Her primary area of research is program evaluation, project impact and the impact of violent crime on youth and community development. Her research involves working with service-based organizations and law enforcement agencies to evaluate the efficacy of programs offered to residents in communities that suffer many of the negative consequences resulting from high levels of crime, specifically violent crime. She has also worked with local and state correctional agencies in the development of effective prisoner re-entry programs as well as helped create a nationally recognized jailers academy internship program. McDougle has conducted training in leadership, stress management and death investigation for local, state, federal and international law enforcement agencies and public safety organizations.