Predicting 'Successful' and 'Unsuccessful' Client Outcomes from Initial Referral Information. The Unsuccessful State Vocational Rehabilitation Client: An Analysis

摘要

This project was conducted to determine whether certain subgroups of clients are generally unsuccessful at becoming vocationally rehabilitated. The sample consisted of a research cohort of 21,084 clients referred for rehabilitation services by one State vocational rehabilitation agency. Issues addressed in the analysis were whether clients can be grouped into separate risk categories on the basis of intake information and what implications concerning clients may be derived from descriptive characteristics of risk groups. Two groups of clients were selected from the cohort; 4,195 clients were randomly selected from those referred in fiscal year 1971 and closed by fiscal year 1973 and 2,090 were randomly selected from the same base population. Client characteristics analyzed included age, sex, race, major disability, Social Security disability insurance status, and referral source. The outcome criterion was rehabilitation versus nonrehabilitation. A technique known as the automatic interaction detector program was employed to analyze data. It is demonstrated that differential risk groups can be described in the early intake stage of the rehabilitation process. Risk clients should permit counselors to provide them with special consideration as to both type and intensity of assistance. An experimental chart for assigning rehabilitation success probabilities to clients based on referral information is included. The implications of the findings are that certain subgroups of clients have extremely poor chances of becoming rehabilitated. A list of references and supporting data are provided. The recoding procedure used in the study is included.