New external publication: IMPACT Europe publishes on the Journal for Deradicalization
IMPACT Europe researchers Dr Allard Feddes and Professor Marcello Gallucci of UNIMIB published an article on the Winter 15/16 issue of the Journal for Deradicalization. The article, entitled A Literature Review on Methodology used in Evaluating Effects of Preventive and De-radicalisation Interventions, discusses the results of a literature review which was conducted as part of the IMPACT Europe project. The literature review focused on evaluations of programmes aimed at preventing radicalisation or de-radicalisation between 1990 and July 2014. Below you can find the journal’s article abstract and a link to the full article, which is freely accessible through the journal’s website.
Abstract: Policies aimed at preventing (further) radicalisation or aimed at de-radicalisation are required to be ‘evidence-based’. This suggests that evaluators should apply rigorous empirical methodology and measurement techniques. However, it is often unclear what this evidence should consist of and how it should be gathered. In the present paper we present results of a literature review focusing on evaluations of programmes aimed at preventing radicalisation or de-radicalisation between 1990 until July 2014. We identified 55 manuscripts including 135 participant samples. Primary qualitative or quantitative empirical data about effectiveness of an intervention was presented in only 16 participant samples (12%). The outcomes are discussed with respect to methods and interventions used in the research field of criminology, a valuable source of methodological experience in conducting evaluation research in challenging circumstances. We recommend the use of empirical studies using quantitative data when possible (i.e., in preventive interventions) and a multi-method approach for evaluating programmes in (even) more challenging contexts (i.e., de-radicalisation programmes).