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Construction and Preliminary Validation of the Internet Behaviours and Attitudes Questionnaire (IBAQ)

NCJ Number
220512
Journal
Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment Volume: 19 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2007 Pages: 237-256
Author(s)
Matt D. O'Brien; Stephen D. Webster
Date Published
September 2007
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This article describes British research that developed and conducted a preliminary validation of the Internet Behaviors and Attitudes Questionnaire (IBAQ), a measure designed to assess the offense-relevant behaviors and attitudes of sexual offenders whose offenses have involved Internet images of child abuse.
Abstract
The IBAQ showed excellent internal consistency. Following factor analysis, a two-factor solution, "distorted thinking" and "self-management," emerged from the attitudinal items. The attitude measure was not influenced by social desirability and was able to distinguish individuals who disclosed the greater number of "offending behaviors." The findings' main implication for practice and policy is the IBAQ's ability to identify the issues in distorted thinking and self-management that should be addressed for men who have been convicted of Internet-related sexual offenses. The first items selected for the assessment instrument were derived from the emerging literature on men engaged in Internet child pornography. Phase one of the research involved the piloting of this first version of the IBAQ with 40 such Internet sexual offenders incarcerated in British prisons. Phase two consisted of the validation of an improved version of the IBAQ that was tested with 123 Internet sexual offenders, some of whom were incarcerated and others who were under community supervision. 6 tables, 42 references, and appended IBAQ