What Factors Contribute to Differential Perceptions Toward Evidence-Based Practices? An Examination of Officer Role Orientation, Job Satisfaction, Confidence, and Skill Proficiency

Abstract

Training probation officers on evidence-based practices (EBPs) is vital to ensuring that community supervision is maximally effective at reducing recidivism. However, after training, probation officers often have differential perceptions regarding EBPs. Thus, this study surveyed 90 adult probation officers after they participated in a training based on the Risk-Need-Responsivity model and Core Correctional Practices and examined whether their role orientation, job satisfaction, and confidence and skill proficiency using EBPs predicted their perceptions regarding the EBPs’ ease of use, usefulness, and perceived success at reducing recidivism on their caseload. Regression analyses revealed that all predictors accounted for variability in officers’ perceptions regarding the perceived success of using EBPs, explaining 41.2% of the variance, but job satisfaction (Δ R2 = .18) and officer role orientation (Δ R2 = .10) were most critical, solely explaining 28.5% of the variance. We conclude by providing recommendations for improving probation officers’ perceptions of EBPs.