The Balance between Care and Control in Probation: A Research Note

Summary The study explores the probation experience of thirty male probationersand their probation officers and their perceptions of it Traditionallyprobation work is often analysed in terms of a polarity or continuumbetween care and control or treatment and punishment. The relevanceof these and other ideological constructs is challenged by empiricaldata which suggests that the probation service is mainly concernedwith providing relief and service to clients who face difficultenvironmental and social pressures. It is need, rather thantreatment or control, which dominates the probation process.     

Serial Order Preference in Survey Research

Serial order preference was examined over a range of attitudinalmeasurements. The ordering of the response options did not havea substantive effect on either single-item measures or attitudescales. Continued attention to serial order preference in surveyresearch does not seem warranted