x i s t i n g i n s t r u m e n t s , p a r t i c u l a r l y P o l a n s k y ’s , a r e
i n t e n d e d t o a s s e s s much more o b s c u r e home c o n d i t i o n s a n d
p a r e n t a l b e h a v i o r . T h u s , one c o u l d r e a s o n a b l y a s s u m e t h a t
i n t e r r a t e r r e l i a b i l i t y f o r t h e s e i n s t r u m e n t s w o u l d b e e v e n
m o re p o o r t h a n w h a t w a s . o b s e r v e d b y t h i s s t u d y -
185
I t i s t h i s r e s e a r c h e r ' s o p i n i o n t h a t t h e l e v e l o f
a c t u a l a g r e e m e n t among w o r k e r s i s g r e a t e r t h a n i n d i c a t e d by
t h i s a n a l y s i s , a s b a s e d u p o n t h e h i g h K a ppa f o r c l a s s i f y i n g
a b u s e a n d n e g l e c t a n d t h e r e l a t i v e l y g r e a t e r l e v e l o f
a g r e e m e n t f o r t h e o v e r a l l a s s e s s m e n t s . H o w e v e r , a s a
r e s u l t o f t h e v a r i o u s f a c t o r s e f f e c t i n g t h e v a g u e n e s s o f
d e f i n i t i o n s , a s d i s c u s s e d i n C h a p t e r s 1 a n d I I , a n d t h e
d i f f e r e n t w a y s i n w h i c h i n d i v i d u a l s a s s i g n m e a n i n g t o s t a n
d a r d i z e d c a t e g o r i e s , a n y a t t e m p t t o c l a s s i f y c a s e s b a s e d
upon a n a s s e s s m e n t d e r i v e d f r o m a s t a n d a r d i z e d i n s t r u m e n t
m u s t b e c o n s i d e r e d b a d p r a c t i c e a t t h i s t i m e .
C o n f r o n t e d w i t h t h e s e f i n d i n g s , some i n d i v i d u a l s m i g h t
c h o o s e t o r e j e c t t h e c o n c l u s i o n , o p t i n g f o r a m o r e " m o d e r
a t e " p o s i t i o n . S u c h a m o d e r a t e s t a n c e m i g h t i n v o l v e t h e
u s e o f a n i n d i c a t o r s c h e c k l i s t . S u c h a c h e c k l i s t w o u l d
l i k e l y be u s e d a s o n l y o n e o f s e v e r a l s o u r c e s o f i n f o r m a
t i o n i n a c a s e i n v e s t i g a t i o n a n d a n a l y s i s . H o w e v e r , a
c l e a r f i n d i n g o f t h i s s t u d y was t h a t i t e m s l i k e t h o s e w h i c h
wou ld u n d o u b t e d l y b e u s e d i n a c h e c k l i s t w e r e f o u n d t o p e r
f o r m p o o r l y w i t h r e s p e c t t o r e l i a b i l i t y , a n d h e n c e v a l i d i
t y . F u r t h e r , s u c h i n s t r u m e n t s t e n d , o v e r t i m e , t o b e
i m b u e d w i t h p o w e r s b e y o n d t h e i r o r i g i n a l d e s i g n . B a b b i e
( 1 9 7 9 ) d i s c u s s e s t h e p r o c e s s o f c o n c e p t u a l e n t r a p m e n t ,
w h e r e i n i n s t r u m e n t s d e s i g n e d t o a s s e s s p h e n o m e n a n o t
d i r e c t l y m e a s u r a b l e , s u c h a s a m a l t r e a t m e n t c o n d i t i o n s
186
c h e c k l i s t , t e e d o v e r t i m e t o b e c o m e i s o m o r p h i c r e p r e s e n t a
t i o n s o f t h e p h e n o m e n a . As a r e s u l t , h i g h e r c o u n t s o n a
m a l t r e a t m e n t c o n d i t i o n s c h e c k l i s t w ou ld l i k e l y come t o b e
v i e w e d , i p s o f a c t o , a s a c t u a l l y r e p r e s e n t i n g g r e a t e r o r
m o re s e v e r e m a l t r e a t m e n t .
G i v e n t h e d e m o n s t r a t e d u n r e l i a b i l i t y , h e n c e i n v a l i d i
t y , a n d t h e c o n c e p t u a l d a n g e r s i n h e r e n t i n t h e i r a p p l i c a
t i o n , t h e u s e o f a n y s t a n d a r d i z e d a s s e s s m e n t i n s t r u m e n t by
p r o t e c t i v e s e r v i c e s w o r k e r s p r e s e n t s r i s k s t h a t f a r o u t
w e i g h a n y p o t e n t i a l b e n e f i t s . The m o re t r a d i t i o n a l ,
d e t a i l e d c a s e n a r r a t i v e s t a n d s a s a n u n g u e s t i o n a b l y s u p e r i
o r a s s e s s m e n t t o o l i n c o m p a r i s o n .
MODELS OF HALTBEATMEHT CAPSATJON
S w e e t a n d R e s i c k (1 9 7 9 ) c o n d u c t e d a l i t e r a t u r e r e v i e w
f o c u s e d u p o n m a l t r e a t m e n t c a u s a t i o n w h i c h f o u n d t h a t c o n
c e p t i o n s o f m a l t r e a t m e n t c a u s e c o u l d b e g r o u p e d i n t o f o u r
g e n e r a l t h e o r e t i c a l a r e a s : p s y c h o d y n a m i c , s o c i o l o g i c a l ,
l e a r n i n g , a n d s o c i a l - p s y c h o l o g i c a l t h e o r i e s . D s i n g t h e i r
t h e o r e t i c a l c a t e g o r i e s t h i s s t u d y c a s t a c o m p a r a t i v e l y w i d e
r a n g e o f v a r i a b l e s d i s c u s s e d i n l i t e r a t u r e i n f o u r g e n e r a l
c a u s a l m o d e l s . T h e s e m o d e l s w e r e t h e n t e s t e d u s i n g p a t h
a n a l y s i s t o d e t e r m i n e w h i c h m o d e l w o u ld p r e f o r m b e s t .
The c r i t e r i a f o r d e t e r m i n i n g w h i c h m o d e l p r e f o r m e d
" b e s t " w as b a s e d i n p a r t u p o n t h e s i z e o f t h e r e s i d u a l
187
p a t h s l e a d i n g t o t h e t h r e e o u t c o m e m e a s u r e s : n u m b e r o f
p r o b l e m s p r e s e n t , p r i o r c o n f i r m e d m a l t r e a t m e n t , a n d s e v e r i
t y o f m a l t r e a t m e n t c o n d i t i o n s . A s e c o n d c r i t e r i a w a s t h e
p r o p o r t i o n o f v a r i a b l e s c a s t i n a m o d e l w h i c h h a d e i t h e r
d i r e c t o r i n d i r e c t e f f e c t s upon t h e o u t c o m e v a r i a b l e s .
One o t h e r f a c t o r was e x a m i n e d i n t h i s a n a l y s i s . - T h e
s a m p l e o f m a l t r e a t i n g c a s e s w a s d i v i d e d i n t o t h r e e s u b
g r o u p s b a s e d upon w o r k e r a s s e s s m e n t s o f t h e d e g r e e o f a b u s e
a n d t h e d e g r e e o f n e g l e c t p r e s e n t i n a f a m i l y : a b u s i n g
f a m i l i e s , n e g l e c t i n g f a m i l i e s , a n d b o t h a b u s i n g a n d n e g
l e c t i n g f a m i l i e s . M o d e l s w e r e a n a l y z e d f o r e a c h o f t h e s e
t h r e e s u b g r o u p s a s w e l l a s t h e o v e r a l l s a m p l e . I n t h i s way
i t was h o p e d t h a t som e i n s i g h t m i g h t b e g a i n e d i n t o t h e
p o s s i b i l i t y o f d i f f e r e n t m o d e l s o f c a u s a t i o n f o r d i f f e r e n t
t y p e s o f m a l t r e a t m e n t .
O f t h e t h r e e o u t c o m e m e a s u r e s , t h e s e v e r i t y o f m a l
t r e a t m e n t was t h e v a r i a b l e o f g r e a t e s t i n t e r e s t . H o w e v e r ,
t h e r e a d e r m u s t u n d e r s t a n d t h a t s i n c e t h e o n l y c a s e s a v a i l
a b l e t o t h e s t u d y w e r e f r o m a m a l t r e a t i n g p o p u l a t i o n , t h e
i s s u e o f c a u s a t i o n i s f o c u s e d u p o n v a r i a t i o n i n t h e t h r e e
o u t c o m e v a r i a b l e s i n t h i s p o p u l a t i o n a n d n o t . u p o n t h e
o c c u r r e n c e o f m a l t r e a t m e n t i t s e l f . A l t h o u g h an e x a m i n a t i o n
o f c a u s e w h i c h d i f f e r e n t i a t e d t h o s e who m a l t r e a t f r o m t h o s e
who d o n o t w ou ld p o s s i b l y b e o f g r e a t e r v a l u e , t h i s e x p l o r
a t o r y e x a m i n a t i o n o f c a u s e i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h m a l t r e a t m e n t
188
s e v e r i t y p r o v i d e s p o s s i b l e i n s i g h t s i n t o t h i s l a r g e r q u e s
t i o n . T h e d e g r e e o f i n s i g h t w h i c h c a n b e d r a w n i n t h i s
r e g a r d d e p e n d s u p o n a n a s s u m p t i o n t h a t t h e f a c t o r s w h i c h
l e a d i n d i v i d u a l s t o m a l t r e a t w i l l a l s o , a s t h e " c a u s e s "
b e c a m e m o r e i n t e n s e , l e a d t h e m t o m a l t r e a t m o r e s e v e r e l y .
P sychod v n a n ic Hodel
The p s y c h o d y n a m i c c o n f i g u r a t i o n t h a t w a s t e s t e d c a u
s a l l y l i n k e d t h e l e v e l o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g t o a l l
t h r e e o u t c o m e v a r i a b l e s - F o r t h e o v e r a l l s a m p l e a n d a l l
b u t t h e a b u s i n g s u b g r o u p , t h e s t r o n g e s t e f f e c t o f p s y c h o
l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g w a s o n t h e n u m b e r o f p r o b l e m s p r e s e n t
i n t h e f a m i l y , w i t h n o d i r e c t e f f e c t b e i n g f o u n d on s e v e r i
t y o f m a l t r e a t m e n t . The a b u s i n g s u b g r o u p s h o w e d a s t r o n g
d i r e c t e f f e c t on s e v e r i t y , b u t n o e f f e c t on t h e o t h e r tw o
v a r i a b l e s . A l s o , p r i o r m a l t r e a t m e n t a n d t h e n u m b e r o f
p r o b l e m s were n o t c a u s a l l y l i n k e d t o s e v e r i t y f o r t h e a b u s
i n g f a m i l i e s a s t h e y h a d b e e n f o r t h e o t h e r t e s t e d g r o u p s .
K i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f t h e a b u s i n g s u b g r o u p , t h e m o d e l
w h i c h c a s t m a l t r e a t m e n t s e v e r i t y a s a f u n c t i o n o f t h e p s y
c h o l o g i c a l w e l l - b e i n g o f t h e p a r e n t r e c e i v e d o n l y e q u i v o c a l
s u p p o r t i n t h a t t h e o n l y e f f e c t s w e r e i n d i r e c t . T h i s mod
e l , h o w e v e r , a p p e a r e d t o b e s u p p o r t e d by t h e a b u s i n g s u b
g r o u p d a t a .
189
S o c i o l o g i c a l Hod e l
The s o c i o l o g i c a l m o d e l e x a m i n e d t h e e x t e n t t o w h i c h
i n d i v i d u a l d e m o g r a p h i c c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s w e r e c a u s a l l y r e l a t
e d t o t h e t h r e e o u t c o m e v a r i a b l e s . S u b c u l t u r e a n d y e a r s o f
e d u c a t i o n d e m o n s t r a t e d e f f e c t s i n t h e o v e r a l l a n d b o t h s u b
g r o u p a n a l y s e s (a m o d e l was n o t a n a l y z e d f o r t h e a b u s e s u b
g r o u p d u e t o t o o f e w c a s e s ) . I n t h e o v e r a l l a n a l y s i s p o v
e r t y d e m o n s t r a t e d a d i r e c t e f f e c t upon s e v e r i t y o f
m a l t r e a t m e n t , a l t h o u g h t h e m a g n i t u d e o f t h e e f f e c t was n o t
l a r g e . T h i s f i n d i n g i s c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e p o s i t i o n t a k e n
by P e l t o n ( 1 9 7 8 ) , t h a t m a l t r e a t m e n t i s n o t a c l a s s l e s s p h e
nom enon . A l s o , a s s u g g e s t e d by H o l o c k and H o r o w i t z ( 1 9 7 9 ) ,
a p h y s i c a l d i s a b i l i t y o f t h e p a r e n t w as l i n k e d w i t h p r i o r
m a l t r e a t m e n t i n t h e n e g l e c t s u b g r o u p .
A l t h o u g h l i n k a g e s d r o p p e d o u t i n t h e s u b g r o u p a n a l y s e s
a s c o m p a r e d t o t h e o v e r a l l g r o u p , t h i s m o d e l was n o t c l e a r
l y r e f u t e d b y t h e a n a l y s i s .
L e a r n i n g H o d e l
T h e l e a r n i n g m o d e l c a s t s o u r c e s o f i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t
c h i l d c a r e a n d c h i l d r e a r i n g a s t h e c a u s e s o f m a l t r e a t m e n t
s e v e r i t y . K i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f t h e a b u s i n g s u b g r o u p , t h i s
m o d e l a p p e a r e d t o b e s u p p o r t e d t o a g r e a t e r e x t e n t b y t h e
d a t a t h a n t h e tw o p r e c e d i n g m o d e l s . I n t h e o v e r a l l a n a l y
s i s , a l l p o t e n t i a l " c a u s e ” v a r i a b l e s h a d a d i r e c t e f f e c t
upon a t l e a s t o n e o f t h e t h r e e o u t c o m e v a r i a b l e s , i n a d d i
190
t i o n t o i n d i r e c t e f f e c t s . T h i s p a t t e r n was a l m o s t i d e n t i
c a l f o r t h e b o t h a b u s i n g a n d n e g l e c t i n g s u b g r o u p . The n e g
l e c t i n g s u b g r o u p d i f f e r e d p r i m a r i l y i n t h a t s u b c u l t u r e a n d
y e a r s o f e d u c a t i o n p r o d u c e d o n l y i n d i r e c t e f f e c t s , a l t h o u g h
t h e i n d i r e c t e f f e c t o f s u b c u l t u r e t h r o u g h t h e v a r i a b l e
a s s e s s i n g w h e t h e r t h e p a r e n t h a d b e e n m a l t r e a t e d a s a c h i l d
w as n o t a b l e .
I t i s n o t e w o r t h y t h a t t h i s m o d e l was c l e a r l y n o t s u p
p o r t e d b y t h e d a t a f o r t h e a b u s i n g s u b g r o u p . Some s t a t i s
t i c a l r e a s o n s f o r t h i s w e r e d i s c u s s e d i n C h a p t e r VI. How
e v e r , e v e n i f s o m e o f t h e p a t h s w h i c h b a r e l y f a i l e d t o
a c h i e v e s t a t i s t i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e h a d d o n e s o , i t i s u n c l e a r
w h e t h e r t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e r e s u l t s w o u l d h a v e b e e n c o n
s i s t e n t w i t h t h e o t h e r g r o u p s .
So c i a l - P s y c h o l o gi c a l H odel
T h i s was b y f a r t h e m o s t c o m p l e x o f t h e m o d e l s , a s i t
r i g h t l y s h o u l d h a v e b e e n a c c o r d i n g t o S w e e t a n d B e s i c k
( 1 9 7 9 ) . I n f a c t , t h i s m o d e l w as c o m p r i s e d l a r g e l y o f t h e
o t h e r m o d e l s c o m b i n e d . To p u t i t a n o t h e r w a y , t h e o t h e r
m o d e l s c o u l d b e s e e n a s s u b s e t s o f t h e s o c i a l - p s y c h o l o g i c a l
m o d e l . A l s o i n c l u d e d w e r e t w o a d d i t i o n a l f a m i l y a t t r i b u t e
v a r i a b l e s ; o n e m e a s u r i n g t h e s p a c i n g b e t w e e n c h i l d r e n , a n d
t h e o t h e r t h e d e g r e e o f c r o w d i n g .
F o u r v a r i a b l e s d r o p p e d o u t o f t h e m o d e l . T h e s e w e re
t h e v a r i a b l e s i n d i c a t i n g a s i n g l e p a r e n t h o u s e h o l d , t h e
197
p r e s e n c e o f a c h i l d w i t h a s e r i o u s o r c h r o n i c i l l n e s s , a n d
t h e two f a m i l y a t t r i b u t e v a r i a b l e s i d e n t i f i e d i n t h e p r i o r
p a r a g r a p h - A p a r t f r o m t h e s e d r o p o u t s , t h e m o d e l p e r f o r m e d
w e l l . The s t r u c t u r e o f t h e r e s u l t s was s o m e w h a t s i m i l a r
f o r t h e t h r e e g r o u p s a n a l y z e d - Due t o t h e f e w e r n u m b e r o f
c a s e s i n t h e b o t h a b u s i n g a n d n e g l e c t i n g s u b g r o u p , t h a t
m o d e l h a d m o re p a t h s f a i l i n g s t a t i s t i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e .
H o w e v e r , t h e s t r u c t u r e o f t h e r e m a i n i n g p a t h s w a s s i m i l a r
t o t h e o t h e r t w o g r o u p s .
The f a c t t h a t n o n e o f t h e o t h e r t h r e e m o d e l s was
c l e a r l y r e f u t e d by a n a l y s i s b e c o m e s i n t e r e s t i n g i n t h a t t h e
s am e v a r i a b l e s f u n c t i o n i n much t h e s a m e m a n n e r i n t h i s
l a r g e r m o d e l . As a g r o u p t h e l e a r n i n g v a r i a b l e s de m on
s t r a t e d t h e g r e a t e s t i n f l u e n c e . A l s o , p o v e r t y a g a i n ha d a
d i r e c t e f f e c t o n s e v e r i t y f o r t h e c o m p l e t e s a m p l e .
