Reliability of Positive and Negative Life Experiences Reported by Inmates: A Pilot Study

The reliability of life experience reports is a significant concern for both research and practical purposes. However, studies about this topic are scarce and limited: studies mainly focused on negative life experiences, and some populations are under-investigated, such as inmates. This study assess...

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Main Authors: Cristina Fernandes, Ângela Maia, Tânia Gonçalves, Vanessa Azevedo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2025-02-01
Series:Anuario de Psicología Jurídica
Subjects:
Online Access: https://journals.copmadrid.org/apj/art/apj2025a7
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author Cristina Fernandes
Ângela Maia
Tânia Gonçalves
Vanessa Azevedo
author_facet Cristina Fernandes
Ângela Maia
Tânia Gonçalves
Vanessa Azevedo
author_sort Cristina Fernandes
collection DOAJ
description The reliability of life experience reports is a significant concern for both research and practical purposes. However, studies about this topic are scarce and limited: studies mainly focused on negative life experiences, and some populations are under-investigated, such as inmates. This study assessed the temporal reliability of positive and negative life experiences throughout the lifespan based on reports of 30 inmates selected from a convenience sample. Life experiences before and during incarceration were assessed using LIFES, which was applied twice. Results showed that the inmates’ reports are reliable. This study suggests that retrospective reports are reliable concerning experiences before and throughout incarceration. Moreover, when comparing the reliability of positive and negative experiences before incarceration, the reliability was similar. Still, the kappa value was higher on positives than negatives during incarceration despite similar agreement percentage values. The results from this pilot study may be informative and inspiring for further studies.
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publisher Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid
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series Anuario de Psicología Jurídica
spelling doaj-art-937218d81a7141cba686ce5532177db82025-02-06T11:11:35ZengColegio Oficial de Psicólogos de MadridAnuario de Psicología Jurídica1133-07402174-05422025-02-0135899810.5093/apj2025a711320559Reliability of Positive and Negative Life Experiences Reported by Inmates: A Pilot StudyCristina Fernandes0Ângela Maia1Tânia Gonçalves2Vanessa Azevedo3Private Practice, Private PracticeUniversity of Minho, School of Psychology, Centro de Investigação em Psicologia, Portugal, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Centro de Investigação em Psicologia (CIPsi), Portugal;University of Minho, School of Psychology, Centro de Investigação em Psicologia, Portugal, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Centro de Investigação em Psicologia (CIPsi), Portugal;University of Porto, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Centro de Psicologia da Universidade do Porto, Portugal, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, Centro de Psicologia da Universidade do Porto (CPUP), PortugalThe reliability of life experience reports is a significant concern for both research and practical purposes. However, studies about this topic are scarce and limited: studies mainly focused on negative life experiences, and some populations are under-investigated, such as inmates. This study assessed the temporal reliability of positive and negative life experiences throughout the lifespan based on reports of 30 inmates selected from a convenience sample. Life experiences before and during incarceration were assessed using LIFES, which was applied twice. Results showed that the inmates’ reports are reliable. This study suggests that retrospective reports are reliable concerning experiences before and throughout incarceration. Moreover, when comparing the reliability of positive and negative experiences before incarceration, the reliability was similar. Still, the kappa value was higher on positives than negatives during incarceration despite similar agreement percentage values. The results from this pilot study may be informative and inspiring for further studies. https://journals.copmadrid.org/apj/art/apj2025a7 prisonersforensic evaluationlife eventsself-reported informationreporting biasretrospective reporting
spellingShingle Cristina Fernandes
Ângela Maia
Tânia Gonçalves
Vanessa Azevedo
Reliability of Positive and Negative Life Experiences Reported by Inmates: A Pilot Study
Anuario de Psicología Jurídica
prisoners
forensic evaluation
life events
self-reported information
reporting bias
retrospective reporting
title Reliability of Positive and Negative Life Experiences Reported by Inmates: A Pilot Study
title_full Reliability of Positive and Negative Life Experiences Reported by Inmates: A Pilot Study
title_fullStr Reliability of Positive and Negative Life Experiences Reported by Inmates: A Pilot Study
title_full_unstemmed Reliability of Positive and Negative Life Experiences Reported by Inmates: A Pilot Study
title_short Reliability of Positive and Negative Life Experiences Reported by Inmates: A Pilot Study
title_sort reliability of positive and negative life experiences reported by inmates a pilot study
topic prisoners
forensic evaluation
life events
self-reported information
reporting bias
retrospective reporting
url https://journals.copmadrid.org/apj/art/apj2025a7
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AT taniagoncalves reliabilityofpositiveandnegativelifeexperiencesreportedbyinmatesapilotstudy
AT vanessaazevedo reliabilityofpositiveandnegativelifeexperiencesreportedbyinmatesapilotstudy