Truancy Interventions: A Review of the Research Literature

Objectives: This article presents a systematic review of the literature on evaluative studies of truancy interventions. Method: Included studies evaluating truancy interventions appearing in peer-reviewed academic journals from 1990 to 2007. Findings: In total, 16 studies were assessed. Eight studie...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inResearch on Social Work Practice Vol. 20; no. 2; pp. 161 - 171
Main Authors Sutphen, Richard D., Ford, Janet P., Flaherty, Chris
Format Book Review Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.03.2010
SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
Subjects
Contingency learning
Contingency Management
Definitions
Family Counseling
Instructional Effectiveness
Intervention
Knowledge base
Literature reviews
Partnerships
Pretests Posttests
Punishment
Reorganization
Research Needs
Sample Size
School Organization
Systematic review
Truancy
adolescents
evidence-based practice
education
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Summary:Objectives: This article presents a systematic review of the literature on evaluative studies of truancy interventions. Method: Included studies evaluating truancy interventions appearing in peer-reviewed academic journals from 1990 to 2007. Findings: In total, 16 studies were assessed. Eight studies used group comparison designs and eight studies used one-group pretest/posttest designs. Studies varied on sample sizes, definitions of truant behavior, focus of interventions, and dependent measures. Conclusions: Six studies produced useful and promising interventions including contingency management, school reorganization, punitive measures, community partnerships, and family-oriented activities. The substantial methodological shortcomings, inconsistent definitions, and lack of replication demonstrate a need for more and better evaluation studies to provide a more definitive knowledge base to guide effective truancy interventions for practitioners.
ISSN:1049-7315
1552-7581
DOI:10.1177/1049731509347861