As i n d i c a t e d i n t h e a n a l y s i s o f t h e p s y c h o d y n a m i c mod
e l , t h e l e v e l o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g h a d o n l y i n d i
r e c t e f f e c t s u p o n s e v e r i t y . F u r t h e r , t h e l e v e l o f p s y c h o
l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g p r o v e d t o be " c a u s e d " by s o c i a l
i s o l a t i o n a s s u g g e s t e d by G i o v a n n o n i a n d B i l l i n g s l e y
( 1 9 7 0 ) , l i f e s t r e s s a s s u g g e s t e d by P e l t o n (1 9 8 1 ) a n d
p a r e n t ’ s p h y s i c a l d i s a b i l i t y a s s u g g e s t e d b y H o l o c k a n d
H o r o w i t z ( 1 9 7 9 ) .
192
SYNTHESIS
I n t h a t t h e l e s s c o m p l e x m o d e l s f u n c t i o n a s w e l l w i t h
i n t h e c o n t e x t o f m o s t c o m p l e x , t h e s o c i a l - p s y c h o l o g i c a l
m o d e l , a s t h e y d i d when e x a m i n e d s e p a r a t e l y , t h e m o s t r e a
s o n a b l e m o d e l t o f a v o r w o u l d b e t h e m o s t c o m p l e x . T h i s
o f f e r s a p i c t u r e o f m a l t r e a t m e n t c a u s a t i o n t h a t i s l i k e
t h a t d i s c u s s e d by G e l l e s (1 9 7 5 ) i n p a r t i c u l a r , a n d s o m e w h a t
c o n s i s t e n t w i t h G i l ' s ( 1971) v i e w s a l s o . T h e v i e w o f
G e l l e s i s t h a t no c a u s e i s e i t h e r s u f f i c i e n t o r n e c e s s a r y ,
b u t r a t h e r t h a t t h e s t r u c t u r e o f c a u s e c a n b e v e r y c o m p l e x
a n d v a r i a b l e a c r o s s f a m i l i e s . T h i s o f f e r s a p e r s p e c t i v e o n
m a l t r e a t m e n t w h ic h i s s o m e w h a t a t v a r i a n c e w i t h t h e s t a n d
i n g c o n s e n s u s i d e n t i f i e d b y S w e e t a n d R e s i c k , t h a t t h e p s y
c h o l o g i c a l v a r i a b l e i s t h e m o s t i n f l u e n t i a l . C l e a r l y , t h i s
was n o t t h e c a s e f o r t h e 4 72 s t u d y f a m i l i e s .
a l t h o u g h t h e a n a l y s i s o f t h e p s y c h o d y n a m i c m o d e l s u g
g e s t e d t h a t t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l v a r i a b l e c a u s e d v a r i a t i o n s i n
m a l t r e a t m e n t s e v e r i t y f o r t h e a b u s i n g s u b g r o u p , t h i s f i n d
i n g n e e d s t o be r e g a r d e d w i t h c a u t i o n . T h i s f i n d i n g o n o n e
h a n d d o e s s u g g e s t t h a t t h e s t r u c t u r e o f c a u s e f o r a b u s e -
o n l y f a m i l i e s may b e d i f f e r e n t f r o m o t h e r m a l t r e a t i n g f a m i
l i e s . H o w e v e r , s i n c e t h e r e l a t i v e l y f ew c a s e s o f a b u s e -
o n l y c a s e s p r o h i b i t e d m e a n i n g f u l a n a l y s i s o f t h e o t h e r mod
e l s , p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e s o c i a l - p s y c h o l o g i c a l m o d e l , i t
r e m a i n s u n c l e a r how t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l v a r i a b l e w o u l d f u n c —
193
t i o n i n t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e o t h e r p o t e n t i a l c a u s a l f a c t o r s .
T h e r e i s no r e a s o n t o a s s u m e , f o r e x a m p l e , t h a t t h e p s y c h o
l o g i c a l v a r i a b l e f o r t h e a b u s i n g s u b g r o u p w o u l d n o t a l s o
p r o v e i t s e l f t o b e a f u n c t i o n o f o t h e r s t r e s s f a c t o r s a s i t
was s h o w n t o b e f o r t h e o t h e r g r o u p s .
T h e f a i l u r e o f t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l v a r i a b l e t o demon
s t r a t e l a r g e e f f e c t s s h o u l d n o t b e s u r p r i s i n g . S t u d i e s
w h ic h r e p o r t s u c h e f f e c t s , s u c h a s t h o s e o f P o l a n s k y a n d
M i l n e r , t e n d t o u s e t h i s v a r i a b l e a s t h e f o c u s o f t h e
i n v e s t i g a t i o n . H o w e v e r , i n s t u d i e s l i k e t h e o n e p e r f o r m e d
by G a i n e s a n d h i s a s s o c i a t e s ( 1 9 7 8 ) , w h e re n u m e r o u s o t h e r
f a c t o r s w e r e e x a m i n e d , t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l h y p o t h e s i s h a s n o t
b e e n s t r o n g l y s u p p o r t e d .
M a te r ia l l e v e l o f L iv in g
Wolock. a n d H o r o w i t z ( 1 9 7 9 ) a n d P e l t o n ( 1 9 7 8 ) a r g u e
t h a t p o v e r t y i s i n s t r u m e n t a l i n t h e o c c u r r e n c e o f c h i l d
m a l t r e a t m e n t . S t u d y d a t a t e n d t o s u p p o r t t h i s a s s e r t i o n .
The e f f e c t s o f p o v e r t y f o r t h e c o m p l e t e s a m p l e w e r e d i r e c t
l y o n s e v e r i t y a n d l i f e s t r e s s . T h e s e e f f e c t s w e r e , how
e v e r , n o t s t r o n g .
T h i s s t u d y e x a m i n e d o n l y i d e n t i f i e d m a l t r e a t e r s , a n d
t h e a v e r a g e h o u s e h o l d f o r t h i s g r o u p h a d a p o s t - t r a n s f e r
i n c o m e w h i c h w a s b e l o w p o v e r t y l e v e l . T h e r e f o r e , i t wou ld
b e r e a s o n a b l e t o a s s u m e t h a t i n t h e p r e s e n c e o f a n o n m a l
t r e a t i n g c o m p a r i s o n g r o u p a n d a s a m p l e w h e r e i n i n c o m e m o re
19t*
c l o s e l y m i r r o r e d t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n , t h e p o v e r t y e f f e c t
w o u l d h e g r e a t e r .
Stress VariablesS i x v a r i a b l e s w h i c h v a r i o u s a u t h o r s h a v e a d d r e s s e d a s
p o t e n t i a l s o u r c e s o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l s t r e s s w e r e a n a l y z e d .
T h e s e v a r i a b l e s w e r e ( 1 ) a g e n e r a l l i f e s t r e s s s c a l e { s e e
C h a p t e r I I I ) ; (2) a s o c i a l i s o l a t i o n i n d e x ; (3) a m e a s u r e o f
t h e d e g r e e o f c r o w d i n g i n t h e f a m i l y ; ( 4 ) a n i n d e x o f s p a c
i n g b e t w e e n c h i l d r e n ; (5) a dummy v a r i a b l e i n d i c a t i n g a
s e v e r e l y o r c h r o n i c a l l y i l l c h i l d ; a n d (6) a dummy v a r i a b l e
i n d i c a t i n g a m o d e r a t e t o s e v e r e p h y s i c a l d i s a b i l i t y f o r t h e
p a r e n t . Of t h e s e s i x v a r i a b l e s , c r o w d i n g , s p a c i n g a n d t h e
p r e s e n c e o f a s i c k c h i l d w e r e n o t s u p p o r t e d a s c a u s e s i n
a n y m o d e l . A p a r e n t a l d i s a b i l i t y a n d s o c i a l i s o l a t i o n w e r e
f o u n d t o b e c a u s a l l y l i n k e d t o t h e l e v e l o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l
f u n c t i o n i n g , a s was l i f e s t r e s s . L i f e s t r e s s was a l s o
l i n k e d w i t h t h e p r e s e n c e o f a s u b s t a n c e a b u s e p r o b l e m ,
w h i c h i t s e l f w a s l i n k e d w i t h t h e n u m b e r o f p r o b l e m s p r e s e n t
i n t h e f a m i l y .
T h e f a c t t h a t o t h e r s t u d i e s h a v e f o u n d s u c h v a r i a b l e s
a s t h e d e g r e e o f c r o w d i n g t o b e i m p o r t a n t , a n d t h i s s t u d y
d i d n o t , c o u l d a g a i n b e a n a r t i f a c t o f s t u d y d e s i g n . S i n c e
t h i s s t u d y d i d n o t l o o k a t n o n m a l t r e a t e r s , i t i s g u i t e p o s
s i b l e t h a t t h e i r i n c l u s i o n w o u l d h a v e c r e a t e d a n e f f e c t .
H o w e v e r , i t i s e q u a l l y p o s s i b l e t h a t t h e p e c u l i a r n a t u r e o f
195
t h e " c o n t r o l " g r o u p s u s e d i n o t h e r s t u d i e s c o u l d h a v e c r e
a t e d t h e e f f e c t s w h i c h w e r e f o u n d .
Learning VariablesThe l e a r n i n g v a r i a b l e s a s a g r o u p d i s p l a y e d t h e w i d e s t
r a n g e o f e f f e c t s , b o t h d i r e c t a n d i n d i r e c t , on t h e t h r e e
o u t c o m e v a r i a b l e s . A l t h o u g h U o l o c k a n d H o r o w i t z (1979)
r e p o r t t h a t p a r e n t a l e d u c a t i o n d i d n o t a p p e a r t o b e a f a c
t o r i n m a l t r e a t m e n t , t h i s s t u d y ' s f i n d i n g c l e a r l y i n d i c a t e
t h e c o n t r a r y , w i t h t h e l e v e l o f e d u c a t i o n h a v i n g d i r e c t a s
w e l l a s i n d i r e c t e f f e c t s u p o n a l l t h r e e o u t c o m e v a r i a b l e s -
The d i f f e r e n c e c o u l d h a v e come f r o m Wolock a n d H o r o w i t z ' s
u s i n g a l e s s p r e c i s e m e a s u r e o f e d u c a t i o n , s u c h a s a dummy
i n d i c a t i n g h i g h s c h o o l g r a d u a t i o n , t h a n was u s e d i n t h i s
s t u d y , o r a g a i n , t h e d i f f e r e n c e c o u l d be d u e t o t h e s a m p l e .
f i n d i n g s c o n s i s t e n t w i t h l i t e r a t u r e w e r e t h a t t h e
p a r e n t h a v i n g b e e n m a l t r e a t e d a s a c h i l d a n d a g e n e r a l
d e f i c i e n c y i n c h i l d c a r e k n o w l e d g e d e m o n s t r a t e d e f f e c t s .
I n t e r e s t i n g l y , t h e s e v a r i a b l e s d i d n o t h a v e d i r e c t e f f e c t s
upon s e v e r i t y , b u t r a t h e r on t h e o c c u r r e n c e o f p r i o r m a l
t r e a t m e n t a n d t h e n u m b e r o f p r o b l e m s . T h e e f f e c t s o f s u b
c u l t u r e w e r e i n d i r e c t , a f f e c t i n g t h e o t h e r l e a r n i n g v a r i
a b l e s . A p a r e n t h a v i n g b e e n m a l t r e a t e d a s a c h i l d a l s o
a f f e c t e d w h e t h e r a p a r e n t w as g e n e r a l l y d e f i c i e n t i n c h i l d
c a r e k n o w l e d g e .
196
I n g e n e r a l , t h e l e a r n i n g v a r i a b l e s s e e m t o c r e a t e c o n
d i t i o n s f a v o r a b l a t o m a l t r e a t m e n t . I n o t h e r w o r d s , p a r e n t s
l e a r n by way o f t h e i r s u b c u l t u r e , t h e way t h e i r p a r e n t s
b e h a v e d a s p a r e n t s a n d t h r o u g h t h e i r own e d u c a t i o n ( o r m o r e
p r e c i s e l y t h e l a c k o f i t ) , a way o f l i v i n g a n d b e h a v i n g
w h i c h b r i n g a b o u t c o n d i t i o n s p r o b l e m a t i c f o r c h i l d r e n ' s
w e l f a r e .
S n b s ta n c e A buse
A l c o h o l an d d r u g u s e h a s b e e n w i d e l y d i s c u s s e d a s
a f f e c t i n g c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t . The dummy v a r i a b l e i n c l u d e d
i n a n a l y s e s w h i c h i n d i c a t e d a d r i n k i n g o r d r u g p r o b l e m d i d
n o t h a v e d i r e c t e f f e c t s u p o n e i t h e r s e v e r i t y o r p r i o r m a l
t r e a t m e n t . I t w o u l d a p p e a r t h a t t h e c o n t r i b u t i o n o f t h i s
f a c t o r t o c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t i s b y m e a n s o f i n c r e a s i n g t h e
n u m b e r o f p r o b l e m s p r e s e n t i n a f a m i l y , a n d n o t by c a u s i n g
p a r e n t s t o do b i z a r r e t h i n g s t o t h e i r c h i l d r e n . A l t h o u g h
d r i n k i n g b e h a v i o r i s n o t o f t e n m e a s u r e d i n o t h e r s t u d i e s ,
E o l o c k a n d H o r o w i t z (1979 ) g a t h e r e d s u c h i n f o r m a t i o n . T h e y
f o u n d t h a t m a l t r e a t e r s a n d n o n m a l t r e a t e r s d i s p l a y e d r o u g h l y
e q u i v a l e n t p a t t e r n s o f d r i n k i n g - T h e s e f i n d i n g s w ou ld se em
t o b e c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h i s s t u d y ' s f i n d i n g o f no d i r e c t
e f f e c t o f s u b s t a n c e a b u s e u p o n m a l t r e a t m e n t s e v e r i t y -
197
I H P L I CATIOHS
Ch a l l e n g e t o T r a d i t i o n a l C o n c e p t io n s
S w e e t a n d B e s i c k (1979) h a v e i d e n t i f i e d t h e p s y c h o l o g
i c a l h y p o t h e s i s a s t h e p r e d o m i n a n t p e r s p e c t i v e f o r m a l
t r e a t m e n t c a u s a t i o n . T h e f i n d i n g s o f t h i s s t u d y c a l l t h i s
p e r s p e c t i v e v e r y much i n t o g u e s t i o n - No d i r e c t e f f e c t s
w e r e o b s e r v e d upon m a l t r e a t m e n t s e v e r i t y f r o m t h e p s y c h o
l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g v a r i a b l e . i t s p r e d o m i n a t e e f f e c t
a p p e a r e d t o b e t o i n c r e a s e t h e n u m b e r o f p r o b l e m s p r e s e n t
i n a f a m i l y . T h i s i s a n e f f e c t s i m i l a r t o t h a t o f p a r e n t ' s
e d u c a t i o n a n d a p a r e n t b e i n g g e n e r a l l y d e f i c i e n t i n c h i l d
c a r e k n o w l e d g e . F u r t h e r , t h e l e v e l o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l f u n c
t i o n i n g a p p e a r e d t o b e a f u n c t i o n o f t h e l e v e l o f l i f e
s t r e s s , t h e d e g r e e o f s o c i a l i s o l a t i o n a n d w h e t h e r o r n o t
t h e p a r e n t was p h y s i c a l l y d i s a b l e d . T h e r e f o r e , t o f o c u s
upon t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l v a r i a b l e r e p r e s e n t s a n e m p h a s i s
w h ic h i s b o t h n a r r o w a n d m i s p l a c e d . A l t e r n a t i v e l y , t h e
f i n d i n g s o f t h i s s t u d y i n d i c a t e t h a t p o v e r t y , s t r e s s , a n d
l e a r n i n g a r e e q u a l o r m ore i m p o r t a n t f a c t o r s .
I m p l i c a t i o n s f o r Pr a c t i c e
T he s t r u c t u r e o f f i n d i n g s i n d i c a t e s t h a t c h i l d mal
t r e a t m e n t s e v e r i t y i s n o t a s i m p l e f u n c t i o n o f p s y c h o l o g i
c a l l y i l l p a r e n t s , on t h e c o n t r a r y , t h e p a t t e r n o f e f f e c t s
i s w i d e s p r e a d a c r o s s f a c t o r s , a n d l i k e l y h i g h l y v a r i a b l e
198
w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h o s e f a c t o r s a c r o s s f a m i l i e s . T h i s h a s
i m p l i c a t i o n s f o r t h e c o u n s e l i n g a p p r o a c h t a k e n b y w o r k e r s .
C l e a r l y , t h e p a t t e r n o f e f f e c t s d e m o n s t r a t e d f o r t h e l e a r n
i n g v a r i a b l e s w o u l d t e n d t o s u g g e s t t h a t t h e f o c u s o f
i n t e r v e n t i o n s h o u l d b e m ore i n t h e f o r m o f e d u c a t i o n a b o u t
a p p r o p r i a t e c h i l d c a r e a n d f a m i l y m a n a g e m e n t s k i l l s .
G i v e n t h e i n f l u e n c e o f v a l u e s upon t h e i n d e f i n i t e
i s s u e s o f c h i l d c a r e d i s c u s s e d i n C h a p t e r s I a n d X I , t h e
e f f e c t s o f s u b c u l t u r e n o t e d s h o u l d n o t b e d i s m i s s e d l i g h t
l y . T h e s e f i n d i n g s s u g g e s t t h a t s u b c u l t u r a l i n f l u e n c e s
c a u s e , u l t i m a t e l y , c o n d i t i o n s i d e n t i f i e d a s r e l a t i n g t o
m a l t r e a t m e n t . The q u e s t i o n w h i c h m u s t b e a s k e d i s w h e t h e r
o r n o t t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s a c t u a l l y a r e r e l a t e d t o m a l t r e a t
m e n t , ' o r w h e t h e r t h e y a r e i n f a c t o n l y i d e n t i f i e d a s s u c h
b e c a u s e t h e y d i f f e r w i t h t h e p r e s c r i p t i o n s o f t h e m a j o r i t y
c u l t u r e . E t h i c a l l y , i t w o u l d b e i n c o n s i s t e n t t o j u d g e a
p a r e n t a s m a l t r e a t i n g b e c a u s e o f c h i l d r e a r i n g p r a c t i c e s
w h i c h d i f f e r f r o m n o r m a t i v e p r a c t i c e , b u t w h i c h h a v e n o t
b e e n o b j e c t i v e l y d e t e r m i n e d a s h a r m f u l .
