Learning disabled offenders’ experience of the TSOP
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A qualitative study exploring learning disabled offenders’ experience of a Thinking Skills Offender Programme, and their perception of its impact on factors contributing to their offending behaviour.
IRAS ID
131338
Contact name
Simon Duff
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
Research summary
The purpose of the proposed research is to explore the experiences of learning disabled offenders in the Thinking Skills Offender Programme (TSOP) and their perception of its impact on factors contributing to their offending behaviour. The research focuses on this particular population because, although the existing literature explores the impact of the prison service’s thinking skills programmes on reconviction rates, there is a significant gap in the knowledge regarding the impact of such programmes on a learning disabled offender population in secure settings. Furthermore, research tends to focus on the evaluations of professionals, rather than learning disabled offenders’ perceptions of their experiences of participating in a thinking skills programme and the impact of the programme on their offending behaviour. As a result, the proposed research aims to (1) explore learning disabled offenders’ experience of a TSOP, (2) What skills and benefits do learning disabled offenders think they acquire through the process of undertaking the TSOP, (3) What impact do learning disabled offenders perceive the TSOP has had on factors contributing to their offending behaviour and (4) What further support do learning disabled offenders think they need from the TSOP.
Ten learning disabled offenders living in a medium/low secure environment, and who have completed the TSOP will be recruited for the study. One semi-structured interview will be conducted with each participant. The data from these interviews will be analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), as this facilitates a detailed examination of the participants’ experience and the sense they make of that experience (Smith et al., 2009). IPA is particularly well-suited for this study, as it focuses on participants’ subjective experiences of the TSOP.
It is anticipated that the findings of the proposed research will make a valuable contribution to the treatment and risk management strategies for this population.
REC name
West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/WM/0296
Date of REC Opinion
14 Oct 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion