RE: structured decision-making

Sheri,

You may want to check out a couple of my articles where I address aspects of this issue:

Fitch, Dale. “Examination of the Child Protective Services Decision-making Context with Implications for Decision Support System Design.” Journal of Social Service Research, 2006, vol. 32(4), pp. 117-134.

Fitch, Dale. “Structural Equation Modeling the Use of a Risk Assessment Instrument in Child Protective Services.” Decision Support Systems, 2007, vol. 42(4), pp. 2137-2152.

Regards,

Dale

Dale Fitch, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of Michigan
School of Social Work
1080 South University, Rm 2794
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106
(734)763-6286
(734)763-3372 (FAX)
dale@xxxxxxxxx
http://www.ssw.umich.edu/faculty/profile-dale.html

From: bounce-1609119-6833383@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx on behalf of D F MCMAHON
Sent: Wed 7/18/2007 10:30 AM
To: Child Maltreatment Researchers
Subject: structured decision-making

I''d like to know about studies of the fidelity with which structured decision-making is implemented by caseworkers, to what extent training in the decision-making method affects fidelity, and to what extent the "extraordinary pressure" on caseworkers who witness situations "beyond the scope of typical human experience" impacts their reliance on structured decision-making. Or is "nuance" (of the individual case) as experienced by the caseworker the driving force in decision-making?

Also, the same question in regard to lay GALs.

Sheri McMahon