I mpl i c a t i o n s f o r P o l i c y
The m o s t s i g n i f i c a n t p o l i c y i m p l i c a t i o n r e l a t e s t o t h e
w i d e s p r e a d p a t t e r n o f e f f e c t s n o t e d i n t h e f i n d i n g s . T h e s e
f i n d i n g s s u g g e s t t h a t m ore s i m p l e m o d e l s o f m a l t r e a t m e n t
c a u s a t i o n a r e i n a d e q u a t e . T h e r e f o r e , r e m e d i a l p o l i c y a n d
p o l i c y t a r g e t i n g p r e v e n t i o n s h o u l d b e a p p r o a c h e d w i t h g r e a t
199
c a u t i o n . P o l i c y a c t i o n s s h o u l d o n l y t e n u o u s l y e m b r a c e a
p a r t i c u l a r m o d e l o f m a l t r e a t m e n t c a u s e . F u r t h e r , a n y p o l i
c y i n i t i a t i v e s s h o u l d i n c l u d e money s u p p o r t i n g c o m p r e h e n
s i v e r e s e a r c h e f f o r t s d e s i g n e d t o e x a m i n e a v i d e r a n g e o f
f a c t o r s w i t h r i g o r o u s c o n t r o l s . B a s e d upon t h e r e s u l t s o f
t h i s s t u d y , c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t c a u s a t i o n w i l l n o t b e mean
i n g f u l l y a d d r e s s e d by s m a l l e r , more n a r r o w l y f o c u s e d s t u d
i e s . T h e r e f o r e , b e f o r e p o l i c y , p a r t i c u l a r l y a t t h e n a t i o n
a l l e v e l , c a n m e a n i n g f u l l y a d d r e s s t h i s p r o b l e m , m o re w i l l
h a v e t o b e c o m e known.
I m p l ic a t io n s f o r R e s e a r c h
C o n s i s t e n t w i t h s t a t e m e n t s a b o v e , t h e s c o p e o f c h i l d
w e l f a r e r e s e a r c h m u s t b e e x p a n d e d . The t y p e s o f v a r i a b l e s
w h ich l i k e l y n e e d t o be i n c l u d e d , a n d t h e m e a s u r e m e n t p r o b
l e m s i n h e r e n t t o t h e u s e o f v a r i a b l e s , s u c h a s t h e e x t e n t
o f m a l t r e a t m e n t e x p e r i e n c e by m a l t r e a t i n g p a r e n t s when t h e y
w e r e a c h i l d , i n d i c a t e t h a t s u p e r f i c i a l i n v e s t i g a t i o n s w i l l
b e i n a d e q u a t e f o r p r o v i d i n g n e c e s s a r y i n f o r m a t i o n . The
t y p e s o f s t u d i e s n e e d e d w i l l b e c o s t l y b o t h i n a c t u a l d o l
l a r s a n d s t a f f t i m e f o r p a r t i c i p a t i n g a g e n c i e s .
C h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t h a s e m e r g e d i n t h e l a s t two d e c a d e s
a s a s o c i a l p r o b l e m c o m m a n d in g c o n s i d e r a b l e p u b l i c a t t e n
t i o n . T h e d e m a n d s f o r a c t i o n , b o t h r e m e d i a l a n d p r e v e n t a
t i v e a r e g r e a t . H o w e v e r , t h e i n f o r m a t i o n a v a i l a b l e t o
i n f o r m b o t h p r a c t i c e a n d p o l i c y i s v e r y l i m i t e d b e c a u s e o f
200
t h e n a t u r e a n d s c o p e o f t h e m a j o r i t y o f r e s e a r c h i n v e s t i g a
t i o n s . Even m ore c o m p r e h e n s i v e s t u d i e s s u c h a s t h i s o n e
s u f f e r f r o m l i m i t a t i o n s w h i c h make d e f i n i t i v e c o n c l u s i o n s
e l u s i v e . To a n s w e r t h e q u e s t i o n s w h i c h m u s t b e a n s w e r e d i fI
p o l i c y a n d p r a c t i c e a r e n o t t o b e m i s g u i d e d w i l l r e q u i r e
m o n e y , r e s e a r c h r i g o r a n d , m o s t i m p o r t a n t , t h e c o o p e r a t i o n
o f t h e p r a c t i c e c o m m u n i t y . I n a d e q u a c i e s i n a n y o f t h e s e
a r e a s w i l l b e c r i t i c a l .
A s p e c i a l a d m o n i s h m e n t i s d i r e c t e d t o c h i l d w e l f a r e
a g e n c i e s a n d t h e i r w o r k e r s . W h i l e t h e b u r d e n o f w ork i n
p u b l i c c h i l d w e l f a r e a g e n c i e s i s o f t e n o v e r w h e l m i n g , an
a t t i t u d e w h i c h a r g u e s t h a t t h e d e m a n d s o f o n e ’ s w o r k a r e
s u c h t h a t a l l o w i n g t i m e f o r i n v e s t i g a t i o n s i s n o t p o s s i b l e
i s n o t j u s t i f i a b l e . The a g e n c i e s a n d w o r k e r s a r e t h e b e s t
s o u r c e s f o r t h e t y p e s o f d a t a n e e d e d s o t h a t m a l t r e a t m e n t
may u l t i m a t e l y be b e t t e r u n d e r s t o o d . T h o s e n o t w i l l i n g t o
c o o p e r a t e w i t h e f f o r t s t o s t u d y t h e p r o b l e m do n o t e v e n
h e l p t h e m s e l v e s by a v o i d i n g t h e s a c r i f i c e o f t i m e a n d
e f f o r t , f o r t h e r e i s n o a s s u r a n c e t h a t t h e a s s u m p t i o n s u s e d
t o g .u ide t h e i r i n t e r v e n t i o n s a r e v a l i d .
An e v e n m ore p o i n t e d a d m o n i s h m e n t i s d i r e c t e d t o a n y
r e s e a r c h e r w i s h i n g t o i n v e s t i g a t e c h i l d m a l t r e a t m e n t .
R e q u i r e m e n t s f o r t h e t y p e a n d n a t u r e o f r e s e a r c h n e e d s w e r e
m e n t i o n e d e a r l i e r a n d n e e d n o t * be r e p e a t e d . H o w e v e r ,
b e y o n d t h o s e p o i n t s , r e s e a r c h e r s m u s t b e v i t a l l y a w a r e t h a t
201
a n y i m p o s i t i o n s made upon c h i l d w e l f a r e w o r k e r s , f r o m whom
t h e b e s t d a t a w i l l a l m o s t c e r t a i n l y h a v e t o c o m e , r e p r e s e n t
m o s t l i k e l y a n a d d i t i o n a l b u r d e n t o a n a l r e a d y o v e r b u r d e n e d
p r o f e s s i o n a l . T h i s r e a l i t y d e m a n d s t h a t t h e n a t u r e o f
i m p o s i t i o n be m i n i m i z e d , a n d t h a t t h e w o r k e r s s h o u l d be
f u l l p a r t n e r s i n t h e s t u d y . The f u l l e s t c o o p e r a t i o n w i l l
b e n e c e s s a r y i f t h e s t a t e o f k n o w l e d g e c o n c e r n i n g c h i l d
m a l t r e a t m e n t i s t o b e i m p r o v e d .
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A l v y , K .T . " P r e v e n t i n g C h i l d A b u s e - " A m e r i c a n P s v c h o l o - g i s t , 1 9 7 5 , 3 0 , p p . 9 2 1 - 9 2 8 .
A m undson , M . E . , C . A . H a r t a n d T-H- H o lm es M a n u a l f o r t h e • S c h e d u l e o f Be c e n t E x p e r i e n c e . S e a t t l e , H a s h . : U n i v e r s i t y o f H a s h i n g t o n S c h o o l o f M e d i c i n e , 1 9 8 1 .
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A u t h i e r , K. " D e f i n i n g t h e C a r e i n C h i l d C a r e . " S o c i a lW ork , 1 9 7 9 , 2 4 , p p . 5 0 0 - 5 0 5 .
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B a b b i e , E . R . The P r a c t i c e o f S o c i a l R e s e a r c h ( 2 n d e d . ) . B e l m o n t , C a l i f . : W a d s w o r t h P u b . C o . , 1 9 7 9 -
B a n d u r a , A- S o c i a l L e a r n i n g T h e o r y . E n g l e w o o d C l i f f s , N . J . : P r e n t i c e - H a l l , 1 9 7 7 .
B a r t h , R . P . a n d B . J . B l y t h e " T h e C o n t r i b u t i o n o f S t r e s s t o C h i l d A b u s e . " S o c i a l S e r v i c e R e v i e w . 1 9 8 3 , 5 7 , p p . 4 7 7 - 4 8 9 .
B a r t l e t t , H. M. T h e Common B a s e o f S o c i a l H ork P r a c t i c e .New Y o r k : N a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n o f S o c i a l W o r k e r s , 1 9 7 0 .
B e a n , G . J . " J u d g m e n t M o d e l i n g : The A p p l i c a t i o n o f a D e c i s i o n A n a l y s i s T e c h n i g u e t o a S o c i a l H o r k P r o b l e m . " U n p u b l i s h e d d i s s e r t a t i o n . T h e O h i o S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y , 1 9 8 2 -
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B l a l o c k , J r . , H- M. T h e o r y C o n s t r u c t i o n : f r o m V e r b a l t o M a t hema t i c a l F o r m u l a t i o n s - E n g l e w o o d C l i f f s , N - J - ; P r e n t i c e - H a l l , I n c - , 1 9 6 9 -
B l a l o c k , J r . , H-M- C a u s a l I n f e r e n c e s i n N o n e x u e r i m e n t a l R e s e a r c h . New Y o r k : H. R. N o r t o n a n d C o . , 19 7 2 .
B l a l o c k , J r . , H. M- a n d A- B l a l o c k ( e d s . ) M e t h o d o l o g y i n S o c i a l R e s e a r c h- New Y o r k : M c G r a w - H i l l , 1 9 6 8 .
B o h r n s t e d t , G. K. a n d E . F . B o r g a t t a S o c i a l M e a s u r e m e n t ! Cur r e n t I s s u e s . B e v e r l y H i l l s , C a l i f . : S a g e P u b l i c a t i o n s , 1 9 8 1 -
B o u r n e , B- a n d E . H- N e w b e r g e r ( e d s . ) C r i t i c a l P e r s p e c t i v e s on C h i l d A b u s e . L e x i n g t o n , M a s s . : L e x i n g t o n B o o k s ,1 9 7 9 -
B r e n n e r , C- An E l e m e n t a r y T e x t b o o k o f P s y c h o a n a l y s i s ( 2 n d e d . ) . New Y o r k : A n c h o r B o o k s , 1 9 7 4 .
B r i a r , S . " C l i n i c a l J u d g m e n t i n F o s t e r C a r e P l a c e m e n t . " C h i l d K e i f a r e . 1 9 6 3 , 4 2 , p p . 1 6 1 - 1 6 9 .
B u r g e s s , B. L. " P r o j e c t I n t e r a c t : A S t u d y o f P a t t e r n s o f I n t e r a c t i o n i n A b u s i v e , N e g l e c t i n g a n d C o n t r o l F a m i l i e s . " C h i l d A b u s e a n d N e g l e c t . 1 9 7 9 , 3 , p p . 7 8 1 - 7 9 1 .
B u r l a n d , J . A . , R .G . A n d r e w s a n d S . J . H e a d s t e n " C h i l d A b u s e : One T r e e i n t h e F o r e s t . " C h i l d W e l f a r e . 1 9 7 3 ,5 2 , p p . 5 8 5 - 5 9 2 .
C a m p b e l l , D. a n d J . S t a n l e y E x p e r i m e n t a l a n d O u a s i -e x p e r i m e n t a l D e s i g n s f o r R e s e a r c h . C h i c a g o : Rand McNall y C o l l e g e P u b l i s h i n g C o . , 1 9 6 3 .
C o h e n , J . an d P - C ohe n A p p l i e d M u l t i p l e R e g r e s s i o n /Co r r e l a t i o n An a l y s i s f o r t h e B e h a v i o r a l S c i e n c e s . New Y o r k : J o h n R i l e y a n d S o n s , 1 9 7 5 .
C o h e n , J . an d P. C o h e n A p p l i e d M u l t i p l e R e g r e s s i o n /C o r r e l a t i o n A n a l y s i s f o r t h e B e h a v i o r a l S c i e n c e s (2nd e d . ) . New Y o r k : J o h n R i l e y a n d S o n s , 1 9 8 3 -
C o o m b e s , P . " A r e Re P r o t e c t i n g C h i l d r e n ? An A p p r o a c h t o M e a s u r i n g I m p a c t i n P r o t e c t i v e S e r v i c e s . " C h i l d A b u s e a n d Negl e c t , 1 9 8 0 , 4 , p p . 1 0 5 - 1 1 3 .
C o o m b e s , P . , M. M cCorm ack , M.H. C h i p l e y , B. A r c h e r a n d J .Norman M a n u a l f o r U s i n g A buse a n d Negl e c t I n d i c a t o r s a n d
- 203 -
Index. A u s t i n , T e x a s : L e g i o n VI R e s o u r c e C e n t e r on C h i l d A buse a n d N e g l e c t , 1 9 7 8 .
D i L e o u a r d i , J . V . ‘' D e c i s i o n M a k in g i n P r o t e c t i v e S e r v i c e s . " Chi l d W e l f a r e . 1 9 8 0 , 5 9 , p p . 3 5 6 - 3 6 4 .
D i n g w a l l , R- " S o c i a l a n d L e ga l . P e r c e p t i o n s o f C h i l d Negl e c t : Some P r e l i m i n a r y C o n s i d e r a t i o n s . " C h i l d A b u s e a n d N e g l e c t . 1979 , 3 , p p . 3 0 3 - 3 1 4 .
D i n g w a l l , B. a n d J . E e k e l a a r " S o c i a l an d L e g a l P e r c e p t i o n s o f C h i l d N e g l e c t . " C h i l d A b u s e a n d N e g l e c t . 1 9 8 0 , 3 , p p . 3 0 4 - 3 1 2 .
D u n c a n , O .D . I n t r o d u c t i o n t o S t r u c t u r a l E g u a t i o n M o d e l s .New Y o r k : A c a d e m i c P r e s s , 1 9 7 5 .
E r i k s o n , E . H . Ch i l d h o od a n d S o c i e t y (2nd e d . ) . Hew Y o r k : H. W. N o r t o n a n d C o . , 1 9 6 3 .
E v a n s , A . I . " P e r s o n a l i t y C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s a n d D i s c i p l i n a r y A t t i t u d e s o f C h i l d - A b u s i n g M o t h e r s . " C h i l d A b u s e a n d Ne g l e c t . 1 9 8 0 , 4 , p p . 1 7 9 - 1 8 7 -
E v e r s , W. M- " T h e Law o f O m i s s i o n s a n d N e g l e c t o f C h i l d r e n . " C h i l d A b u s e a n d N e g l e c t . 1 9 7 8 , 2 , p p . 7 9 - 8 8 .
F e d e r i c o , R . C . T h e S o c i a l W e l f a r e I n s t i t u t i o n ( 2 n d e d . ) . L e x i n g t o n , M a s s . : D .C . H e a t h a n d C o . , 1 9 7 9 .
F l e i s s , J - L - St a t i s t i c s f o r R a t e s a n d P r o p o r t i o n s (2nd e d . ) . New Y o r k : J o h n W i l e y a n d S o n s , 1 9 8 1 -
F o u l k , R .C . " O r d i n a l V a r i a b l e s a n d P a r a m e t r i c S t a t i s t i c s :A L i t e r a t u r e R e v i e w " ( m i m e o g r a p h e d ) . T h e O h i o S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y C o l l e g e o f S o c i a l Work, 1 9 8 0 .
F r i e d r i c h , W..N. a n d J - A - B o r i s k i n " T h e R o l e o f t h e C h i l d i n A b u s e : A R e v i e w . " A m e r i c a n J o u r n a l o f O r t h o p s y c h i a t r y , 1 9 7 6 , 4 6 , p p . 5 8 0 - 5 9 0 .
G a i n e s , P . . , A. S a n d g r u n d , A.H. G r e e n a n d E. P o w e r " E t i o l o g i c a l F a c t o r s i n C h i l d M a l t r e a t m e n t : A M u l t i v a r i a t eS t u d y o f A b u s i n g , N e g l e c t i n g a n d N o r m a l M o t h e r s . " J o u r n a l o f A b n o r m a l P s y c h o l o g y . 1 9 7 8 , 8 7 , p p . 5 3 1 - 5 4 0 .
G a r b a r i u o , J . " T h e E l u s i v e ‘ C r im e* o f E m o t i o n a l M a l t r e a t m e n t . " Chi l d A b u s e a n d N e g l e c t . 1 9 7 8 , 2 , p p . 8 9 - 9 9 .
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G a r b a r i n o , J . " C h i l d W e l f a r e a n d t h e E c o n o m i c C r i s i s . " C h i l d W e l f a r e . 1 9 8 4 , 5 3 , p p . 3 - 1 5 .
G a r b a r i n o , J . an d A- C r o u t e r " D e f i n i n g t h e C om m u n i ty Cont e x t f o r P a r e n t - C h i l d R e l a t i o n s : T h e C o r r e l a t e s o fC h i l d M a l t r e a t m e n t . " C h i l d D e v e l o p m e n t . 1 9 7 8 a , 4 9 , p p . 6 0 4 - 6 1 6 .
G a r b a r i n o , J . and A- C r o u t e r "A R o t e o n t h e P r o b l e m o f C o n s t r u c t V a l i d i t y i n A s s e s s i n g t h e U s e f u l n e s s o f C h i l d M a l t r e a t m e n t R e p o r t D a t a . " A m e r i c a n J o u r n a l o f P u b l i c H e a l t h . 1978 ( b ) , 6 8 , p p . 5 9 8 —6 0 0 .
G a r b a r i n o , J . and D- S h e r m a n " H i g h - R i s k N e i g h b o r h o o d s an d H i g h - R i s k F a m i l i e s : T h e Human E c o l o g y o f C h i l d M a l t r e a t m e n t . " C h i l d D e v e l o p m e n t . 19 8 0 , 5 1 , p p . 1 8 8 - 1 9 3 -
G a r b a r i n o , J . an d S . H . S t o c k i n g P r o t e c t i n g C h i l d r e n f r o m A b u s e a n d N e g l e c t . S a n F r a n c i s c o , C a l i f . : J o s s e y - B a s s , 1 9 8 0 . “
G e l l e s , R . J . " C h i l d A b u s e a s P s y c h o p a t h o l o g y : A S o c i o l o g i c a l C r i t i q u e a n d R e f o r m u l a t i o n . " A m e r i c a n J o u r n a l o f O r t h o p s y c h i a t r y . 1 9 7 3 , 4 3 , p p . 6 1 1 - 6 2 1 .
G e l l e s , R . J . " T h e S o c i a l C o n s t r u c t i o n o f C h i l d A b u s e . " Am e r i c a n J o u r n a l o f O r t h o p s y c h i a t r y . 1 9 7 5 , 4 5 , p p . 3 6 3 - 3 7 1 .
