Graduation Year
2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
M.A.
Degree Name
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Degree Granting Department
Psychology
Major Professor
Edelyn Verona, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Diana Rancourt, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Stephen Stark, Ph.D.
Keywords
clinical assessment, forensic assessment, recidivism, intervention, reentry rehabilitation, psychometrics
Abstract
Research finds better reentry/recidivism program outcome when individuals receive service that matches their risks and needs. It is thus essential to measure recidivism risks and needs appropriately. The Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START) is a clinically-oriented instrument that assesses risks of future violence/offending and identifies areas for treatment. We see its potential use as an assessment tool for reentry/recidivism programming. More empirical evidence is needed to identify the psychometric properties of the instrument in this setting before it may be used in practice. The current thesis explored the factor structure of the START strengths and vulnerabilities scales using 520 individuals incarcerated in a county jail in Southeastern U.S. The sample was randomly divided into two subsamples. Exploratory factor analysis on Subsample 1 (N = 256) and confirmatory factor analysis on Subsample 2 (N = 264) identified the best fitting factor structures of the scales. Construct validity was tested through correlations between the START factors and external criteria indexing mental health, criminogenic & externalizing risk, personal resources, and treatment amenability. A 5-factor strengths model and a 3-factor vulnerabilities model showed superior fit than the unidimensional models. Extracted factors demonstrated substantial overlap across strengths and vulnerabilities scales, including evidence for wellbeing, externalizing, personal resources, and openness to change factors. Convergent and discriminant validity were partially supported, with most factors correlating meaningfully with reentry/recidivism-relevant variables. Results provided preliminary evidence of the multidimensionality of the START as used in an incarcerated sample for recidivism/reentry intervention. Further research on the predictive validity of the START factors is needed to confirm their utility.
Scholar Commons Citation
Chen, Haomin, "Expanding on the Factor Structure and Construct Validity of the Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START)" (2024). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/10608
