Comprehensive Gang Model Evaluation: Integrating Research Into Practice, Massachusetts, 2014-2018 (ICPSR 37453)
Version Date: Jan 28, 2021 View help for published
Principal Investigator(s): View help for Principal Investigator(s)
Erika Gebo, Suffolk University;
Brenda J. Bond, Suffolk University
https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR37453.v1
Version V1
Summary View help for Summary
The effects of a deliberate strategy to bolster organizational change in order to achieve the goals of the Comprehensive Gang Model (CGM) were tested in this study. The CGM goals of increasing community capacity to address gang and youth violence and reducing gang and youth violence were examined. A quasi-experimental design was used wherein two Massachusetts cities received a relational coordination intervention to boost organizational change and two similar Massachusetts cities were used as comparisons. Surveys, observational notes, and crime data assessed outcomes of interest. The intervention was carried out from March 2016 through August 2017. Survey and observational data were gathered during that time. Crime data from January 2014 through December 2018 was utilized to examine outcomes.
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Geographic Coverage View help for Geographic Coverage
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City
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Data Collection Notes View help for Data Collection Notes
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This study collected qualitative data that is not included in this release. Qualitative data will be included in a future update.
Study Purpose View help for Study Purpose
This study was designed to answer two research questions as they relate to relational coordination interventions. "Are communities better able to collaborate?" and "Did the intervention reduce gang and youth violence in intervention cities?"
Study Design View help for Study Design
A quasi-experimental design with four cities in a northeast state was employed in this study: two sites received relational coordination (RC) interventions and two sites served as comparisons. All cities utilize the Comprehensive Gang Model to address gang and youth violence. An 18-month RC intervention from March 2016 through August 2017 utilizing the RC tools was introduced to boost organizational change to support communication and collaboration through an action research approach by study authors. Change in communication and coordination was examined over time through RC surveys, site meeting minutes, and coaching calls with site coordinators. Changes in crime were examined through NIBRS data, gang data, and shots fired data. Monthly National Incident-Based Reporting System data from two years and two months pre-intervention (January 2014 through February 2016); eighteen months of intervention (March 2016 through August 2017); and sixteen months of post-intervention (September, 2017 through December, 2018) are included. Monthly data on confirmed shots fired and number of gang arrests for violent and non-violent crime also were collected over the same time period (January, 2014 through December, 2018) from each study site's police department. Gang calls for service was originally intended to also be collected, but only one study site's police department collected this information. Discussions with the officer in charge of the crime analysis unit and crime analysis staff revealed that the statistics were not reliably kept, so the measure was eliminated from data collection.
Sample View help for Sample
A purposeful sample of key informants was interviewed. Observational notes were recorded at crime reduction initiative meetings and calls. A census of city level crime data was examined during the study period and two years prior.
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Universe View help for Universe
Group level observational data from intervention cities' crime reduction initiative meetings and calls. Individual level interview data with key informants involved in intervention cities' crime reduction initiative. City level violent, nonviolent, gang arrest, and shots fired data.
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The response rate for key informant interviews was 100 percent. The response rate for surveys varied from approximately 36 percent to almost 60 percent.
Presence of Common Scales View help for Presence of Common Scales
Relational Coordination Survey
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The public-use data files in this collection are available for access by the general public. Access does not require affiliation with an ICPSR member institution.