G e l l e s , R . J . " D e m y t h o l o g i z i n g C h i l d A b u s e . " The F a m i l y C o o r d i n a t o r . 1 9 7 6 , 2 5 , p p . 135—144-
G h i s e l l i , E - E . , J . P . C a m p b e l l a n d S . Z e d e c k M e a s u r e m e n tT h e o r y f o r t h e B e h a v i o r a l S c i e n c e s . S a n F r a n c i s c o , C a l i f . : K.H. F r e e m a n a n d C o . , 1 9 8 1 .
G i l , D-G. V i o l e n c e A g a i n s t C h i l d r e n : P h y s i c a l C h i l d Abuse i n t h e Un i t e d S t a t e s . C a m b r i d g e , M a s s . : H a r v a r d U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 7 0 -
G i l , D .G . "A S o c i o c u l t u r a l P e r s p e c t i v e on P h y s i c a l C h i l d A b u s e . " C h i l d W e l f a r e . 1 9 7 1 , 5 0 , p p . 3 8 9 - 3 9 5 -
G i o v a n n o a i , J -M - " P a r e n t a l M i s t r e a t m e n t : P e r p e t r a t o r s a n dV i c t i m s . " J o u r n a l o f M a r r i a g e an d t h e F a m i l y . 1 9 7 1 , 3 3 , p p . 6 4 9 - 6 5 5 .
G i o v a n n o n i , J . 11- " P r e v e n t i o n o f C h i l d A b u s e a n d N e g l e c t : R e s e a r c h a n d P o l i c y I s s u e s . " S o c i a l K o r k Re s e a r c h a nd A b s t r a c t s . 1 9 8 2 , 1 8 , p p . 2 3 - 3 1 .
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G i o v a n n o n i , J . M. a n d B-M. B e c e r r a D e f i n i n g C h i l d A b 'a s e .New Y o r k : T h e F r e e P r e s s , 1 9 7 9 -
G i o v a n n o n i , J-M- a n d A- B i l l i n g s l e y ’’C h i l d N e g l e c t Among t h e P o o r : A S t u d y o f P a r e n t a l A d e q u a c y i n F a m i l i e s o f T h r e e E t h n i c G r o u p s . ” C h i l d W e l f a r e , 1 9 7 0 , 49 , p p - 1 9 6 - 2 0 4 .
G r a y , J - D , C-A- C u t l e r , J . G . D e a n a n d C-H- Kempe " P r e d i c t i o n a n d P r e v e n t i o n o f C h i l d A b u s e a n d N e g l e c t . ” J o u r n a l o f S o c i a l I s s u e s . 1 9 7 9 , 3 5 , p p . 1 2 7 - 1 3 9 -
G r o e n e v e l d , L - P - a n d J . M . G i o v a n n o n i " D i s p o s i t i o n o f C h i l d A b u s e a n d N e g l e c t C a s e s . ” S o c i a l Work R e s e a r c h a n d A b s t r a c t s , 1 9 7 7 , 1 3 , p p . 2 4 - 3 0 .
G r u b e r , K. J - a n d B . J . J o n e s " I d e n t i f y i n g D e t e r m i n a n t s o f B i s k o f S e x u a l V i c t i m i z a t i o n o f Y o u t h : A M u l t i v a r i a t e A p p r o a c h . " C h i l d A b u s e a n d N e g l e c t . 1 9 8 3 , 7 , p p . 1 7 - 2 4 .
H a w k i n s , B. a n d G. T i e d e m a n T h e C r e a t i o n o f D e v i a n c e :I n t e r p e r s o n a l a n d O r g a n i z a t i o n a l D e t e r m i n a n t s . C o lum b u s , O h i o : C . E . M e r r i l l P u b . C o . , 1 9 7 5 .
H a y e s , C -D . ( e d . ) M a k i n g P o l i c i e s f o r C h i l d r e n : A S t u d y o f t h e F e d e r a l P r o c e s s . B a s h i n g t o n , D . C . : N a t i o n a l A c a d emy P r e s s , 1 9 8 2 .
H a y e s , Ji. L. S t a t i s t i c s f o r t h e S o c i a l S c i e n c e s ( 2 n d e d . ) - New Y o r k : H o l t , E i n e h a r t a n d W i n s t o n , I n c . , 19 7 3 .
H e i s o , D-B- C a u s a l A n a l y s i s . New Y o r k : J o h n W i l e y a n d S o n s , 1975-
H e l f e r , B -E- a n d C. H- Kemp C h i l d Abuse a n d N e g l e c t : T h e F a m i l y a n d t h e C o m m u n i t y . C a m b r i d g e , M a s s . : B a l l i n g e rP u b . C o . , 1 9 7 6 .
J a y a r a t n e , S . " C h i l d A b u s e r s a s P a r e n t s a n d C h i l d r e n : A R e v i e w . " S o c i a l H o r k . 1 9 7 7 , 2 2 , p p . 5 - 9 .
K a d u s h i n , A. " T h e K n o w le d g e B a s e o f S o c i a l W o r k . " I n A - J - Kuhn I s s u e s i n A m e r i c a n S o c i a l Work. New Y o r k : C o l u m b i a U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 5 9 .
K a d u s h i n , A. C h i l d W e l f a r e S e r v i c e s ( 2 n d e d . ) . New Y o r k : M a c m i l l a n P u b . C o . , 1 9 7 4 .
K a d u s h i n , A- " M y t h s a n d D i l e m m a s i n C h i l d W e l f a r e . " C h i l d We l f a r e . 1 9 7 7 , 5 6 , p p . 1 4 1 - 1 4 9 .
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K am erm an , S . B . a n d C . D . H a y e s ( e d s . ) F a m i l i e s t h a t Work; C h i l d r e n i n a C h a n g i n g W o r ld . W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . : N a t i o n a l Academy P r e s s , 1 9 8 2 .
K am erm an , S . B . a n d A - J - Kahn S o c i a l S e r v i c e s i n t h e D n i t e d S t a t e s ; P o l i c i e s a n d P r o g r a m s . P h i l a d e l p h i a : T e m p l e U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 7 6 -
Kap1 a n , A. The C o n d u c t o f I n g n i r v : M e t h o d o l o g y f o r B e h a v i o r a l S c i e n c e s . S c r a n t o n , P e n n . : C h a n d l e r P u b . C o . ,1 9 6 4 .
Kempe, H - C - , F . N . S i l v e r m a n , B . S t e e l e , H. D r e g m u l l e r a n d H. S i l v e r " T he B a t t e r e d C h i l d S y n d r o m e . " J o u r n a l o f t h e A m e r i c a n M e d i c a l As s o c i a t i o n . 1 9 6 2 , 1 8 1 , p p . 1 7 - 2 4 .
K e r l i n g e r , F . U. F o u n d a t i o n s o f B e h a v i o r a l R e s e a r c h (2 n d e d . ) - New Y o r k : H o l t , R i n e h a r t a n d K i n s t o n , I n c . , 1 9 7 3 -
K o e r i n , B .B - " C h i l d A buse a n d N e g l e c t : C h a n g i n g P o l i c i e sa n d P e r s p e c t i v e s - " C h i l d We l f a r e . 1 9 8 0 , 5 9 , p p - 5 4 2 - 5 5 0 .
K o r b i n , J . E . " T h e C u l t u r a l C o n t e x t o f C h i l d A b u s e a n d Negl e c t . " C h i l d A b u s e a n d Ne g l e c t . 198 0 , 4 , p p . 3 - 1 3 .
K o r b i n , J . E . , S . B r a z i e r a n d H-K. S w i n g e r " T h e U n i t e d S t a t e s * F o u r t h N a t i o n a l C o n f e r e n c e on C h i l d A b u s e a n d N e g l e c t . " C h i l d Abus e a n d N e g l e c t . 1 9 8 0 , 4 , p p .161 - 168 .
K uhn , T . S . The S t r u c t u r e o f S c i e n t i f i c R e v o l u t i o n s (2nd e d . ) . C h i c a g o : U n i v e r s i t y o f C h i c a g o P r e s s , 1 9 7 0 .
L a u d e r d a l e , H. A . , A. V a l i u n a s a n d R. A n d e r s o n " R a c e , E t h n i c i t y , a n d C h i l d M a l t r e a t m e n t : An E m p i r i c a l A n a l y s i s . "C h i l d Abuse a n d N e g l e c t . 1 9 8 0 , 4 , p p . 1 6 3 - 1 6 9 .
L e v e n t h a 1 , J -M . " R e s e a r c h S t r a t e g i e s a n d M e t h o d o l o g i c S t a n d a r d s i n S t u d i e s o f R i s k F a c t o r s f o r C h i l d A b u s e . ” Ch i l d A buse a n d N e g l e c t . 1 9 8 2 , 6 , p p . 1 1 3 - 1 2 3 .
L e v i t t , J . L . a n d H . J . R e i d " R a p i d - A s s e s s m e n t I n s t r u m e n t s f o r P r a c t i c e . " S o c i a l Work R e s e a r c h a n d A b s t r a c t s .1 9 8 1 , 17 , p p . 1 3 - 1 9 .
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M i l n e r , J - S . a n d B . C . l i m b e r l e y " P r e d i c t i o n a n d E x p l a n a t i o n o f C h i l d A b u s e - " J o u r n a l o f C l i n i c a l P s y c h o l o g y . 1 9 8 0 ( b ) , 3 6 , p p . 8 7 5 - 8 8 4 .
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H a g i , S . 2- C h i l d M a l t r e a t m e n t i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s : A C h a l l e n g e t o S o c i a l I n s t i t u t i o n s . New Y o r k : C o l u m b i a U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1977 -
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N u n n a l l y , J - C - P s y c h o m e t r i c T h e o r y . New Y o r k : McGraw- H i l l , 1 9 7 8 .
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O r y , M.G. a n d J . A . L . E a r p " C h i l d M a l t r e a t m e n t : An A n a l y s i s o f F a m i l i a l a n d I n s t i t u t i o n a l P r e d i c t o r s . " J o u r n a l o f F a m i l y I s s u e s . 1 9 8 0 , 3 , p p . 3 3 9 - 3 5 6 -
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P o l a n s k y , N-A- Th e A p a t h v - F u t i l i t v S y n d r o m e i n C h i l d Negl e c t : An U r b a n View- W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . : U . S . D e p t , o f H e a l t h , E d u c a t i o n a n d W e l f a r e , 1 9 7 8 .
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P o l a n s k y , N - A - , R .D . B orgm an a n d C. D e S a i x T h e B o o t s o f F u t i l i t y . S a n F r a n c i s c o : J o s s e y - B a s s , I n c . , 19 7 2 .
P o l a n s k y , N - A . , M- C h a l m e r s , E- B u t t e n w i e s e r a n d D. W i l l i a m s . " A s s e s s i n g A d e q u a c y o f C h i l d C a r i n g : An U r b a n S c a l e . " C h i l d W e l f a r e . 1 9 7 8 , 5 7 , p p . 4 3 9 - 4 4 9 .
P o l a n s k y , N. A . , M. A. C h a l m e r s , E. B u t t e n w i e s e r a n d D . P . W i l l i a m s " T h e A b s e n t F a t h e r i n C h i l d N e g l e c t - " S o c i a l S e r v i c e R e v i e w , 1 9 7 9 , 5 3 , p p . 1 6 3 - 1 7 4 .
P o l a n s k y , N - A - , C . D e S a i x a n d S - A - S h a r l i n C h i l d N e g l e c t : Un d e r s t a n d i n g a n d R e a c h i n g t h e P a r e n t . New Y o r k : C h i l dW e l f a r e L e a g u e o f A m e r i c a , 1 9 7 2 .
P o l a n s k y , N - A . , C. D e S a i x a n d M.L. Wing " C h i l d N e g l e c t i n a R u r a l C o m m u n i t y . " S o c i a l C a s e w o r k . 1 9 6 8 , 4 9 , p p . 4 6 7 - 4 7 4.
P o l a n s k y , N . A . , C. D o r o f f , E. K r a m e r , D. H e s s a n d L . P o l - l a n e " P u b l i c O p i n i o n a n d I n t e r v e n t i o n i n C h i l d N e g l e c t . " S o c i a l Work R e s e a r c h a n d A b s t r a c t s , 1 9 7 8 , 1 4 , p p . 1 1 - 1 6 .
P o l a n s k y , N. A. a n d J . H. G a u d i n , J r . " S o c i a l D i s t a n c i n g .o f t h e N e g l e c t f u l F a m i l y . " S o c i a l S e r v i c e R e v i e w . 1 9 8 3 ,5 7 , p p . 1 9 6 - 2 0 8 .
P o l a n s k y , N . A . , C- R a l l y a n d N- F. P o l a n s k y C h i l d N e g l e c t s M o b i l i z i n g S e r v i c e s . W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . z U . S . D e p t , o f H e a l t h a n d Human S e r v i c e s , 1 9 7 8 .
P o l a n s k y , N .A . a n d L . P o l l a n e " M e a s u r i n g A d e q u a c y o f C h i l d C a r i n g : F u r t h e r D e v e l o p m e n t s . " C h i l d W e l f a r e , 1975 ,5 4 , p p . 3 5 4 - 3 5 9 -
- 2 0 9 -
P o l a n s k y , N.A. a n d D - P - W i l l i a m s " C l a s s O r i e n t a t i o n s t o C h i l d N e g l e c t . " S o c i a l W ork . 1 9 7 8 , 2 3 , p p . 3 9 7 - 4 0 1 .
P u c k e t t , S A n n u a l R e p o r t o f Home H e a l t h S e r v i c e s . O h i o D e p a r t m e n t o f H e a l t h , 1 9 7 9 .
2 u a y , H .C . a n d J . S . K e r r y P s v c h o p a t h o l o q i c a l D i s o r d e r s o f C h i l d h o o d (2 n d e d . J . New Y o r k : J o h n W i l e y a n d S o n s , 1 9 7 9 .
R i n a f l e i s c h , N. " E x p l o r i n g t h e V a l i d i t y o f M u l t i c a u s a l M o d e l s i n P r o b l e m A n a l y s i s : T h e C a s e o f C h i l d A b u s e . "J o u r n a l o f S o c i o l o gy a n d S o c i a l W e l f a r e . 1 9 7 9 , .6 , p p . 4 7 1 - 4 9 0 .
R o g e r s , S . " E n f o r c e d S o c i a l I s o l a t i o n a s a C o n t r i b u t o r y F a c t o r i n C h i l d A b u s e . " C h i l d A b u s e a n d N e g l e c t . 1 9 8 0 , 4 , p p . 3 9 - 4 4 .
R o s e n , H- " H on W o r k e r s Ose C u e s t o D e t e r m i n e C h i l d A b u s e . " S o c i a l Work R e s e a r c h a n d A b s t r a c t s . 1 9 8 1 , 1 7 , p p . 2 7 - 3 3 -
Rummel , R - J . Ap p l i e d F a c t o r A n a l y s i s . E v a n s t o n , 1 1 1 . : N o r t h w e s t e r n U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 7 0 .
S c h e f f , T . J . l a b e l i n g o f B a d n e s s . E n g l e w o o d C l i f f s , N . J . : P r e n t i c e - H a l l , I n c . , 1 9 7 5 .
S e a b u r g , J . R . P h y s i c a l C h i l d A b u s e : An E x p a n d e d A n a l y s i s . S a r a t o g a , C a l i f . : C e n t u r y T w e n t y One P u b . , 1 9 8 0 .
S i p o r i n , H. I n t r o d u c t i o n t o S o c i a l Work P r a c t i c e . New Y o r k : M a c M i l l a n P u b . C o . , I n c . , 1 9 7 5 .
S m i t h , M - J . " E c o n o m i c C o n d i t i o n s i n S i n g l e - P a r e n t F a m i l i e s : A L o n g i t u d i n a l P e r s p e c t i v e . ” S o c i a l Work R e s e a r c h an d A b s t r a c t s . 1 9 8 0 , 1 6 , p p . 2 0 - 2 4 .
S m i t h , S - f l . T h e M a l t r e a t m e n t o f C h i l d r e n . B a l t i m o r e , Md-: U n i v e r s i t y P a r k P r e s s , 1 9 7 8 .
S p i t z e r , R . L . , H. G i b b o n a n d J . E n d i c o t t " G l o b a l A s s e s s m e n t S c a l e . " I n H a r g r e a v e s , W- A . , C .C . A t t k i n s s o n a n d J . E . S o r e n s e n ( e d s . ) R e s o u r c e M a t e r i a l s f o r C o m m u n i ty Men t a l Hea l t h P r o g r a m E v a l u a t i o n ( 2 n d e d . ) . W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . : U .S . D e p t , o f H e a l t h , E d u c a t i o n a n d W e l f a r e , 1979 -
S t e i n , T . J - S o c i a l K ork P r a c t i c e i n C h i l d W e l f a r e . E n g l e wood C l i f f s , N . J . : P r e n t i c e - H a l l , I n c . , 1 9 8 1 .
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S t u a r t , R .B . T r i c k o r T r e a t m e n t : How a n d When P s y c h o t h e r a py F a i l s . C h a m p a i g n , 1 1 1 . : B e s e a r c h P r e s s , 1 9 7 0 .
S t u d y f i n d i n g s : N a t i o n a l S t u d y o f t h e I n c i d e n c e a n d S e v e r i t y o f C h i l d A b u s e a n d N e g l e c t . (DHHS P u b l i c a t i o n No. (OHDS) 8 1 - 3 0 3 2 5 ) , U . S . D e p t , o f H e a l t h a n d Human S e r v i
c e s , 19 8 1 .
S w e e t , J . J . a n d P. A. B e s i c k " T h e M a l t r e a t m e n t o f C h i l d r e n : A R e v i e w o f T h e o r i e s a n d R e s e a r c h . " J o u r n a l o f S o c i a l I s s u e s , 1 9 7 9 , 3 5 , p p . 4 0 - 5 7 .
W a t s o n , J . B e h a v i o r i s m . C h i c a g o : U n i v e r s i t y o f C h i c a g o P r e s s , 1 9 2 4 .
W h i t t i n g t o n , R . , K. D in g m a n a n d J . Dingman " J u d g m e n t A n a l y s i s o f One S o c i a l W o r k e r * s D e c i s i o n s t o H e l p o r Not t o H e l p . " C h i l d W e l f a r e - 1 9 7 4 , 5 3 , p p . 8 3 - 9 2 .
W i l s o n , H . I . , M- D a l y a n d S . J . B e g h o r s t " H o u s e h o l d Compos i t i o n and t h e R i s k o f C h i l d A b u s e a n d N e g l e c t . " J o u r n a l o f B i o s o c i a l S c i e n c e s . 1 9 8 0 , 1 2 , p p - 3 3 3 - 3 4 0 .
