Advanced Search

Journal Navigation

Journal Home

Subscriptions

Archive

Contact Us

Table of Contents

Click here to sign up for SAGE Journal Email Alerts today!

Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
Child Maltreatment
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Request Reprints
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Ruscio, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Ruscio, J.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Complore   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati   Add to Twitter  
What's this?

Information Integration in Child Welfare Cases: An Introduction to Statistical Decision Making

John Ruscio

Brandeis University

Workers in the field of child maltreatment are required to make many complex and far-reaching decisions every week. In this article, two general methods for formulating decision-making policies are presented, along with a discussion of the considerable research literature demonstrating the superior predictive validity of statistical decision models over clinical prediction. A series of illustrative contrasts between the two approaches highlights the desirable mathematical properties of statistical equations as well as the cognitive biases and limitations inherent in unaided human judgment. Reasons for practitioners' adherence to the clinical approach are explored, with specific reference to child welfare decision making. Finally, recommendations are provided for enhancing the efficiency, validity, and ethical defensibility of decision making that seriously impacts the lives of children and their families.

Child Maltreatment, Vol. 3, No. 2, 143-156 (1998)
DOI: 10.1177/1077559598003002008
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J Interpers ViolenceHome page
R. H. MAGEN, K. CONROY, P. M. HESS, A. PANCIERA, and B. L. SIMON
Identifying Domestic Violence in Child Abuse and Neglect Investigations
J Interpers Violence, June 1, 2001; 16(6): 580 - 601.
[Abstract] [PDF]