Prison dog training programs linked to positive prison social climate

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Date
2021
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Volume Title
Publisher
University of Alabama Libraries
Abstract

While dog training programs have spread into prisons across the United States and have received substantial attention in both media and qualitative research, few studies have looked to quantify their effects on the prison environment. Using available outcome studies, the present study assessed the relationship between participation in a dog training program and prison social climate through a quantitative meta-analysis (N=9). The meta-analysis includes studies relating to two of the three elements of prison social climate as defined by Ross et al. (2008) in their factor pattern analysis but excludes the third element, environmental quality of life, due to an absence of research into those outcomes. The results demonstrated that a small to moderate effect size exists in the relationship between participation in a dog training program and a more positive prison social climate (g=0.204, SE=0.068, 95% CI= [0.005, 0.069]). While the results are promising, future research is needed to determine whether the relationship is causal or merely correlational.

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Electronic Thesis or Dissertation
Keywords
Criminology
Citation