W o lo c k , I . a n d B. H o r o w i t z F a c t o r s R e l a t i n g t o L e v e l s o f C h i l d C a r e among F a m i l i e s R e c e i v i n g P u b l i c A s s i s t a n c e i n New J e r s e y : F i r s t R e p o r t . M i l w a u k e e , W i s - : R e g i o n Vc h i l d A b u s e G N e g l e c t R e s o u r c e C e n t e r , 1 9 7 7 .
W o l o c k , I - a n d B. H o r o w i t z " C h i l d M a l t r e a t m e n t a n d M a t e r i a l D e p r i v a t i o n among A F D C - R e c i p i e n t F a m i l i e s . " S o c i a l S e r v i c e R e v i e w . 1 9 7 9 , 5 3 , p p . 1 7 5 - 1 9 4 .
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I t e m s a n d S c o r i n g
Part A - Physical Care
General Positive Child Care
1. Mother plans at least one meal consisting of two courses.
2. Mother uses good judgment about leaving child alone in the house.
3. Mother plans for variety in foods.
4. Mother sometimes leaves child to insufficiently older sibling
5. Mother plans meals with courses that go together
6. The child receives at least 9 hours of sleep most nights.
7. Child is offered food at fixed time each day
8. Bedtime for the child is set by the parents for about the same time each night
9. Mother has evidenced lack of awareness of child's possible dental needs.
10. Mother expresses concern about feeding child balanced diet.
11. Mother enforces rules about going into the street.
1 2 . Child has been taught own address.
2 1 4
Key toScoring
Yes No
13. Child is taught to swim or mother believes child should be taught toswim. 1
14. Mother will never leave child alone inthe house. 1
15. Mother uses thermometer with child. 1
II. State of Repair of House.
16. Storm sashes or equivalent are present 1
17. . Windows are caulked or sealed againstdrafts. 1
18. Doors are weatherproofed. 1
19. House is dilapidated. 1
20. There are window screens in good repairin most windows. 1
21. Wood floors are cracked and splintered. 1
22.- There are screen doors properly mounted. 1
23. There is an operating electric sweeper. 1
24. Floor covering presents tripping hazard. 1
25. Living room doubles as a bedroom. 1
III. Negligence (Reciprocal Meaning).
26. There are food scraps on the floor andfurniture. 1
215
Key toScoring
Yes No
27. Child 5 years or older sleeps in room with parents.
28. At least one of the children sleeps inthe same bed as parents.
29. Mother plans special meals for specialoccasions.
30. Windows have been cracked or brokenover a month without repair. 1
31. Clothing usually appears to behand-me-downs 1
32. Buttons and snaps of child's clothing arefrequently missing and not replaced 1
IV. Quality of Household Maintenance.
33. There are dirty dishes and utensils inrooms other than the kitchen. 1
34. There are leaky faucets. 1
35. The roof (or ceiling) leaks. 1
36. The floors of the house appear to be swepteach day. 1
37. Bathroom seems to be cleaned regularly. 1
38. Mother takes precautions in the storageof medicine. 1
39. Mattresses are in obviously poor condition. 1
40. Repairs one usually makes oneself are leftundone. 1
1
1
1
2 1 6
Key toScoring
Yes No
V. Quality of Health Care and Grooming.
41. Mother has encouraged child to wash handsbefore meals. 1
42. Ears are usually clean. 1
43. Mother mentions she makes effort to get child to eat foods not preferred becausethey are important to child's nutrition. 1
44. Poisonous or dangerous sprays and cleaningfluids are stored out of child's reach. 1
45. Mother has encouraged child to wash handsafter using toilet. 1
46. Mother cautions child to be careful offlaking paint. 1
47. It is obvious that mother has givenattention to child's grooming at home. 1
Part B - Emotional/Cognitive Care
VI. Encouraging Competence.
48. Planned overnight vacation trip has been taken by family.
49. Child has been taken by parents to see some well known historical or cultural building.
50. Child has been taken by parents to see a spectator sport.
51. Mother mentions that in the last year she has: taught the child something aboutnature; told the child a story; read a story to the child.
52. Family has taken child downtown.
53. Chid has been taken by parents to seevarious animals.
54. Child has been taken by parents to a carnival.
55. Mother is tuned into child's indirect emotional signals.
56. Mother mentions that she has played games with the child.
57. Mother mentions use of TV to teach child.
58. Child has been taken by parents to aparade.
59. A prayer is said before some meals.
60. Mother‘comforts the child when he is upset.
61. There are magazines available.
62. The family owns a camera.
63. The child says prayers at bedtime.
64. Child has been taken to children's movie.
65. Mother mentions that she answers child's questions about how things work.
66. Child has been taken by parents to the firehouse.
67. Child has been taken fishing.
. Inconsistency of Discipline and Coldness (Reciprocal Meaning).
68. Mother seems not to follow through on rewards.
218
Key toScoring
Yes No
69. Mother mentions that she cannot get childto mind. 1
70. Child is often ignored when he tries to tellmother something. 1
71. The child is often pushed aside when heshows need for love. 1
72. Mother seems not to follow through onthreatened punishments. 1
73. Spanking is sometimes with an object. 1
74. Mother threatens punishment by imaginedor real fright object. 1
75. Very frequently no action is taken whendiscipline is indicated. 1
76. Mother frequently screams at child. 1
77. Mother is made uncomfortable by child'sdemonstration of affection. 1
78. Mother complains a lot about life. 1
79. Mother mandates child's play according tosex ( i.e. girls may play only with dolls) 1
80. Child is never allowed to make a mess. 1
81. Dolls are available to the child for play. 1
VII. Encouraging Superego Development.
82. Mother expresses to the child her concern forchild's safety if there is a real danger. 1
83. There is a designated area for play. 1
84. Parents guard language in front ofchildren. 1
85. Child is immediately spanked for running into the street.
86. Mother mentions child asks questions showing curiosity about how things work.
87. Child is taught to be respectful of adults.
88. Mother puts child to bed.
89. Mother mentions that she limits child's TV watching.
90. Child is encouraged to care for own toys.
91. Child is taught to respect property of others.
92. Mother expresses pride in daughter's femininity or son's masculinity.
93. Mother is able to show physical affection to child comfortably.
94. There are books for adults in the house.
95. An effort is made to provide choices for the child.
. Material Giving.
96. Crayons are made available to the child.
97. A play shovel is available to the child.
98. Child is sometimes rewarded for good behavior with a treat.
99. The child has a book of his own.
November 19, 1982
Mr. Harold Clark Executive Secretary Fairfield County Children Services Court House - 4th Floor Lancaster, OH 43130
Dear Mr. Clark:Enclosed is a brief description of a study proposed by Robert Foulk, a doctoral student at The Ohio State University College of Social Work.He proposes to examine several topics having to do with child neglect.This type of maltreatment has not received nearly the research attention that has been afforded child abuse, even though neglect cases significantly outnumber abuse cases.
As of November 15, Mr. Foulk had commenced data collection in two of Ohio's largest metropolitan counties and four medium sized counties. His plans involve soliciting the participation of two more medium sized counties and ten of Ohio's smallest counties. The total sample of cases from all of the sixteen to eighteen counties will be 600.In order to answer the questions he has proposed for this study, Mr. Foulk must enlist the assistance and cooperation of childrens' services child protective staff. He needs to have workers who investigate reported cases of maltreatment complete two data collection forms: one at the initial investigation and another when a more complete family summary is developed. Both of these Instruments will summarize the information which would typically be obtained by workers conducting an investigation in a structured format, and should not represent an extensive time demand for workers.I have suggested to Mr. Foulk that he attempt to solicit your agency's participation in his study. This would involve the collection of information on up to25cases. He will be contacting you by telephone within the next week to ten days to answer any questions you may have regarding the research. If you would be agreeable to discussing this project further, you might consider a time at which he could meet with you or a person designated by you.
Very sincerely,
Nolan Rindfleisch, Ph.D. Associate Professor
NR/cg
Enclosure
222
Introduction
Child neglect is the "step-child" in the field of child maltreatment, even though the ratio of occurrence for child neglect compared to abuse is approximately 5 to 1. Feeling that attention is much in need for the Step
child, this study proposes to address three research issues concerning child neglect. It is the aim of this study to expand the knowledge base for the problem of child neglect in a manner which has both theoretical and practical rele
vance.Three specific products axe to result from this research:1. A rapid assessment instrument to determine the degree of risk of
child neglect in a family:2. A causal model for child neglect which will highlight not only
causal factors, but also their relative causal contribution: and3. A service-delivery-relevant classification system for neglecting
families.
Research Objectives
1. Construction of an instrument for assessing the degree of neglect
risk in a family based on a list of literature-defined indicators of child neglect.
2. Collection of data from child protection investigators using the risk assessment instrument.
3. Develop an instrument which will be used by child welfare workers to gather data during their conprehensive investigations which
follow a finding of abuse or neglect.4. Collection of detailed family data for all families identified as
maltreating.
223
5. Item and criterion-related analysis of neglect-risk assessment instrument.
6. Analysis of detailed family data for verification and/or revision of causal model for child neglect.
7. Analysis of cases for the purpose of constructing intervention
relevant classification of neglecting families.
Data CollectionTwo data collection phases will be necessary to achieve these objectives:1. Use by child welfare Investigators of an instrument which will pro
vide the basic data for construction of the rapid assessment instrument.
2. Use by child welfare workers of a structured instrument for recording
data which they would collect as part of their investigation forthe compilation of comprehensive social service summary for a
family.
SamplingSince this study requires that data be gathered during the course of
actual protective investigations and agency follow-up investigations for cases
determined to be maltreating, the study will use all cases which come to the agency's attention during a one to two month data collection period. No sample will be drawn in the conventional sense of sampling. The cases used will be considered a population of cases for the time period of the data collection, and will be examined for demographic similarity to prior agency cases to determine whether they can be justifiably considered a sample of all cases which
have come to the agency's attention.The time period is indefinite because it is not possible to precisely
-2-
224
determine how many cases of maltreatment will be reported to the agency during any time period. In addition, it will not be necessary for the researcher to access agency files himself, or to contact agency clients in any way.
Potential Benefits to AgencyThe first and third phases of the research will generate products which
have direct relevance to service delivery in child welfare. A rapid assessment instrument for determination of the degree of risk of neglect would help stand
ardize the process of making neglect determinations. As a rule, making a decision with the assistance of an empirical aid is less problematic than doing so without such assistance (presuming the aid is a valid measure). Additionally, if meaningful typologies for neglecting families can be derived, such
typologies could provide the basis for a triage of cases at intake which would result in immediate intervention based upon the service delivery model(s) deemed likely to be effective, given the family's classification.
- 3 -
22 6
MALTREATMENT STUDY - INSTRUMENT I! I I I 1 1 I !
case numberI. Information from Ohio Central Registry Report
Note; All Information on this page and page 2 Is to be transferred directly from the Child Abuse/Neglect Report for the Ohio Registry.
Caretaker(s)Name (first only Aqe Role Sex Ethn. Coders Only1.2.
Other Peroetrator Aqe R.C. Sex Ethn.3.
Alleqed Vlctem(s) AqeB.C. 1 2 Sex Ethn.
A.B.C.D.E.F.
Total number of minor children In home: ___Caretaker Address
Street Address___________________Z1o Code
Name of Person Completing Form: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ L_L_L_ _Nature of Complaint: ______________________________Referral Source (record only circled letter): _ _ _ _ _ LDetermination of Case Status (circle appropriate letters):A - Abuse Substantiated E - Neglect SubstantiatedB - Abuse Unsubstantiated F - Neglect UnsubstantiatedC - Abuse Unsubstantiated - Cannot Locate G - Neglect Unsubstantiated - Cannot LocateD - Abuse Indicated H - Neglect Indicated
I - Dependency [ |
***N0TE: Complete page two for all families.
227
*** NOTE: This page Is to be filled out for alj_ families.
Typt ol
Ml A
a> A
□) A
M A
Oi A
1C A
m A
ta A
(9) A
a n A
mu A
(171 A
Maltreatment
B C 0 E
B C 0 E
B C 0 E B C 0 E B C D E B C D E
B C 0 E
8 C 0 E fi C 0 E B C 0 E B C D E B C D E
tin A
a n A 0
a s A B
a s A B C
n o A B C
04) A 6 C
a s A B C
(Circle til that apply for each cftikD F firam Damage/Skun Fracture
F Subdural Hematoma/Hemorrhage
F Bone Fracture
F DWocattaft/Sorama
F Internal Injuries
F PotsoninQ
F fiums/Scatda
F Severe Lacerations/Bruises/Wef Is
F MfnorCuts/Brutses
F TwistingfShsking
F Hair Putting
F Other Physical injury (Specify)
M S A B C 0 E F
(141 A B C 0 E F
(is A 6 C 0 E F
m s A 6 C 0 E F
incestExploitation
Rapa
Otnar Saaual Maltraatmant (Specify)
C 0 E F
n s A B C 0 E F
<t»t A 8 C 0 E F
oot A B C 0 E F
E F
E F
E F
E F
E F
E F
an A B C D E F
>• Fatality
MJ A B C 0 E F
(S A 8 C 0 E F
Inadequate Nourishment
inadequate Shelter
Inadaquata Clothing
Inadaquata Haattti Cara
Inadaquata Supervision
Educational Naglact
Failure to Thrive
Emotional Maltraatmant
Abandonmant
TymgOoae Confinement
Otnar (Specify)
Fatal
NonfatS
Empioymant SUtua (Circia ona letter tor each caretaker.)CARETAKER 2 A • Empioyad FutMtme
fi • Empioyad ParMime
C • Unampioyad 0 • Not in the Labor Forca
CARETAKER 1 A • Empioyad FuH-hme
B • Empioyad Part-time
C • Unampioyad
D • Not m the Labor Forca
• Pubiie Aaaiatanca SUtua A • Receiving P. A.
0 • Not Racaivmg P. A.
' Family Strtat Factor* (Greta Si th s apply.)A - AJcohot Abuta
fi • OniQ Abuaa
C ♦ Madieat/^iyaicai OtsabUity ol Caretaker
0 • MadtcaiiPhyatcS Oiaabdity of Child
E • Mantat Retardation of Caratakar
F - MantS Retardation of CNkJ
0 * Mantat/Emobonat Problem of Caratakar
H - MantS/EmotionS Problem ol Cfwld
1 - Economic/Physical Living Condition (Specify)
J • Spouae Abuse
K * Inability to Copa with Parenting
L • Otanrption of Family Structure
M - New BabyfPragnancy
N • Otbar (Specify) -----------
Sarvicca Provided (Cirda SI that apply.)A * Servicea EipeetediPianned • Not Provided Yet
Emergency ShStar Cara
tmmadiata Medical
Ceaework CounaSing Cnrmntl Action Taken
FamUy/Juveniie Court Action Taken
Foster Cara
Institutions Cara
I » Oay CaraJ * Homemaker/Home HaSth Axs/Homa Management
K * Mental Health Counseling
L • Other (Specify) - ------------
CodersI 2 '3
Only t s e 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 IS IS 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2S 26 27
i :fl f t el <2 pa a b e d a f (7 h i a k I m n
1 1 1a b c d e f h i ,7 k I
228
3
I I . Assessment Checklist
IMPORTANT
1. C ircle a l l responses except fo r Item number ten under each category of cond itions.
2. When I t 1s necessary to complete Item ten fo r any cond ition category , be sure th a t the fiv epercent estim ates entered to ta l 100.
3. When evaluating Item one through four fo r each category o f c o nd itions , consider the catego ries as having the following meaning.
a . not a condition - In v es tig a to r Is reasonably sure th e condition Is not p resen t;
b. possib ly a condition - In v es tig a to r has grounds fo r suspecting th a t a condition 1s p re sen t,but documentary evidence Is weak;
c . l ik e ly a condition - In v es tig a to r has evidence which conclusively or very strong lydocuments the presence of the cond ition ; o r ,
d. cannot determine - evidence fo r e i th e r confirming the condition o r re fu tin g the presenceo f th e condition 1s not apparent o r av a ila b le .
4 . Although a l l Items a re w ritten 1n s in g u la r form, they a re meant to apply to s i tu a tio n s wheremore than one ch ild o r careg iver 1s Involved.
5. For Items f iv e through n in e , e i th e r th e "1" o r the "7" should be c irc le d I f the conditionsobserved are best described by one o f th e two " s ta te s " l i s te d a t each end o f the nunbered continuum. The numbers between the two extremes In d ica te a range o f In te n s ity o f e i th e r seriousness, frequency of occurrence o r like lihood o f a consequence, with ”4" represen ting the midpoint on th e continuum.
6 . Boxed te x t contains In s tru c tio n s ; p lease read c a re fu lly .
7. Make your responses r e f le c t your best p ro fessional ju d jn en ts .
KEY DEFINITIONS
Conditions - s ta te s o r circumstances e ffe c tin g o r possib ly e ffe c tin g the w ell-being o f a c h ild .
Flawed Adult - an indiv idual who Is p h y s ica lly , em otionally and/or In te lle c tu a lly Impared In terms o f h is /h e r a b i l i ty to cope w ith ad u lt l i f e and r e s p o n s ib il i t ie s .
Personal D eficiency - fa c to rs such as physical handicaps, in te lle c tu a l l im ita tio n s , 1m a tu r i ty or psychological I l l n e s s , e tc .
Resource Deficiency - fa c to rs such as a lack o f tra n s p o r ta tio n , a lack of support from fam ily and fr ien d s o r a lack o f money, e tc . Does not re fe r to public re sou rces .
229
A. In ten tiona l Physical In ju ry Conditions: What 1s the lik e lih o o d th a t th e following conditions arepresent?
1. Child has been struck as punishment.
a . not a condition c . lik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d. cannot determine
2. Child has been struck w ith hands o r has been kicked by careg iver.
a . not a condition c . lik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine
3. Child has been struck w ith an ob jec t by careg iver.
a . not a condition c . lik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine
4. Other In ten tio n a l physical In ju ry cond itions , ( l i s t 1f sijspected o r p r e s e n t )_____________________
a . no o ther conditions c . l ik e ly a condition
b . possib ly a condition d . cannot determine
FOR THE FOLLOWING SIX QUESTIONS YOUR JUOGMENTS SHOULD REFLECT THE OVERALL CONDITION RELATING TO
PHYSICAL INJURY ONLY. IF "b“ OR "c" HAS NOT BEEN CIRCLED FOR ANY OF THE PRECEDING FOUR ITEMS,
PROCEED TO THE TOP OF THE NEXT PAGE AND BEGIN THE NEXT SET OF QUESTIONS.
