Ongoing Program Evaluation and Clinical Perception in a Residential Treatment Center

Abstract

This study was designed to ascertain if clinical perceptions and judgements can be verified by empirical data. Clinical and childcare staff at a residential treatment center (RTC), indicated that the girls accepted for treatment were more seriously disturbed with each passing year. This study compared the HSPQ and JESNESS Inventory scores of 45 females in a RTC over a period from 1976 to 1984. The hypothesis being that girls being admitted to the treatment programs and being supported by state agencies today are becoming more clinically disturbed and socially maladjusted as indicated by scores on psychological tests. There was no statistical significance on the Jesness scores and only four of the personality factors on HSPQ demonstrated a statistical significance. Further analysis indicated that statistically significant scores of the HSPQ could be attributed to the scores of the girls in 1980. The study results support the necessity to evaluate and check clinical judgements with empirical data in order t...