What previous research was reported about scared straight programs prior to Lewis’ evaluation?

previous ... to what?

Who's Lewis? Why was he evaluated?

the evaluation of a "Scared Straight" program in California by Lewis (1983).

Prior to Lewis' evaluation, what had previous research reported about scared straight programs?

Read, read, read, and take good notes.

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22scared+straight%22+programs+before+1983&oq=%22scared+straight%22+programs+before+1983&aqs=chrome..69i57.14743j0j7&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=119&ie=UTF-8

If you need help learning how to search, including how to choose good search terms, go here and scroll down to the links under HOW TO SEARCH THE INTERNET:
http://hanlib.sou.edu/searchtools/

To find out what previous research was reported about scared straight programs prior to Lewis' evaluation, you can follow these steps:

1. Start by searching for scholarly articles or research papers on scared straight programs. You can use search engines like Google Scholar, PubMed, or academic databases like JSTOR or ProQuest.

2. Use keywords such as "scared straight programs," "juvenile crime prevention," "effectiveness of scared straight programs," or any other relevant terms to narrow down your search.

3. Look for review articles or literature reviews on the topic. These types of articles often provide a summary of previous research and can point you towards specific studies that were conducted before Lewis' evaluation.

4. Pay attention to the publication dates of the articles you find. Try to focus on research that predates Lewis' evaluation, as you are specifically looking for previous studies.

5. Read through the abstracts, introductions, and literature review sections of the articles to gather information about the previous research reported. Pay attention to any citations or references to other studies that were conducted prior to Lewis' evaluation. These citations can be valuable sources for further exploration.

6. Take note of the key findings and conclusions from these earlier studies. Look for any patterns or consistent results across multiple studies.

By following these steps, you can gain insights into the previous research reported about scared straight programs prior to Lewis' evaluation. It's important to rely on scholarly sources and critically evaluate the methodology and findings of each study to form an informed understanding of the topic.