5. To what degree do observed o r suspected conditions c o n s ti tu te s problem?
No problem 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extreme problem
6. What do you Judge to be the l ik e ly frequency o f occurrence o f observed o r suspected conditions?
Occurred once 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Occurs co nstan tly
7. What 1s the likelihood th a t observed o r suspected conditions could re s u l t 1n short-term harm (harmwhich Is t ra n s ito ry and 1s not H fe -th rea ten ln g o r l ik e ly to re s u l t 1n a "flawed ad u lt" )?
Not lik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely l ik e ly
8. What 1s the likelihood th a t observed o r suspected conditions could re s u l t 1n long-term harm (harm which would r e s u lt In a "flawed adu lt* )?
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely l ik e ly
9. What 1s th e likelihood th a t observed o r suspected conditions could re s u l t 1n a c h i ld 's death?
Hot lik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely l ik e ly
10. What percent o f "cause" fo r the observed o r suspected conditions could be a ttr ib u te d to each o f thef iv e catego ries of "cause" l i s te d below? (your f iv e estim ates must to ta l 100)
a . knowledge defic iency regarding appropria te ch ild care
b . personal defic iency o f careg iver ( l i s t ) ______________
c. resource defic iency ( 1 1 s t ) ___________________;________
d. subcultural and/or H fe - s ty le values and p rac tic es
e . o ther ( l i s t ) _______________________________________
Total 100
230
B. Sexual Maltreatment Conditions: What 1s the like lihood th a t the following conditions are present?
1. Child has had sexual re la tio n s with parent o r guardian.
a . not a condition c. l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d. cannot determine !____!
2. Child has had sexual re la tio n s with o ther r e la tiv e o r fr ien d o f parent o r guardian.
a . not a condition c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine 1____!
3. Child has had sexual re la tio n s w ith a s ib lin g .
a . not a condition c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine I___ i
4. Other sexual maltreatment cond itions, ( l i s t I f suspected o r p resen t) ___________________________________
a. no o th e r conditions c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine I I 1
FOR THE FOLLOWING SIX QUESTIONS YOUR JUDGMENTS SHOULD REFLECT THE OVERALL CONDITION RELATING TO
SEXUAL MALTREATMENT ONLY. IF "b” OR "c" WAS NOT CIRCLED FOR ANY OF THE PRECEDING FOUR ITEMS.
PROCEED TO THE TOP OF THE NEXT PAGE AND BEGIN THE NEXT SET OF QUESTIONS.
5. To what degree do observed o r suspected condtt1ons_ constitu te a problem?
No problem 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extreme problem
6. What do you Judge to be the lik e ly frequency o f occurrence o f observed o r suspected conditions?
Occurred once 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Occurs constan tly
7. What 1s the likelihood th a t observed o r suspected cond itions could r e s u lt 1n short-term harm (harmwhich 1s tra n s ito ry and 1s not l if e - th re a te n in g o r lik e ly to r e s u l t In a "flawed ad u lt" )?
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely lik e ly
8. What i s the likelihood th a t observed o r suspected cond itions could re s u l t In long-term harm (harm which would r e s u lt 1n a "flawed a d u lt" )?
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely lik e ly
9. What Is the likelihood th a t observed o r suspected cond itions could re s u l t 1n a c h i ld 's death?
Not lik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely lik e ly
10. What percent of "cause" fo r the observed o r suspected cond itions could be a ttr ib u te d to each o f the f iv e categories of “cause” l is te d below? (your f iv e estim ates must to ta l 100)
a . knowledge defic iency regarding app rop ria te ch ild care______ ■ _______
b. personal defic iency o f careg iver ( l i s t ) __________________ * _______________ ! _
c . resource defic iency ( l i s t ) _______________________________ ' _______________ ■_
d. subcultural and/or H fe -s ty le values and p ra c tic es
e . o ther ( l i s t ) _______________________________________
Total » 100
231
C. Supervision Conditions: What 1s the likelihood th a t the following cond itions a re present?
1. Child l e f t to be cared fo r by o thers w ithout sp ec ific arrangements having been made by careg iver.
a . not a condition c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d. cannot determine__________________________________________ !____!
2. Child l e f t 1n care o f another ch ild too young o r otherwise not ab le to be a responsib le careg iver.
a . not a condition c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine I____1
3. Child l e f t fo r long periods o f time e i th e r unattended o r Inadequately supervised.
a . not a condition c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine I____1
4. Other supervisory cond itions. (11st I f suspected o r p re s e n t )_____________________ _____________________
a . no o th e r conditions c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine I I I
FOR THE FOLLOWING SIX QUESTIONS YOUR JUDGMENTS SHOULD REFLECT THE OVERALL CONDITION RELATING TO
SUPERVISORY CONDITIONS ONLY. IF “b" OR “e" HAS NOT BEEN CIRCLED FOR ANY OF THE PRECEDING FOUR
ITEMS, PROCEED TO THE TOP OF TIE NEXT PAGE AND BEGIN THE NEXT SET OF QUESTIONS.
5. To what degree do observed o r suspected conditions constltue a problem?
No problem 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extreme problem I____1
6 . What do you Judge to be th e l ik e ly frequency o f occurrence o f observed o r suspected conditions?
Occurred once 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Occurs constan tly______________________________________ I____ I
7. What Is the likelihood th a t observed o r suspected conditions could re s u l t In short-te rm harm (harmwhich Is t ra n s ito ry and 1s not 11fe-threaten1ng o r lik e ly to re s u l t In a “flawed ad u lt")7
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely lik e ly !____!
8. What 1s the like lihood th a t observed o r suspected conditions could re s u l t In long-term harm (harm which would r e s u l t In a “flawed a d u lt“)?
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely l ik e ly I____I
g. What 1s the like lihood th a t observed o r suspected conditions could r e s u lt 1n a c h i ld 's death?
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely l ik e ly I____I
10. What percent o f “causd1 fo r th e observed o r suspected conditions could be a ttr ib u te d to each of thefiv e catego ries o f “cause” l i s te d below? (your f iv e estim ates must to ta l 100)
a . knowledge defic iency regarding appropria te ch ild care * _______
b. personal defic iency of careg iver ( l i s t ) ___________________ ■ _______ L
c . resource defic iency ( l i s t ) _________________________________■ _______ L
d. subcultural and/or H fe -s ty le values and p rac tic es *________
e. other (11st)________________________________________ * _______ L
Total * 100
232
D. Moral Development Conditions: What 1s the like lihood th a t the following conditions a re present?
1. Caregiver aware o f Inappropriate and/or delinquent behavior and 1s n e ith e r supportive nor discouraging of such behavior.
a. not a condition c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine
2. Caregiver 1s promiscuous and does not hide behavior from c h ild .
a . not a condition c . lik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine
3. Caregiver encourages Inappropriate o r delinquent behavior.
a . not a condition c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine
4. Other moral development cond itions, ( l i s t ) ________________________________________________
a . no o th e r conditions c . lik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine
1 1
1 1
1 1
1 I I
FOR THE FOLLOWING SIX QUESTIONS YOUR JUDGMENTS SHOULD REFLECT THE OVERALL CONDITION RELATING TO
MORAL DEVELOPMENT ONLY. IF "b" OR "c" HAS NOT BEEN CIRCLED FOR ANY OF THE PRECEDING FOUR ITEMS,
PROCEED TO THE TOP OF THE NEXT PAGE AND BEGIN THE NEXT SET OF QUESTIONS.
5. To what degree do observed o r suspected cond itions co n s ti tu te s problem?
No problem 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extreme problem
6. What do you judge to be the l ik e ly frequency o f occurrence o f observed o r suspected conditions?
Occurred once 1 2 3 4 - 5 6 7 Occurs constan tly
7. What 1s the like lihood th a t observed o r suspected conditions could r e s u lt In sho rt-te rm harm (harm which 1s tra n s ito ry and 1s not life - th re a te n in g o r l ik e ly to re s u l t In a "flawed a d u lt" )?
Not lik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely l ik e ly
8. What 1s the likelihood th a t observed o r suspected conditions could r e s u lt 1n long-term harm (harm which would r e s u lt 1n a "flawed a d u lt" )?
Not lik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely l ik e ly
9. What i s the like lihood th a t observed o r suspected conditions could r e s u l t 1n a c h i ld 's death?
Not lik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely l ik e ly
10. What percent o f "cause" fo r the observed o r suspected conditions could be a ttr ib u te d to each o f the f iv e categories o f "cause" l i s te d below? (your f iv e estim ates must to ta l 100)
a . knowledge deficiency regarding appropria te ch ild care
b. personal deficiency o f careg iver (11st) ______________
c. resource deficiency (11st) ___________________________
d. subcu ltu ral and/or l i f e - s ty le values and p rac tices
e . o th e r (11st) __________________________________________
Total 100
1 1
1 1
233
E. Medical/Dental Conditions: What 1s the lik e lih o o d th a t the following conditions a re present?
1. Child 1s c le a r ly 111 o r In ju red , o r has o ther medical problems but has not tecelved medical a t te n tio n .
a . not a condition c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine l_
2 . Child has not been adequately vaccinated a g a in st severe d iseases such as p o lio .
a . not a condition c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determ ine !_
3. Child has obvious dental c a v i tie s o r o ther no ticeab le dental problem.
a . no o th e r conditions c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine l_
4. Other m edical/dental cond itions. (11st 1f suspected o r p resen t)__________________________________________
a . no o th e r conditions c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine I____ j_
FOR THE FOLLOWING SIX QUESTIONS YOUR JUDGMENTS SHOULD REFLECT THE OVERALL CONDITION RELATING TO
MEDICAL/DENTAL CONDITIONS ONLY. IF "b" OR "c" HAS NOT BEEN CIRCLED FOR ANY OF THE PRECEDING
FOUR ITEMS, PROCEED TO THE TOP OF THE NEXT PAGE AND BEGIN THE NEXT SET OF QUESTIONS.
5. To what degree do observed o r suspected conditions constitu te a problem?
No problem 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extreme problem_________________________________________ !____ I
6 . What do you judge to be the l ik e ly frequency o f occurrence o f observed o r suspected conditions?
Occurred once 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Occurs co nstan tly I I
7 . What Is the lik e lih o o d th a t observed o r suspected conditions could re s u l t 1n short-term harm (harmwhich Is tra n s ito ry and 1s not lif e - th re a te n in g o r l ik e ly to re s u l t 1n a “flawed ad u lt" )?
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely l ik e ly ________________________________________ 1____ !
8. What 1s the lik e lih o o d th a t observed o r suspected conditions could re s u l t In long-term harm (harm which would r e s u l t In a “flawed a d u lt" )?
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely l ik e ly ________________________________________ I____I
9. What 1s the like lihood th a t observed o r suspected conditions could r e s u l t 1n a c h i ld 's death?
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely l ik e ly ________________________________________ I____ I
10. What percent of “cause* fo r the observed o r suspected conditions could be a ttr ib u te d to each o f thefiv e catego ries o f “cause" l i s te d below? (your f iv e estim ates must to ta l 100)
a . knowledge defic iency regarding app rop ria te ch ild care ■ ______ I 1 !
b . personal defic iency o f careg iver ( 1 1 s t ) ____________________ * ________ !_
c . resource defic iency ( l i s t ) ________________________________ ■ ________ L
d. subcu ltu ra l and/or H fe -s ty le values snd p rac tic es » _______
e . o th e r 1 1 1 s t ) _______________________________________ * ________ L
Total - 100
I__ 11I__ 1I____ !
234
F. N u tritional C onditions: What 1s the likelihood th a t the following conditions a re present?
1. Child does not get re g u la r n ea ls .
a . not a condition c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possibly a co nd ition ' d. cannot determine 1___ 1
2. Food a v a ilab le 1n th e home is Inadequate In q uan tity and/or n u tr i tio n a l q u a lity .
a . not a condition c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine 1___ 1
3. Child appears malnourished and/or excessively underdeveloped fo r age.
a . not a condition c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine I____1
4 . Other n u tr i tio n a l cond itions. (11st 1f suspected o r p resen t) ___________________________________________
a . no o ther conditions c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determ ine / I I I
FOR THE FOLLOWING SIX QUESTIONS YOUR JUDGMENTS SHOULD REFLECT THE OVERALL CONDITION RELATING TO
NUTRITIONAL CONDITIONS ONLY. IF *b" OR "c* HAS NOT BEEN CIRCLED FOR ANY OF THE PRECEDING FOUR
ITEMS, PROCEED TO THE TOP OF THE NEXT PAGE AND BEGIN THE NEXT SET OF QUESTIONS.
5. To what degree do observed o r suspected conditions constitu te a problem?
No problem 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extreme problem
6. What do you judge to be the l ik e ly frequency o f occurrence o f observed o r suspected conditions?
Occurred once 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Occurs constan tly
7. What 1s the like lihood th a t observed o r suspected conditions could r e s u l t 1n sho rt-te rm harm (harmwhich 1s tra n s ito ry and 1s not l if e - th re a te n in g o r lik e ly to r e s u l t 1n a “flawed a d u lt" )?
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely lik e ly
B. What Is th e likelihood th a t observed or suspected conditions could r e s u l t 1n lono-term harm (harm which would re s u lt 1n a “flawed adu1t“)7
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely l ik e ly
9. What 1s th e like lihood th a t observed o r suspected conditions could r e s u l t 1n a c h i ld 's death?
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely lik e ly
10. What percent of “cause* fo r the observed o r suspected cond itions could be a ttr ib u te d to each o f the fiv e catego ries o f “cause* l i s te d below? (your f iv e estim ates must to ta l 100)
a . knowledge deficiency regarding app rop ria te c h ild care » ______
b. personal defic iency o f caregiver ( 1 1 s t ) _____________________■ ________ !_
c . resource defic iency ( l i s t ) _______________________________ ■ _______ !_
d. subcultural and/or l i f e - s ty le values and p ra c tic es___________ ■ _______
e . o ther ( l i s t ) _______________________________________________* _______ !_
Total » 100
235
G. Emotional M altreatment Conditions: What Is the lik e lih o o d th a t the following conditions a re present?
1. Child 1s re je c ted due to caregiver ind iffe rence o r by being o vertly Ingored by careg iver.
a . not a condition c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d. cannot determine
2 . Child 1s to ld th a t she/he Is w orthless and/or unwanted.
a . not a condition c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine
3. Child locked 1n a room o r otherw ise Iso la ted fo r extended periods o f tim e.
a . not a condition c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d. cannot determine
4 . Other emotional maltreatm ent cond itions, ( l i s t 1f suspected o r presen t) __________________
a . no o ther conditions c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d. cannot determine
I !
1 1
I 1
I I I
FOR THE FOLLOWING SIX QUESTIONS YOUR JUDGMENTS SHOULD REFLECT THE OVERALL CONDITION RELATING TO
EMOTIONAL MALTREATMENT ONLY. IF "b“ OR "c“ HAS NOT BEEN CIRCLED FOR ANY OF THE PRECEDING FOUR
ITEMS, PROCEED TO THE TOP OF THE NEXT PAGE AND BEGIN THE NEXT SET OF QUESTIONS.
S. To what degree do observed o r suspected conditions constitu te a problem?
No problem 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extreme problem
G. What do you judge to be the l ik e ly frequency o f occurrence o f observed o r suspected conditions?
Occurred once 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Occurs constantly
7. What 1s th e like lihood th a t observed o r suspected conditions could r e s u l t 1n short-term harm (harmwhich Is tra n s ito ry and 1s not l lf e - tre a te n ln g o r l ik e ly to re s u lt. 1n a "flawed ad u lt )?
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely lik e ly
8. What 1s the like lihood th a t observed o r suspected conditions could re s u l t In long-term harm (harm which would r e s u lt 1n a ‘flawed ad u lt" )?
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely l ik e ly
9. What Is th e like lihood th a t observed o r suspected conditions could re s u l t In a c h i ld 's death?
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely lik e ly
10. What percent o f “cause" fo r the observed o r suspected conditions could be a ttr ib u te d to each of thefiv e catego ries o f 'cause" l i s te d below7 (your f iv e estim ates must to ta l 100)
a . knowledge deficiency regarding app rop ria te ch ild care * _______ !.
b. personal defic iency o f careg iver ( 1 1 s t ) ___________________ * ________ I____ L
c . resource defic iency ( 1 1 s t ) ________________________________ * ________ 1____ L
d. subcu ltu ral and/or H fe -s ty le values and p rac tices
e . o ther (11st) ______________________________________
Total 100
! 1
I____ I
!___1!___!I___!1
2 3 6
H. Drug/Alcohol Conditions: Wh*t 1s the likelihood th a t the following conditions a re present?
I . Drugs and/or alcohol are 1n evidence 1n the home.
a . not a condition c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d. cannot determine !____I
2. Child has used drugs/alcohol In the home with the consent o f the paren ts.
a . not a condition c . lik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d. cannot determine !____!
3. Parent Is a lcoho lic and/or drug ad d ic t.
a . not a condition c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a cond ition d. cannot determine !____ I
4. Other drug/alcohol co nd itions , ( l i s t 1f suspected o r p resent) __________________________________________
a . no o th e r cond itions c . l ik e ly a condition
b . possib ly a condition d . cannot determine I I 1
FOR THE FOLLOWING SI* QUESTIONS YOUR JUDGMENTS SHOULD REFLECT THE OVERALL CONDITION RELATING TO
DRUG/ALCOHOL CONDITIONS ONLY. IF “b* OR ”c" HAS NOT BEEN CIRCLED FOR ANY OF THE PRECEDING FOUR
ITEMS, PROCEED TO THE TOP OF THE NEXT PAGE AND BEGIN THE NEXT SET OF QUESTIONS.
5. To what degree do observed o r suspected conditions constitu te a problem?
No problem 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extreme problem
6. What do you Judge to be the lik e ly frequency o f occurrence o f observed o r suspected conditions?
Occurred once 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Occurs constantly
7. What 1s the like lihood th a t observed o r suspected conditions could r e s u lt 1n short-term harm (harmwhich 1s t ra n s ito ry and 1s not l ife - th re a te n in g o r l ik e ly to r e s u l t 1n a “flawed ad u lt" )?
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely l ik e ly
8. What Is the like lihood th a t observed o r suspected conditions could re s u lt In long-term harm (harm which would re s u l t 1n a “flawed a d u !t“)7
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely l ik e ly
9. What 1s the lik e lih o o d th a t observed o r suspected conditions could re s u lt In a c h i ld 's death?
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely lik e ly
10. What percent o f “cau.se" f o r the observed o r suspected conditions could be a ttr ib u te d to each of thefiv e catego ries o f “cause" l i s te d below? (your f iv e estim ates must to ta l 100)
a . knowledge defic iency regarding appropria te ch ild care » _______ !_
b. personal defic iency o f careg iver ( 1 1 s t ) ___________________ * ____________ 1_L
c . resource defic iency (11st) ______________________________
d. subcu ltu ral and/or l i f e - s ty l e values and p rac tices
e . o th e r ( l i s t ) _______________________________________
Total 100
237
12
I . C leanliness Conditions: What Is the likelihood th a t the following conditions a re present?
