The Multisite Family Study on Incarceration, Partnering, and Parenting: Design and sample

ABSTRACT

The Multisite Family Study on Incarceration, Partnering and Parenting documented the implementation and effectiveness of family-strengthening programming for incarcerated and reentering men and their intimate or coparenting partners. The findings presented in this issue use data collected for the impact study and qualitative substudy, which provide detailed information on the experiences of couples before, during, and after the male partner’s incarceration. This article describes the methodology and sample characteristics for the impact study, which included longitudinal interviews with nearly 2,000 couples in five states, and the qualitative substudy, which included in-depth interviews with 170 impact sample members in three states.

KEYWORDS:

• Data collection methodology
• evaluation
• prisoners
• reentry

Acknowledgment

This article was prepared by RTI International with support from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation and the Office of Family Assistance/Administration for Children and Families within the United States Department of Health and Human Services (Contract HHSP2332006290YC, September 2006). The views, opinions, and findings expressed in this document are those of the report authors and do not necessarily represent the official positions and policies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The authors wish to thank Ms. Linda Mellgren, Ms. Erica Meade, and Ms. Madeleine Solan of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for their thoughtful guidance on this work.

Notes

In addition to being incarcerated and in a self-reported intimate or coparenting relationship, in order to be eligible, men also had to be 18 or older, speak English, be physically and mentally capable of participating in an interview, and agree to provide contact information for their partners. Couples in which a restraining order was in place were considered ineligible, as were couples for which the woman denied that an intimate or coparenting relationship existed when contacted for her baseline interview.

Women who were under the age of 18, did not speak English, or were not physically or mentally capable of participating in the interview were ineligible for the study. In addition, if a woman reported that a restraining order was in place or denied that she was in an intimate or coparenting relationship with the male, both she and the male partner were considered ineligible.

The only exception was that a paper version of the instrument was used in all interviews conducted in New York State Department of Corrections facilities, which prohibited the use of laptops. The instrument was administered by an interviewer, with the respondent self-administering the set of questions that would normally be administered via audio-computer assisted self-interviewing.

Originally, we paid $35 to nonincarcerated female respondents and $40 to nonincarcerated male respondents. We then increased the incentive to $40 for all nonincarcerated respondents. However, after struggling to increase 18-month response rates for a few groups, we ultimately increased the incentive to $75. Respondents also received a $25 bonus if they completed three interviews and a $5 bonus if they called in after receiving their lead letter.

In addition, due to logistical considerations, eligibility was limited to couples who lived within 30 minutes of one of eight metropolitan areas within the three states.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [Grant Number HHSP2332006290YC].