OVERREPRESENTATION
Overrepresentation is a situation where a group has a
number of its members in some condition in greater numbers than their population would
suggest.
If a group makes up 20% of the population then a researcher
might for example predict, other things being equal, that they would represent 20% of
offenders, victims and those in prison.
Men are overrepresented in prisons.
Aboriginals are overrepresented in prisons.
Women are overrepresented as victims in sexual assault
offences.
Reducing Overrepresentation of Minorities in Juvenile
Justice: Development of Community-Based Programs in Pennsylvania - Wayne N. Welsh,
Philip W. Harris, Patricia H. Jenkins
Although minority overrepresentation in juvenile justice settings has been identified as a
persistent problem, interventions are scarce. To address minority overrepresentation in
its juvenile justice system, Pennsylvania funded nine community-based intervention
programs. This article describes a systematic model that provides an active role for
program staff in program assessment and development prior to the design of outcome
evaluations. Using archival, interview, and observational methods, we conducted
evaluability assessments and process evaluations of each program. These formative
evaluations provided essential information to strengthen community-based program planning,
implementation, and impact assessment. - cad.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/42/1/76
The Overrepresentation of Black Students in Special
Education Classrooms
Kimberly Suzette Peterz, Chicago, Illinois
Abstract: The purpose of this research was to evaluate the degree to which Black students
are overrepresented and misplaced in special education, as a result of current testing and
placement practices, insufficient parental knowledge of special education rights and
responsibilities, and the need for more cultural diversity training for teachers. The two
subjects interviewed were a special education teacher/chairperson and a principal; both
employed in the same school. A class of special education students was unknowingly
observed. Interview responses show little satisfaction with the current methods of placing
Black children into special education programs. The observations demonstrated that the
majority of the children did not need to be placed there. The use of Black psychologists,
increased parental support and knowledge, a non-biased test for placement and increased
preservice and inservice training was recommended. - inmotionmagazine.com/peterz1.html
Overrepresentation of bilingual and poor children in
special education classes: A continuing problem - Authors: Connor M. H.; Boskin J.
Abstract: Sufficient research has not been directed toward the effect of language and
dialect on the placement of children in special education classes. This inquiry considers
teachers' choices of assessment materials and knowledge of second language learning in
young pre-literate children. Data was gathered from a representative sampling of
kindergarten-aged children receiving special education services in three urban
Massachusetts communities. The inquiry resulted in a finding of a lack of information on
the part of educators as to selection of proper assessment instruments, knowledge of
second language learning, and consequent misplacement of young children into special
education classes as a result of culture and ethnicity rather than cognitive or physical
need. This review highlights the need for further research into the continuing problem of
the overrepresentation of poor and bilingual children in special education classes. -
ingentaconnect.com
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