Some notes on the validation of VRS-SO static scores

ABSTRACT

The present study was a psychometric examination of Violence Risk Scale-Sexual Offender version (VRS-SO; Wong, S., Olver, M. E., Nicholaichuk, T. P., & Gordon, A. (2003 Wong, S., Olver, M. E., Nicholaichuk, T. P., & Gordon, A. (2003). The violence risk scale: Sexual offender version (VRS-SO). Saskatoon: Regional Psychiatric Centre and University of Saskatchewan. [Google Scholar]). The violence risk scale: Sexual offender version (VRS-SO). Saskatoon: Regional Psychiatric Centre and University of Saskatchewan) static item scores in a Canadian multisite sample of 668 treated adult male sexual offenders. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of 13 nonredundant Static-99R and VRS-SO static items generated three factors labelled Youthful Aggression, Sexual Criminality, and General Criminality. The factor and total scores converged with Static-99R and VRS-SO dynamic factor scores. Scores on the VRS-SO static items, EFA-derived factors, and total score each significantly predicted 5- and 10-year sexual, violent, and general recidivism through ROC analyses. Cox regression survival analyses showed all three factors uniquely predicted sexual recidivism to varying degrees in the overall sample; however, only Youthful Aggression and General Criminality uniquely significantly predicted violent and general recidivism in the overall sample and among sexual offender subgroups. Implications for theory, clinical practice, and instrument refinement are discussed.     

Mapping an agenda for the study of youth sexual aggression in Europe: assessment,principles of good practice,and the multilevel analysis of risk factors

ABSTRACT

Sexual aggression is a serious threat to young people's sexual health in Europe, but establishing the exact scale of the problem has been hampered by a variety of conceptual and methodological problems. This article presents a framework for studying youth sexual aggression that addresses both prevalence and risk factors of victimisation and perpetration. It proposes a research tool to comprehensively assess the perpetration of, and victimisation by, sexual aggression that captures different coercive strategies, sexual acts, victim–perpetrator relations, and gender constellations. The instrument is rooted in a clear conceptual definition of sexual aggression and was pilot-tested in 10 countries of the European Union (EU). Furthermore, a list of good practice criteria is proposed to promote the quality and comparability of research on youth sexual aggression in Europe. A multilevel approach combining individual-level and country-level predictors of sexual aggression is outlined and illustrated with data from the pilot study in 10 countries.     

Sexual recidivism: A review of static,dynamic and actuarial predictors

The need for accurate risk assessment of sexual offence recidivism has never been greater. It is widely accepted that actuarial risk instruments outperform clinical judgement and the literature has recently witnessed a surge of empirically derived actuarial measures. However, in spite of the increased levels of predictive accuracy, actuarial measures have been criticized as being unrepresentative, lacking specificity, and being heavily reliant on static risk factors without taking into account dynamic risk, psychological emotional states and treatment effects. Rather than offering a critique of the actuarial movement, this paper offers a summary of static and dynamic risk factors associated with sexual offence recidivism as identified from the literature. Implications of incorporating dynamic factors into risk assessments and actuarial measures are discussed.     

食品安全治理的国外研究述评

作为困扰各国的世界性难题,食品安全问题引起了各国学界的重视,纷纷对这一问题开展深入研究。将从食品安全的概念及必要性、食品安全影响因素、食品安全各利益相关方、食品安全治理对策这四个维度对国外研究进行综合评述。     

城市社区老年群体就医行为影响因素分析

日益增长的老年人健康需求是老龄化带来的诸多挑战中的一个重要方面。新一轮医药卫生体制改革突出强调基本医疗服务供给和基层卫生服务体系建设,在缓解老年人健康压力方面有一定的积极作用。老年人在身体条件、经济能力、思想观念等方面的特点,使得其就医行为受到机构服务能力、距离、费用、就医过程等多方面因素影响。在新医改背景下,需要结合这些影响因素继续完善基层医疗服务体系,以更好地满足老年群体健康需求。     

“90后”大学生恋爱心理及矫正研究——以西安2000例“90后”大学生恋爱心理调查为例

恋爱是大学校园中持续被关注的热点话题,与前几代大学生相比,“90后”大学生表现出具有鲜明时代烙印的特点。通过对2000例‘90后”大学生的恋爱心理进行问卷调查,从恋爱现状、恋爱观、恋爱对象选择、恋爱行为、性心理及其行为等方面总结了其行为和心理表现,并在此结果上分析这一群体的心理特征,找出影响其特征的因素,旨在总结“90后”大学生的恋爱心理,对存在的问题提出矫正方法,寻求自我改变提升的方式。     

主权财富基金性质相关问题研究

近年来,主权财富基金一直是公众关注的焦点。中外学者对于主权财富基金的研究多从公司治理入手,鲜有学者对主权财富基金的性质属性进行论述。主权财富基金的性质关系到其发展方向以及治理模式,具有重大的现实意义。本文以主权财富基金的性质为出发点。重点阐述其“新型国家资本主义属性”与“理性经济人”属性,在此基础上指出二者存在的逻辑悖论。文章通过分析认为主权财富基金应当坚持“理性经济人属性”优先原则,采用“去主权化治理模式”,推动主权财富基金海外投资的商业化,避免附带过多的政治主权色彩。     

中朝金融合作的驱动因素与对策分析

2000年以来,中朝双边经贸关系迅速发展,人民币跨境流动规模不断扩大,但双方金融合作滞后于经贸合作,制约了经济资源在两国间的流动和有效配置。加强金融合作应立足于中朝经贸合作的长远规划,加强中朝双方中央银行的沟通与合作;推动双方边境地区的金融合作;发挥双方银行结算主渠道作用;加强双方金融监管合作;以"两岛一区"经贸合作带动双方金融合作。     

Correlates and predictors of juvenile delinquency in Ghana

Research on juvenile delinquency has focused almost exclusively on western societies with the consequence that very little is known about delinquency and its associated factors outside this context. The aim of this study is to investigate correlates and predictors of juvenile delinquency in Ghana, a developing country. Analysis of data from a sample of 264 boys showed theft as the most common juvenile offense in Ghana. Individual factors were strongly related to juvenile delinquency compared with family factors and perceived neighborhood condition. The best predictor of juvenile delinquency was academic difficulties. Most childrearing variables failed to predict delinquency in Ghana. The findings indicate not only similarities but also important differences particularly with regard to conceptualization and relation between parental childrearing and delinquency.