Validation of group process assessment for youth who misuse substances: Group level coding

Abstract

Group interventions are commonly used for treating youth. Assessing group processes during intervention has presented challenges. The present study evaluated the psychometric properties of a group process-group level measure. This measure examined behaviours (e.g., positive or deviant) of incarcerated youth during group substance use interventions. Adolescents and counsellors completed a series of questions after each group session (n = 584 sessions). Observers rated group behaviour from 153 video-recorded sessions. The results supported internal consistency (median α = 0.78), inter-rater reliability (median α = .63), and validity (e.g., r = 0.12–0.82, p < 0.01). Importantly, a measure with demonstrated reliability and validity at the group level can be part of quality control for researchers and practitioners when individual-level ratings are not needed or too costly.

Keywords

• Group assessment
• group psychotherapy
• substance use
• deviancy training
• youth