| Institute
of Behavioral Science (IBS) Research
Denver Neighborhood Study
(DNS)
The purpose of the Denver Neighborhood Study (DNS) is
to: (1) identify direct measures of cultural effects
(organization structure culture [values and norms]),
informal adolescent networks; (2) evaluate the utility
of several different socio-geographic neighborhood units
and to establish their construct validity; and (3) conduct
cross-level analyses to estimate neighborhood effects
on adolescent problem behavior for youth living in neighborhoods
of different risk levels.
Denver Youth Survey (DYS)
The Denver Youth Survey (DYS) is a prospective longitudinal
survey that involves annual interviews with a probability
sample of five birth cohorts and their parents selected
from high-risk areas in Denver, Colorado. At the time
of the first annual survey in 1988, subjects were 7,
9, 11,13, and 15 years of age. The major focus of the
study is the causes and correlates of delinquency and
drug use among high-risk youth; however, the measurement
space of the study is broad enough to allow an understanding
of pro-social behavior as well. The longitudinal nature
of the study and wide age range covered allows it to
examine development sequences leading to delinquency,
drug use, violence, and other problem behavior as well
as the factors which lead to sustained involvement in
such activities. The sample is also designed to provide
information about the role of neighborhoods in the development
of anti-social and pro-social behavior. This study was
originally funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice
and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). Supplementary funding
has come from the National Institute of Drug Abuse,
the MacArthur Foundation, and the Program on Human Development
and Problem Behavior. Current funding for the DYS is
from OJJDP.
National Youth Survey (NYS)
The National
Youth Survey (NYS) is a prospective, longitudinal
study of problem behaviors in a sample of young Americans.
Beginning in 1976 with a nationally representative sample
of youth aged 11-17, the NYS has gathered annual and
three-year interval epidemiological data on self-reported
delinquency, alcohol and drug use, sexual activity,
victimization, and extensive onset of theoretically
derived social and social psychological predictors of
those problem behaviors. Primary objectives of the project
are to: (1) extend analysis of the longitudinal developmental
patterns and the impact of specific problem behaviors;
(2) assess the impact of specific problem behavior during
adolescence upon social and psychological adjustment
during adulthood (i.e., adolescent to adult transition);
and (3) to test the generality of an integrated theoretical
model by examining its power to explain various forms
of problem behavior during the early adult years.
San Diego Navy Spouse Assault/Treatment
Experiment
The San Diego Navy Spouse Assault/Treatment Experiment
is a randomized field experiment devised to determine
the effectiveness of three clinical interventions designed
to treat men who batter their wives. The project is
funded by the U.S. Navy, but is administered by the
National Institute of Mental Health; a first for both
agencies. The research is unique in that it is the first
large sample field experiment ever to have been implemented
to test the effectiveness of clinical interventions
for spouse assault. The interventions are based on a
Cognitive Behavioral model, are delivered over a one-year
period, and involve group therapy led by male and female
co-therapists. The sample of 900 couples are interviewed
(separately) five times over a two-year period at six
month intervals. Outcome is assessed using victim and
perpetrator reports of continued violence as well as
a variety of measures developed to assess progress across
variables theoretically associated with the incidence
of spouse assault.
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