ABSTRACT
Given all the research that is conducted, and the sometimes contradictory findings, what do we believe? Looking at one study can be a mistake; in addition, there are often limitations to research, especially evaluations conducted in the real world (limited sample size, lack of generalizability, lack of adequate control groups, program changes over time, etc.). One of the ways we attempt to address these problems is by looking at a body of knowledge. For example, most of us believe that cigarette smoking is bad for our health. How do we know this? “Research,” you say, but don’t you think that given the hundreds of studies that have been conducted, there aren’t studies out there that say that cigarette smoking is not that bad? If you wanted to justify smoking based on some research, you can probably find these studies out there (even though these few studies may have been funded by the tobacco industry). The reason that most of us believe that smoking is harmful is because there is a body of knowledge concerning smoking and health that says that if you smoke you increase your chances of cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and so forth. Well, guess what, we also have a pretty good body of knowledge surrounding correctional interventions, and as learned previously, there are ways to summarize large bodies of research.
