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Reduction of Antisocial Behavior in Poor Children by Nonschool Skill‐Development
Author(s) -
Jones Marshall B.,
Offord David R.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of child psychology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.652
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1469-7610
pISSN - 0021-9630
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7610.1989.tb00786.x
Subject(s) - spillover effect , psychology , developmental psychology , economics , microeconomics
PALS (for “participate arid learn skills”) was a nonschool skill‐development program offered to all children 5–15 years of age living in a publicly supported housing complex in Ottawa, Ontario. While participation was excellent, none but marginal and possibly nonexistent spillover effects on school performance or behavior in the home were observed. However, clear and statistically significant changes occurred on unobtrusive measures of antisocial behavior outside home and school. A cost‐benefit analysis indicated that potential savings, primarily in reduced vandalism but also in reduced police and fire costs, greatly exceeded the cost of mounting die program.