Representing the largest single survey in recent years, the three reports include comments from 456 recently qualified officers, 46 in-depth interviews with new officers, and examination of 785 established officers. Four-fifths of the new officers felt that the probation specialist teaching was inadequate to prepare them for employment. Teaching of issues and theory was seen as irrelevant, according to the interviews in the second report. In the third report, the seasoned probation officers appeared to corroborate the new officers critique of training. The research is considered flawed, however, in that comparative data and bibliographies are omitted, and the interpretation of the data serves to justify the trend towards a skills-based curriculum. This anti-intellectual approach to social work and penal policy is critically reviewed.