Psychology Commons^™

Tablet Computers And Forensic And Correctional Psychological Assessment: A Randomized Controlled Study, Christopher King, Kirk Heilbrun, Na Youngkim, Kellie Mcwilliams, Sarah Phillips, Jessie Barbera, Ralph Fretz

Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Mobile computing technology presents various possibilities and challenges for psychological assessment. Within forensic and correctional psychology, assessment of justice-involved persons facilitated by such technology has not been empirically examined. Accordingly, this randomized controlled experiment involved administering questionnaires about risk-needs, treatment readiness, and computerized technology opinions to a large (N = 212) and diverse sample of individuals under custodial correctional supervision using either a tablet computer or traditional paper-and-pencil materials. Results revealed that participants in the paper-and-pencil condition completed the packet of questionnaires faster but omitted items more frequently. Older participants and those with lower levels of education tended to take …