Re: Research on the accuracy of caseworkers' information on casere-reports

["Susan J. Wells" <swells@xxxxxxx>]

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We did some similar matching in a study on screening of maltreatment 
reports in 12 counties. Since it was completed some time ago, I do not 
have numbers for you on numbers and characteristics of matches.  To 
share the methodology, we were matching multiple reports to unduplicate 
the reports and identify a single representative report to serve as the 
unit of study.  We matched on date of event or situation reported 
(rather than the date of the report), description of the event or 
situation (rather than type of maltreatment), relationship of the 
alleged perpetrator to the alleged victim(s) and identity of the alleged 
victim(s).  We were also consolidating multiple reports on the same 
event, for example, from different reporters.  To do that, we had a 
decision rule about the number of days within which multiple reports are 
regarded as being about the same incident or situation. 

Cross, Theodore wrote:
> Our research group has data from CPS caseworkers interviewed about 
> whether a family with an open CPS case has subsequently been 
> re-reported to CPS.  We are doing a study now comparing the CPS 
> worker's account to agency records, to try to assess the reliability 
> of the former.  One question is what criteria should be used to match 
> workers' accounts of re-reports with agency records on re-reports, to 
> make sure they refer to the same report (potential criteria include 
> day of report, maltreatment type, perpetrator relationship to child, 
> disposition etc.).  Does anyone know of any relevant previous 
> research?  We are especially interested in the match criteria other 
> studies used and the correlates (such as substantiation or abuse type) 
> of whether or not there was a re-report match.  We would appreciate 
> any help.
>  
>
> Ted Cross
> Senior Research Psychologist
> RTI International
> 411 Waverley Oaks Road, Suite 330
> Waltham, MA 02452-8401
> Phone: 781-434-1707
> Fax: 781-434-1701
> Email: tcross@rti.org
>

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