1. Child has not been recen tly o r adequately bathed.
a . not a condition c . lik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d. cannot determine !___
2. Child has f i l th y o r matted h a ir .
a . not a condition c . lik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine !____!
3. C hild 's te e th are not brushed e i th e r adequately o r reg u la rly .
a . not a condition c . lik e ly a condition
b. possibly a condition d . cannot determine 1___ 1
4 . Other c lean lin ess cond itions. (11st) ___________________________________________________________________
a . no o ther conditions c . lik e ly a condition
b . possibly a condition d . cannot determine 1 I I
FOR THE FOLLOWING SIX QUESTIONS YOUR JUDGMENTS SHOULD REFLECT THE OVERALL CONDITION RELATING TO
CLEANLINESS CONDITIONS ONLY. IF "b" OR "c" HAS NOT BEEN CIRCLED FOR ANY OF THE PRECEDING FOUR
ITEMS, PROCEED TO THE TOP OF THE NEXT PAGE AND BEGIN THE NEXT SET OF QUESTIONS.
5. To what degree do observed or suspected conditions c o n s ti tu te s problem?
No problem 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extreme problem
6. What do you judge to be the l ik e ly frequency of occurrence o f observed o r suspected conditions?
Occurred once 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Occurs constan tly
7 . What Is the likelihood th a t observed or suspected conditions could r e s u lt 1n short-term harm (harm which 1s tra n s ito ry and Is not H fe -th rea te n ln g o r l ik e ly to re s u l t 1n a "flawed a d u lt" )?
Not lik e ly ' 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely l ik e ly
B. What 1s the likelihood th a t th e observed o r suspected conditions could r e s u lt In long-term harm (harmwhich would re s u lt '•> a "flawed ad u lt" )?
Not l ik e ly - 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely lik e ly
9. What 1s the like lihood th a t observed or suspected conditions could r e s u l t 1n a c h i ld 's death?
Not lik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely Hkey
10. What percent of "cause" fo r the observed o r suspected conditions could be a ttr ib u te d to each of the f iv e catego ries o f "cause" l i s t e d below7 (your fiv e estim ates must to ta l 100)
a . knowledge deficiency regarding appropria te ch ild care ■ _______________ !_______
b. personal defic iency o f careg iver ( 1 1 s t ) __________________ » ________ ! i I 1
c . resource defic iency ( l i s t ) _______________________________ ■ ________ 1 1 1 1
d. subcultural and/or H fe -s ty le values and p rac tices
e . o ther ( l i s t ) ________________________________
Total * 100
238
13
J . Educational Conditions: What i s the likelihood th a t the following conditions a re present?
1. Child tru a n t from school w ith careg iver knowledge.
a . not a condition c . lik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine 1____I
2 . Child allowed to stay home from school when not i l l .
a . not a condition c . lik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d. cannot determine I____ I
3. Child kept home from school by careg iver when ch ild 1s no t i l l .
a . not a condition c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine 1____ !
4. Other educational co nd itions , ( l i s t i f suspected o r p resen t) ___________________________________________
a . no o ther conditions c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine 1 I I
FOR THE FOLLOWING SIX QUESTIONS YOUR JUDGMENTS SHOULD REFLECT THE OVERALL CONDITION RELATING TO
EDUCATIONAL CONDITIONS ONLY. IF "b" OR “c" HAS NOT BEEN CIRCLED FOR ANY OF THE PRECEDING FOUR
ITEMS, PROCEED TO THE TOP OF THE NEXT PAGE AND BEGIN THE NEXT SET OF QUESTIONS.
5. To what degree do observed o r suspected conditions c o n s ti tu te s problem7
No problem 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extreme problem
6. What do you judge to be th e l ik e ly frequency o f occurrence o f observed o r suspected conditions?
Occurred once 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Occurs constan tly
7. What i s th e like lihood th a t observed o r suspected conditions could re s u l t in short-te rm harm (harm which i s tra n s ito ry and i s not lif e - th re a te n in g o r l ik e ly to r e s u l t in a "flawed ad u lt" )?
Not lik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely lik e ly
8. What i s th e like lihood th a t observed o r suspected conditions could re s u l t in long-term harm (harm which would r e s u lt in a "flawed ad u lt")7
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely l ik e ly
9. What i s th e likelihood th a t observed o r suspected conditions could re s u l t in a c h i ld 's death?
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely l ik e ly
10. What percent o f "cause" f o r the observed o r suspected conditions could be a ttr ib u te d to each o f the fiv e catego ries o f “cause" l i s te d below? (your f iv e estim ates must to ta l 100)
a . knowledge defic iency regarding appropria te ch ild care
b . personal defic iency o f careg iver ( l i s t ) ______________
c . resource defic iency ( l i s t ) ___________________________
d. subcu ltu ral and/or l i f e - s ty le values and p rac tic es
e . o ther ( l i s t ) ________________________________________
Total 100
2 3 9
K. Clothing C onditions: What Is the like lihood th a t the following conditions a re present?
1. Child wear's poorly f i t t i n g o r worn out c lo thes/shoes.
a . not a condition c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine
2 . Child wears f i l th y c lo th es.
a . not a condition c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine
3. Child Is not dressed app rop ria te ly fo r w eather.
a . not a condition c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine
4 . Other c lo th ing cond itions. (11st 1 f suspected o r p resen t) ________
a . no o th e r conditions c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine
I 1
1 1
I 1
I I I
FOR THE FOLLOWING SIX QUESTIONS YOUR JUDGMENTS SHOULD REFLECT THE OVERALL CONDITION RELATING TO
CLOTHING CONDITIONS ONLY. IF “b “ OR “c" HAS NOT BEEN CIRCLED FOR ANY OF THE PRECEDING FOUR
ITEMS, PROCEED TO THE TOP OF THE NEXT PAGE AND BEGIN THE NEXT SET OF QUESTIONS.
5. To what degree do observed o r suspected conditions co n sti tu te s problem?
No problem 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extreme problem
6. What do you Judge to be the l ik e ly frequency o f occurrence o f observed o r suspected conditions?
Occurred once 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Occurs constan tly
7 . What 1s the like lihood th a t observed o r suspected conditions could re s u l t 1n short-te rm harm (harm which 1s t ra n s ito ry and Is not l if e - th re a te n in g o r l ik e ly to r e s u l t In a “flawed a d u lt" )?
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely i ^ - l y
B. What 1s th e like lihood th a t observed o r suspected conditions coulu .r:suU in lono-term harm (harm which would re s u l t In a “flawed a d u lt“)?
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely l ik e ly
9. What 1s the lik e lih o o d th a t observed o r suspected conditions could r e s u l t 1n a c h i ld 's death?
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely l ik e ly
10. What percent o f “cause" fo r the observed o r suspected conditions could be a ttr ib u te d to each o f thef iv e catego ries o f “cause* l i s t e d below? (your f iv e estim ates must to ta l 100)
a . knowledge defic iency regarding ap p ro p ria te ch ild care * ________
b. personal defic iency o f careg iver ( 1 1 s t ) ___________________ * _______ I _
c. resource defic iency ( 1 1 s t ) _________________________________* ________ ! _
d. subcu ltu ral and/or H fe -s ty le values and p rac tic es
e . o th e r ( l i s t ) ______________________________________
Total 100
J____ !
J____ I
J____ I
J____ I
1____ !
240
15
L. Housing Conditions: What Is the like lihood th a t the following conditions a re present?
1. Home is 1n poor physical condition .
a . not a condition c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d. cannot determine ,________ I____ !
2 . Home has too l i t t l e space fo r the s i t e o f the fam ily.
a . no t a condition c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine !____!
3. Home s tin k s and/or 1s f i l th y and appears not to be reg u la rly cleaned.
a . not a condition c . l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine I____I
4. Other housing cond itions. (11st 1f suspected o r p resen t) _______________________________________________
a . no o ther conditions c. l ik e ly a condition
b. possib ly a condition d . cannot determine I I I
FOR THE FOLLOWING SIX QUESTIONS YOUR JUDGHENTS SHOULD REFLECT THE OVERALL CONDITION RELATING TO
HOUSING CONDITIONS ONLY. IF "b" OR “c" HAS NOT BEEN CIRCLED FOR ANY OF THE PRECEDING FOUR
ITEMS, PROCEED TO THE TOP OF THE NEXT PAGE AND BEGIN THE NEXT SET OF QUESTIONS.
5. To what degree do observed or suspected conditions constitu te a problem?
No problem 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extreme problem
6. What do you judge to be the lik e ly frequency o f occurrence of observed o r suspected cond itions?
Occurred once 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Occurs constan tly
7. What 1s th e like lihood th a t observed o r suspected conditions could re s u l t 1n sho rt-te rm harm (harm which 1s tra n s ito ry and 1s not l ife - th re a te n in g o r l ik e ly to re s u l t In a “flawed a d u lt" )?
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely lik e ly
8. What Is the likelihood th a t observed o r suspected conditions could r e s u l t 1n long-term harm (harm which would r e s u lt In a "flawed a d u lt" )?
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely lik e ly
9. What Is the likelihood th a t observed o r suspected conditions could re s u l t In a c h i ld 's death?
Not l ik e ly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extremely l ik e ly
10. What percent o f “cause" fo r the observed o r suspected conditions could be a ttr ib u te d to each o f the f iv e catego ries of “cause" l i s te d below? (your f iv e estim ates must to ta l 100)
a . knowledge defic iency regarding appropria te ch ild care » ______
b . personal deficiency o f careg iver ( 1 1 s t ) ____________________ * ________ !_
c . resource defic iency ( 1 1 s t ) ________________________________ * ________ L
d. subcultural and/or H fe - s ty le values and p ra c tic es ■ _______
e . o ther ( 1 1 s t ) ______________________________________________ ■ ________ L
Total * 100
I 1I !!__ I
J !I !
241
16
I I I . Overall Assessment
1. To what ex ten t does th is fam ily need serv ices?
Minimal need 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ch,1d e*nnot survivefo r serv ice w ithout serv ice____________________________________I____ I
2. What would l ik e ly be the most appropria te mode(s) o f In te rven tion given the observed o r suspected conditions ( c irc le a l l th a t apply)?
a . casework or o th e r Individual a ss is tan c e
b. f in a n c ia l o r o th e r resourc a ss is tan c e
c . temporary removal
d. permanent removal
e . o th e r ( l i s t ) ___________________________________________________________ 1_
3. To what ex ten t does removal o f a ch ild seem to be Ind ica ted? (Check blank 1f a lready rem oved:_)
A bsolutely no i 9 n a x x 7 C hild cannot surviveneed fo r removal w ithout removal I I 1
4. Conditions observed o r suspected would l ik e ly :
a . re so lve themselves w ithout In te rv en tio n ;
b. reso lve themselves with In te rv e n tio n ;
c . be co n tro lled w ith In te rm itte n t In te rv e n tio n ;
d . be con tro lled w ith continued In te rv e n tio n ; o r ,
e . not resolve themselves o r respond to In te rv en tio n . I____I
5. To what degree 1s ch ild abuse present 1n th e family?
None p resen t 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Extreme, death probable I____1
6. To what degree 1s ch ild n eg lect present In the family?
None p resen t 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Extreme, death probable 1___ I
7. Coonents about th e fam ily concerning Inform ation which might not be apparent from th e responses 1n th e stru c tu red portions o f th is data co lle c tio n In s tru n e n t.
8. Please Ind icate the area o ff ic e or o ther d estin a tio n f o r th i s case.
1 1
242
1711. General Family Information
IMPORTANT: Record answers In the blank spaces provided a t the end o f each question.
1. What Is the to ta l nunber o f rooms In the home excluding bathrooms? I I I
2 . What Is the to ta l nunber o f bedrooms7__________ I____ I
3. How would you ch arac te rize the general condition o f the home (physical condition)? __________1 » good 3 - poor2 - f a i r 4 * d ilap ida ted I____1
4. Has the family been evicted from an apartment o r lo s t a home 1n the l a s t s ix months? ___________1 - yes 2 ■ no I____I
5. Has the home been broken Into during the la s t s ix months? __________1 ■ yes 2 ■ no 3 • d o n 't know________________________________ I____ 1
6 . How long has the fam ily lived a t th e present address (years end m onths)? I I I
7 . Hhat 1s the to ta l fam ily Income from a l l sou rces, o r your b est estim ate?t __________ p e r ___________ I I I I I I
8 . What Is the to ta l fam ily Income from a l l forms o f public a ss is ta n c e , o r your b est estim ate?$ __________ p e r ___________ I I I I I I
9. Does the family own an autom obile, o r have one av a ilab le fo r regu lar use?1 ■ yes 2 * no I___ I
10. Does the family have a telephone 1n the home?1 - yes 2 * no I___ I
11. Indicate whether the following so cia l serv ices e re needed and/or received by any fam ily member.1 * do not need 2 * need, but do not receive 3 • need .
A. Public day care
B. Food stamps
C. Free school meals
D. Public health o r medical serv ices
E. Homemaker serv ices
F. Legal serv ices
G. Public a ss is tan c e (w elfare . not AFDC)
H. AFDC
I . Public housing ass is tan ce
J . Mental h ealth serv ices
H. Alcohol/drug treatm ent
I I
I I
I I1 I1 I
I I
I I1 I
I I
I 1
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I I ! . Individual Data: Adults In Household
IWORTANT
1. Hale 'head* and female "head" re fe rs to primary caregivers to the ch ild o r ch ild ren such as p a ren ts , s tep -p aren ts , cohabiting a d u lts , e tc .
2. I f th e re Is more than one "other ad u lt" present In the fam ily , record data fo r the Individual whom you Judge to be most s ig n ific a n t to the fam ily’s functioning.
3. Where sp ec ific categories a re provided with questions ( e .g . , 1 • fem ale, 2 • m ale), record the appropria te category nuA er fo r each o f the ad u lts fo r whom data Is being recorded.
4. Where sp ec ific categories a re not provided with a q uestion , w rite the answer 1n the co lum spaces o f each a d u lt.
5. Questions about time duration should be answered In years and months.
6. Questions about Income should Ind ica te the amount and the u n it o f time fo r which th a t amount Is paid ( e .g . , $120 per week).
7. When exact values cannot be determined fo r time o r Income qu estio n s, en te r your b est estim ate o f the value o r the range wherein thevalue would most l ik e ly be located ( e .g . , 21 to 3 y e a rs , o r $120 to $140).
8. I f you cannot determine an answer and fee l too l i t t l e Information e x is ts to a t tm p t an estim ate , w rite " c a n 't determine" o r "C/0" In place o f the answer.
9. For fam ilies where a "male head", "female head" o r "other ad u lt" a re no t p re sen t, leave a l l answer spaces blank.
10. As with the o th e r sec tio n s , use your b e st professional judgment 1n making your assessments.
1. Relatfohshlp to "male head"?
2. R elationship to "female head"?
3. R elationship to "other adu lt"?
4 . Sex? 1 ■ female 2 « male
5. Age?
6 . R ace/ethnlclty?1 ■ Black, non-hlspanlc2 ■ Hispanic
3 « White, non-hlspanlc4 » Other ( l i s t )
Kale "Head" Female "Head" Other Adult
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XXXXXXXXXXXX
xxxxxxxxxxxx XXXXXXXXXXXX
7. Present m arital s ta tu s 71 « s ing le 2 - m arried , not f i r s t 5 » divorced2 » m arried, f i r s t 4 ■ cohabiting 6 * o ther ( l i s t )
8. Length o f present m arital s ta tu s (years m arried, years since d ivorce, e tc .) ?
9. A. I f p resen tly employed:1. How many hours a re worked In a typ ica l week?
2 . Regular wages o r Income from work?
3. What a re job du ties (what does person do on the job )?B. I f not working, but looking fo r work:
1. How long has 1 t been since l a s t reg u la rly employed?
2. Regular wages o r Income from l a s t job?
3. What were Job du ties on l a s t jbb (what did person do)?C. I f not working and not looking fo r work:
1. How long since la s t regu la r job?
2 . Primary reason no t working o r looking fo r work?
10. Highest grade completed?I * 17 o r more 3 * 13 to 15 5 - 1 0 o r 112 - 1 6 (degree) 4 * 12 (diploma) 6 » 7 to 9
7 « le ss than 711. To what degree Is Individual physical functioning impaired due to a physical
d is a b i l i ty and/or h ealth problems?1. Not a t a l l .2. S lig h tly , but does not In te rfe re w ith functioning as a family meatier.3. Moderately, some In te rference with a b i l i ty to function In fam ily.4. Considerably, d e f in ite lim ita tio n In functioning w ithin fam ily ,
requ ires help g e ttin g around o r In routine ta sk s .5. Severe, dependent upon o thers fo r most o r a l l rou tine functions
such as e a tin g , hygiene and/or locomotion.
Other AdultHale "Head1
12. Compared to a l l the o ther c l ie n ts with which you have worked, how would you charac te rize In te lle c tu a l functioning?
1 - considerably above average 4 • s l ig h t ly below average2 • s lig h tly above average 5 ■ considerably below average3 • average
13. Which o f the following categories best represents the leve l o f psychological functioning?
1 - No symptoms, superio r functioning In a wide range o f a c t iv i t i e s ,l i f e ' s problems seem to be very ouch under co n tro l.
2 * Transient symptoms may occur, but good functioning In a l l a re a s . Inte re s ted and Involved, so c ia lly e f fe c tiv e , generally s a t i s f ie d with l i f e , "everyday" w orries only occasionally ge t out o f hand.
3 - Minimal symptoms may be present but no more than s l ig h t ImpairmentIn function ing , varying degrees o f "everyday" w orries and problems th a t sometimes g e t out o f hand.
4 • Some mild symptoms ( e .g . , depressive moods o r In som la) o r somed if f ic u lty In several areas of function ing , but generally functioning p re tty w e ll, has some meaningful Interpersonal re la tio n sh ip s , most lay persons would not consider "s ick ."
5 • Moderate symptoms o r generally functioning w ith some d if f ic u lty(e .g . , few friends and f l a t a f f e c t , depressed moods, moderately severe an tiso c ia l behavior).
6 • Any serious symptomatology o r Impairment In functioning th a t mostc lin ic ia n s would th ink requ ires treatm ent o r a tte n tio n ( e .g . , su ic idal preoccupation o r g e s tu re , severe obsessional r i t u a l s , frequent anxiety a tta c k s , compulsive d rink ing).
