Keywords
resocialization
work ethic
action cycles
interindividual variability
How to Cite
Abstract
This study examines change in work-related values among incarcerated apprentices in the Austrian prison system. Despite the central role of vocational education for resocialization, systematic longitudinal evidence is lacking. A three-level theoretical framework integrates macro-sociological value stability (Inglehart, 1997), institutional context factors including training climate, Turning Point theory, and the Good Lives Model, and individual action cycles (Hofer et al., 2010). In a prospective panel design, N = 39 male inmates across six Austrian facilities were surveyed at two waves over 24 months (2023–2025). No significant changes in work values (p = .796) or work ethic (p = .776) were found, and both hypotheses are rejected. A latent profile analysis (LPA) identified three trajectory types, with 35.9% showing value improvements (Type 1), 46.2% remaining stable (Type 2), and 17.9% exhibiting deterioration (Type 3). This pattern appears consistent with the action cycle model of Hofer et al. (2010), though causal interpretation remains tentative. Given the small sample, all conclusions remain exploratory.
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