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ACCOUNTABILITY, LIKE CHARITY, BEGINS AT HOME

NCJ Number
51142
Journal
EVALUATION Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: (1974) Pages: 74-77
Author(s)
L W KING; N K AUSTIN; R P LIBERMAN; W J DERISI
Date Published
1974
Length
3 pages
Annotation
AN APPLIED RESEARCH PROJECT THAT USED GOAL ATTAINMENT SCALING IS DESCRIBED. GOAL ATTAINMENT SCALES WERE USED AS A TOOL TO EVALUATE TREATMENT OUTCOME AND AS A MEANS OF EVALUATING ACTIVITIES OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT.
Abstract
THE PURPOSE OF THE BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS AND MODIFICATION (BAM) PROJECT, LOCATED IN THE OXNARD, CALIF., COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER, IS TO INTRODUCE AND EVALUATE BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS AND MODIFICATION. THE PROJECT WAS INITIATED IN 1972 AND CONTINUED THROUGH 1975. GOAL ATTAINMENT SCALING WAS USED AS THE METHOD OF EVALUATING BEHAVIOR THERAPY PROGRAMS IN THE DAY TREATMENT CENTERS. RANDOMLY SELECTED PATIENTS AT THE CENTER WERE SCALED AND FOLLOWED UP AT 3-MONTH AND 6-MONTH INTERVALS. THE SAME PROCEDURE WAS EMPLOYED IN AN ADJACENT DAY TREATMENT CENTER. RESULTS OF A COMPARATIVE THERAPY STUDY OF THE TWO CENTERS WERE USED TO EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF THE BAM PROJECT ON THE OXNARD DAY TREATMENT CENTER. STAFF SELECTED GOALS DURING A SERIES OF PLANNING SESSIONS. THEY WISHED TO EVALUATE THEMSELVES IN FOUR GENERAL AREAS: (1) CONDUCTING EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES INVOLVING CLINICAL APPLICATIONS OF BAM; (2) TRAINING DAY TREATMENT CLINICAL STAFF; (3) IMPLEMENTING PROGRAM EVALUATION EFFORTS; AND (4) DISSEMINATING THE FINDINGS TO OTHER COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. SCALE ATTAINMENT LEVELS WERE: (1) MOST UNFAVORABLE TREATMENT OUTCOME THOUGHT LIKELY, (2) LESS THAN EXPECTED SUCCESS WITH TREATMENT, (3) EXPECTED LEVEL OF TREATMENT SUCCESS, (4) MORE THAN EXPECTED SUCCESS WITH TREATMENT, AND (5) BEST ANTICIPATED SUCCESS WITH TREATMENT. THE USE OF GOAL ATTAINMENT SCALING WAS BENEFICIAL IN STIMULATING THE BAM PROJECT TO OPERATIONALIZE ITS GOALS. GOALS WERE DISPLAYED ON A LARGE BULLETIN BOARD AND WERE INDIVIDUALLY AND CUMULATIVELY GRAPHED. PROJECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE PLACED WITHIN A SPECIFIC TIME FRAME. MONITORING PROGRESS THROUGH GRAPHS KEPT STAFF MEMBERS CONTINUOUSLY INFORMED ABOUT THEIR STANDING WITH RESPECT TO GOALS AND KEPT THEM WORKING ALONG LINES OUTLINED BY GOALS. THE GOAL ATTAINMENT FOLLOWUP GUIDE USED IN THE BAM PROJECT IS INCLUDED. (DEP)

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