7 - Major Impairment In several a re a s , such as work, fam ily re la tio n s ,Judgment, th in k in g , o r mood, o r some Impairment 1n r e a l i ty te s tin g o r conrninlcatlon ( e .g . , speecJTat times obscure. I llo g ic a l o r I r re le v a n t) , o r slilg le serious su icide attem pt.
8 ■ Unable to function In almost a l l a reas ( e .g . , stays in bed a l l day),o r behavior Is considerably Influenced by e i th e r delusions o r h a llu c in a tio n s , o r serious Impairment In comminlcatlon ( e .g . , sometimes Incoherent o r unresponsive) o r judgment ( e .g . , a c ts g rossly Inapp ro p ria te ly ) .
9 - Needs supervision to prevent hurting s e l f o r o th e rs , o r to m aintainminimal personal hygiene, o r gross Impairment In comminlcatlon.
14. Drug o r alcohol problem?1 * very lik e ly 2 * possib ly 3 * not l ik e ly
Kale "Head" Female "Head” Other Adult
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MO
ro4?l-H
IS. Extent to which re lig io n Influences b e lie fs and/or personal behavior? 1 ■ none o r very l i t t l e 2 » somewhat 3 ■ very much
16. Approximate nunber o f loca l re la tiv e s with whom person has a close re la tionsh ip?1 « none 2 ■ a few 3 * many
17. Approximate number o f local friends w ith whom person has a close re la tionsh ip?1 ■ none 2 - a few 3 - many
18. Approximate nunber o f days In a typ ica l week th is person v i s i t s friends o r re la tiv e s outside the home?
1 * none 2 * 1 o r 2 3 * 3 o r more19. Approximate number o f days In a typ ical week th is person Is v is ite d by friends
o r re la tiv e s a t home?1 * none 2 * 1 o r 2 3 * 3 o r more
20. Approximate number of days In a typ ica l week th is per«nn does not leave home?
1 * 0 to 2 2 • 3 to 5 3 • 6 o r 7
21. How often does th is person have a c a r a t th e i r d isposal?1 * never 3 - a few days per week 5 * everyday2 • very seldom 4 • most days
22. In what type o f home s itu a tio n was th is person ra ised most o f the time beween b ir th and 17 years o f age?
1 - with both parents 4 - with re la tiv e s2 * one parent and step parent 5 ■ fo s te r parents3 ■ only one parent 6 * o th e r ( l i s t )
23. Likelihood th a t person was physically abused as a ch ild?1 ■ not l ik e ly 2 * somewhat l ik e ly 3 * very l ik e ly
24. Likelihood that person was neglected as a ch ild?1 - not lik e ly 2 * somewhat lik e ly 3 * very lik e ly
Kale "Head" Female "Head" Other Adult
■ i i i
i i i i
i i i i
i i i i
i i i i
i i i i
i i i i
■ i i i
i i i i
1 i i i i
M4=Oh
25. Record a "yes" fo r any o f the following events occuring in the l a s t s i* months.A. Lost a job.
8. Serious in ju ry o r i l ln e s s .
C. Death o f a c lose friend o r re la tiv e .
D. B irth o f a ch ild .
E. Breakup o f a marriage o r o ther serious re la tio n sh ip .
F. Physically assau lted o r raped.
6. Cut-back in amount o f public ass is tan ce re su ltin g in Income lo s s .
H. Terminated from public ass is tan ce program re su ltin g in income lo s s .
26. What i s th is person 's re la tio n sh ip to the v ic tim (s)?
27. I f abuse i s present o r suspected, i s th is person the perpe tra to r?1 ■ d e fin ite ly not 2 * possib ly 3 » d e fin ite ly j k
28. Does th is person have a past h is to ry o f abusing children?1 • validated complaint 2 - suspected 3 * no
29. Does th is person have a p ast h is to ry o f neglecting children?1 ■ validated complaint 2 * suspected 3 « no
30. What percent o f the ch ild care re s p o n s ib il itie s f a l l to th is person?
31. Compared to a l l the o th e r c lie n ts with which you have worked, how would you assess th is person’s ch ild rearing knowledge?
1 ■ generally d e fic ie n t 3 ■ about average2 .* d e fic ie n t in several areas 4 « above average
32. In your opinion, what e f fe c t a re th is person 's cu ltu ra l/su b cu ltu ra l p rac tices Instrumental in the maltreatment?
1 ■ not a t a l l 2 * small e f fe c t 3 * s ig n if ic a n t e f fe c t
33. To what degree did th is person cooperate with your investigation?1 » generally uncooperative 3 - generally open and cooperative2 » cooperative but h o s tile 4 « person not interviewed
Hale 'H ead' Female "Head" Other Adult
I I I I
I I I I
I I I I
1 1 1 I
I I I I
I I I I
1 1 1 1
I I I I
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l i l t
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IV. Individual Data: Children In Household
1. Sex? 1 * female 2 * male
2. Age?
3. Race/ethnlclty?1 • Black, non-hlspanlc 3 * White, non-hlspanlc2 * Hispanic 4 * Other ( l i s t )
4. Has th is ch ild been physically abused?1 ■ yes 2 ■ unsure 3 - no
4. Has th is ch ild been neglected ?1 * yes 2 • unsure 3 ■ no
6 . P resently attending school In what grade?
7. I f In school, a re there any problems In school?1 ” ,ra problems 3 - severe problems2 • some problems 4 ■ cannot determine
8. Does ch ild have any severe o r chronic medical problems?1 * yes 2 * no
9. Has th is ch ild hosp ita lized as an Infant?1 - yes 2 - no
10. Adapting the categories o f Item 13 In the ’Adult" sec tio n , which number b est represen ts the level o f psychological functioning?
11. Does th is ch ild have any o f the following behavioral problems to a g re a te r ex ten t than the average ch ild with which you work?
A. Not obeying, unruly.
B. Excessive crying.
Child I Child 2 Child 3 Child 4 Child 5 Child 6
.
roW
250
PL/I OPTIMIZING COMPILER KAPPAsPROC OPTIONS(MAIN);
/niiHiiiiHiniiH SOURCE LISTING h » » h h w « w h /
STMT LEV NT
1 0 KAPPA:PR0C (PTIONS(MAIN)j2 1 M l
SEP CHAR(79)tLABEL(13) CHAR(l) INITOA'.'B'.’C’.'D’.'E’.’F’.’G'.'H',
111,1 J* ,*K* t*L*, *0* >;3 1 0 DCL
DA<191,2,133) FIXED BIN,UA(0:il,0:ll) FLOAT,(P0,PE,KAPPA, HARGSUM,KAP_SE0,Z0, A, B, C, KAP.SE5, Z5, Z6) FLOAT, TYPE(191,2) FIXED BIN;
4 1 0 DCLIN FILE INPUT STREAM;
5 1 0 SEP=(79)I“’;/*
OPEN FILE AND READ DATA INTO ARRAY m u m m m*/
6 1 0 OPEN FILE(IN);7 1 0 DO 1=1 TO 191;B 1 1 D0J=1,2;9 1 2 GET FILE(IN) EDIT(TYPE(I,J), (DA(I,J,K) DO K=1 TO 113))
(COL(l),114 F(l));10 1 2 END;11 1 1 END;12 1 0 INC=1;13 1 0 IPT=0;
/*ENTER MAIN PROCESSING LOOP o h h h u h i h
*/14 1 0 DO K=1 TO 113;15 1 1 DO 1=0 TO 11;16 1 2 DO J=0 TO 11;17 1 3 UA(I,J)=0;IB 1 3 END;19 1 2 END;20 1 1 N=191;21 1 1 IPT=IPT+1;22 1 1 IF IPT = 10 TJ®23 1 2 INC=INC+1;24 1 2 IPT=1;25 1 2 END;26 1 1 MAX=8;27 1 1 MIN=12;
251
STMT LEV NT
/*LOflD OBSERVED FREQUENCIES INTO CELLS
*/28 1 1 DO 1=1 TO 191;29 1 2 IPftSS=l;30 1 2 IF DA(I,1,K)+DA(I,2,K> = 8 THEN 60T0 NULVAL;31 1 2 IPASS=0;32 1 2 IF DA(I,1,K> > MAX THEN HfiX=Dft(1,1,K);33 1 2 IF DA(I,2,K) > MAX TIEN MAX=DA(I,2,K);34 1 2 IFDA(I,1,K) (MIN THEN MIN=DA (1,1, K);35 1 2 IF DA(I,2,K) < MIN HEN MIN=DA(I,2,K;36 t 2 WA(DA(1,1,K),DA(I,2,K))=HA(DA(I,1,K),DA(I,2,K))+1;37 1 2 KJLVAL: IF IPASS = 1 HEN N=N-1;38 1 2 END;39 1 1 IMAX=NAX+1;
/*CALCULATE CELL OBSERVED PERCENTS h h h h h h h i
* /40 1 1 DO I=MIN TO MAX;41 1 2 DO J=MIN TO MAX;42 1 3 IF I+J = 0 THEN GOTO PASS1;43 1 3 Wfi(I,J)=WA(I,J)/N;44 1 3 PASS1: END;45 1 2 END;
/*CALCULATE MARGINAL PERCENTAGES ii m H i i m i m
#/46 1 1 DO I=MIN TO MAX;47 1 2 DO J=MIN TO MAX;48 1 3 UA(I, IMAX)=UA(I,IMAX)+UA(I,J);49 1 3 HAdMAX, I)=t#)(IMAX, I)+NA(J,I);58 1 3 END;51 1 2 END;
/*CALCULATE PROPORTION OF OBSERVED AGREEMENT i h i i h iih h h i
*/52 1 1 P0=8;53 1 1 DO I=MIN TO MAX;54 1 2 P0=P0HIA(I,I);55 1 2 END;
/*CALCULATE PROPORTION OF CHANCE EXPECTED AGREEMENT h m u h h u h i
CALCULATE KAR6SUM FOR STANDARD ERROR (HO) CALCULATION <hhhhhhh» »
*/56 1 1 PE=0;57 1 1 MARGSUM=0;
252
STMT LEV NT
5fl 1 1 DO I=MIN TO MAX;59 1 E PE=PE+(HA(I,IKAX)*UA(IMAX,I));60 1 2 MARSSUM=MARGSUM+((WA(I, IKAX)«WA(IMAX,I))#
(WA(I, IMAX)+WA(IHAX,I)));61 1 2 END;
CALCULATE KAPPA STATISTIC FOR PASS
62 1 1 KAPPA=(P0-PE)/(1-PE);
CALCULATE STANDARD ERROR OF KAPPA FOR PASS (HO) u n m n u m
63 1 1 IF ((PE+PE»2)-MARGSWI) (=0 T)CN DO;64 1 2 KAP_SE0=9.999999;65 1 2 50=9.999999;66 1 2 GOTO GADPE;67 1 2 END;68 1 1 KfB>_SE8=(l/((l-PE)fSORT (N)) XSQRT ((PE+PE«2)-MARGSIH);
/*CALCUATE 'Z> STATISTICS FOR PASS (HO) m i m n im n
*/69 1 1 Z8=KAPPA/KAP_SE0;70 1 1 BADPE:
/*CALCULATE STANDARD ERROR OF KAPPA FOR PASS (HP) h h h h iw
*/A=8;
71 1 1 DO I=NIN TO MAX?,72 1 2 A=A+(HA(I,I)*((1-((HA(I, IMAXUNAdMAX, I)J*(1-KAPPA)))«2));73 1 2 END;74 1 1 B=0;75 1 1 DO I=MIN TO MAX;76 1 2 DO J=MIN TO MAX;77 1 3 IF I = J THEN 60T0 IPRSS2;78 1 3 B=B+(UA(I, J)«( (HA(IMAX, I)+HA(J, IMAX) )»2));79 1 3 IPASS2: END;SO 1 2 END;81 1 1 B=BK( 1-KAPPA) **2);82 1 1 C=(KAPPA-(PE*( 1-KAPPA)) )«2;83 1 1 IF (AtB-C) <= 0 THEN DO;84 1 2 KAP_SE5=9.999999;85 1 2 Z5=i.9999999;86 1 2 SOTO OUTPUT;87 1 2 END;88 1 1 KAP_SE5=SQRT(A+B-C)/((1—PE)*SQRT(N));
253
STMT LEV NT
/*CALCULATE ’Z' SCORE FOR PASS (HA) b w h i i h h h
*/89 1 1 Z5=ABS(KAPPA-0.70)/KAP_SE5;90 1 1 Z6=ABS(KAPPA-0.55)/KAP_SE5;
/*PRINT RESULTS ... .......
*/91 1 1 OUTPUT: IF IPT = 1 THEN DO; PUT PAGE
EDIT (’« « « § KAPPA ESTIMATES OF INTERRATER RELIABILITY *«««') (C0L(13),A(65>);
93 1 2 PUT atIP;94 1 2 END;95 1 1 PUT SKIP(2) EDIT(’ANALYSIS FOR ’,LABEL(INC),IPT)
(COL(l),A(13),H(l),F(l));96 1 1 PUT SKIP EDIT(’PO=’,PO,’PE=’,PE,’N=’,N,’KAPPA=’,KAPPM
(COL(10),A(3),F<6,4),COL(20),A(3),F(6,4),COL(30),A(2),F(3),COL(40),A(6),F(7,3));
97 1 I PUT SKIP EDIT(’HO STD. ERROR8’,KAP_SE0,’HO Z VALUE8’, Z0)(COL(10),A(14),F(B,6),COL(40),A(U),F(8,3));
98 1 1 PUT SKIP EDIT(’HA STD. ERROR8',KAP_SE5,’HA(.70) Z=’,Z5,’HA(.55) Z-’,Z6)(COL(10),A(14),F(8,6),COL(40),A(10),F(6,2>, COL(63),A(10),F(7,3));
99 1 1 PUT SKIP EDIT(SEP)(COL(1), ft(79));100 1 1 END; END;
255
WORKER INSTRUMENT
CONFIDENTIALTO ENSURE YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY,
SEAL IN PROVIDED ENVELOPE WHEN COMPLETED.
Dear Colleague:The items in this questionnaire are designed to elicit worker characteristics needed to answer a set of questions addressed by the child maltreatment study In which your agency Is presently participating. While your name is requested so that your Individual characteristics can be linked with cases assessed by you, information divulged herein will remain anonymous to persons except for myself.Your cooperation with both this questionnaire and the study instruments is greatly appreciated. I look forward to the early summer when I will be able to share the results of this study with you,
Robert C. Foulk Project Director
256
1. County: , 1 ! I
2. Your name: ______________________________ ! I I
3. Date of b ir th : (m onth/day/year)_______ I_______ i _______ i i I I i ! I
4. Sex: (c irc le one) 4. Female B. Hale !____ !
5. R ace/ethnicity :
A. Black, non-hispanic C. White, non-hispanic
B. Hispanic D. Other ( l i s t ) ____________________ !____ !
6. Present m arital s ta tu s :
A. Single C. H arried , not f i r s t E. Divorced
B. H arried, f i r s t time D. Cohabiting F. Other ( l i s t ) ,
7. Number o f ch ild ren : ____________________
B. In what type o f home s itu a tio n were you ra ised most o f the time between b ir th and age seventeen?
A. With both parents D. With re la tiv e s
B. One parent and one step parent E. Foster parents
C. Only one parent F. Other ( l i s t ) _____________________
9. Highest grade/years of school completed:
A. 9th grade or le ss C. 12 (diploma) E. 16 (degree)
B. 10th or U th grade D. 13 to 15 F. 17 o r more
10. Highest degree, c e r t i f ic a te o r diploma:
A. None C. Associate o r techn ical E. Hasters
B. High school diploma D. Bachelors F. Doctorate
11. Highest degree in socia l work o r a re la te d area (psychology, o ther socia l sc iences):
A. None C. BS o r BA E. HS or HA
B. Associate D. BSSW F. HSW
G. Doctorate
12. I f you have had schooling beyond high school, what was your major area o f study?
13. Did any of your p ast educational experiences s p e c if ic a lly tra in you fo r work in c h ild w elfare?
A. No B. Yes
257
14. How much do the following th eo re tic a l explanations of human behavior Influence and guide your p rofessional a c t iv i t ie s ? (c irc le a response fo r each)
A. Psychodynamic theo ries such as ego psychology.
1. Very In f lu en tia l 2. Somewhat In f lu e n tia l 3. Not In f lu en tia l
B. Behavioral th e o r ie s , behaviorism.
1. Very In f lu en tia l 2. Somewhat In f lu en tia l 3. Not In f lu e n tia l
C. Cognitive th eo rie s such as socia l learn ing theory.
1. Very In f lu e n tia l 2. Somewhat In f lu en tia l 3. Not In f lu en tia l
D. Other ( l i s t ) _______________________________
1. Very In f lu en tia l 2 . Somewhat In f lu e n tia l 3. Not In f lu en tia l
15. What 1s your present c iv i l serv ice c la s s i f i c a t io n ? ______________________________
16. Total time worked In c iv i l se rv ice : (years/months) i _______
17. Total time worked 1n ch ild w e lfa re /p ro tec tiv e serv ices : (years/months) .
18. Total time worked In present p o s itio n : (years/months) _______ i _______
1__ [
I__ L
1 I
19. For the following twelve condition ca teg o rie s . Ind ica te the p o te n t ia l , on average, fo r la s t in g physical and/or psychological harm to ch ild ren associated w ith problems 1n each category.
1. Very Instrumental
B. Child neglect:
1. Very Instrumental
2. Somewhat Instrum ental 3. Minimally Instrumental
2. Somewhat Instrum ental 3. Minimally Instrumehtal
A. In ten tiona l physical In ju ry cond itions: No Harm I 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extreme Harm j j
B. Sexual maltreatment conditions: No Harm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extreme Harm 1____!
C. Supervision conditions: No Harm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extreme Harm
D. Moral conduct o f parent: No Harm I 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extreme Harm !____!
E. M edical/dental conditions: No Harm 1 2 3 4 S 6 7 Extreme Harm »
F. N u tritional conditions: No Harm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extreme Harm !____!
G. Emotional maltreatment cond itions: No Harm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extreme Harm
H. Drug/alcohol conditions (p a ren t): No Harm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extreme Harm
I. C leanliness conditions (c h ild ) ; No Harm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extreme Harm • _ *
J. Educational conditions (c h ild ) : No Harm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extreme Harm !____!
K. Clothing conditions (ch ild ) : No Harm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extreme Harm !____1
L. Housing conditions: No Harm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Extreme Harm i ;
20. In
A.
general, to what ex ten t are paren tal psychological problems Instrunental
Child abuse:
in the cause o f . . .
! !
! !
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