Exploring Mechanisms of Measurement Discrepancy: Perceived Acceptability and Efficiency of Two Sexual Victimization Questionnaires

Background: Obtaining accurate prevalence rates of sexual violence is made difficult by discrepancies in self-reporting questionnaires. Thus, the current study sought to explore participants' perceptions of acceptability (i.e., perceived difficulty, readability, and preference) of questionnaires as an important psychometric indicator and a potential mechanism of discrepancy between different questionnaires assessing sexual victimization. Methods: Participants were 673 college students who completed the Sexual Experiences Survey-Short Form Victimization (SES-SFV) and the Post-Refusal Sexual Persistence Scales-Victimization (PRSPS-V). Participants then answered questions about each measure's perceived difficulty and their preference between the two. Flesch-Kincaid Reading Grade Level and efficiency (i.e., number of items: number of cases identified) were also analyzed. Results: Participants found the PRSPS-V easier to understand and preferred it 2.5 to1 over the SES-SFV. Preference was related to reporting; participants who preferred the PRSPS-V reported more instances of sexual victimization on the PRSPS-V. The PRSPS-V was objectively easier to comprehend according to Flesch-Kincaid levels and was two times more efficient than the SES-SFV in the number of cases detected per item administered. Conclusions: Our results indicate that acceptability impacts reported prevalence rates and is one mechanism for documented discrepancies between sexual violence questionnaires. Thus, it may behoove researchers to consider acceptability as a metric of interest when choosing sexual victimization questionnaires.

Download Full-text

An Initial Test of the Tactic-First and Item-Order Hypotheses: Accounting for Response Discrepancies in Sexual Victimization Questionnaires

10.31219/osf.io/2fg3w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

RaeAnn Elizabeth Anderson ◽

Erica L. Goodman ◽

Alyssa M. Ciampaglia

Keyword(s):

Sexual Violence ◽

Sexual Victimization ◽

Strong Support ◽

Order Conditions ◽

The Other ◽

Prevalence Rates ◽

Sexual Experiences ◽

Initial Test ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Item Order

Reported prevalence rates of sexual violence range widely in the literature, even in the same sample when using two different questionnaires of the same construct. These discrepancies are concerning as they indicate we may be underestimating the rate of sexual violence and, therefore, resources and treatment for victims. Thus, the current study aimed to investigate two mechanisms that may contrib-ute to differences in reported prevalence rates across the literature and discrepancies within studies: the tactic-first and item-order hypotheses. Participants were 265 MTurk workers whom all complet-ed the Post-Refusal Sexual Persistence Scale (PRSPS), then were randomly assigned to one of two versions of a tactic-first Sexual Experiences Survey (T-SES). Experimental conditions varied in the item order of the T-SES, one condition received the traditional hierarchical item order (n = 130) while the other received a randomized item order (n = 135). Our results suggest strong support for the tactic-first hypothesis; victimization prevalence rates on the T-SES were double compared to the traditional SES (54.1 vs. 19.8%) in prior research. Further, in both conditions, victimization prevalence rates were statistically equivalent between the PRSPS (62.6%) and the tactic-first SESs (56.2 and 54.1%), χ2(1) < 2.5, p ≈ .1 -.7, contrary to prior research. We did not find support for the item-order hypothe-sis; there were few differences between item-order conditions. Our findings indicate that uninten-tional underreporting remains a threat to validity in sexual violence assessment, and continued re-search into the mechanisms of measurement is warranted.

Download Full-text

Discordance between the Sexual Experiences Surveys-Short Forms and the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales in College Men

10.31219/osf.io/udkm2 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

RaeAnn Elizabeth Anderson ◽

Shawn P Cahill ◽

Douglas L. Delahanty

Keyword(s):

Sexual Violence ◽

Sexual Coercion ◽

Sexual Victimization ◽

Short Form ◽

College Men ◽

Order Effect ◽

Sexual Experiences ◽

Sexual Perpetration ◽

Conflict Tactics Scales ◽

Conflict Tactics

Objective: Sexual victimization affects at least one in five college women and up to one in six college men; however, the exact rates of sexual perpetration are difficult to ascertain because of inconsistencies in the measurement of these behaviors. The present study is the first to evaluate the extent to which three commonly used measures of sexual violence (The Sexual Experiences Survey- Short Form Victimization (SES-SFV), The Sexual Experiences Survey-Short Form Perpetration (SES-SFP) and the Revised Conflicts Tactics Scales-Sexual Coercion Subscale (CTS2-SC)) concurred in identifying cases of sexual victimization and sexual perpetration. This is the first study to simultaneously examine victimization and perpetration, provide kappa estimates of discordance, and control for order of survey administration effects.Methods: Undergraduate men (N = 397) completed the study measures in a randomized order.Results: The SES-SFV identified 109 cases of sexual victimization (27.5% of the sample) while the CTS2-SC identified 164 cases (41.3% of the sample). Results were similar for sexual perpetration. There was no effect of the order of administration on sexual victimization reports. However, there was an order effect for sexual perpetration. When the CTS2-SC was administered first response rates on the CTS2-SC were higher.Conclusions: These results highlight the lack of precision in the measurement of sexual violence. Conceptually, the SESs should identify a greater number of cases; yet we consistently found that the CTS2-SC identified more cases of sexual violence. We suggest that differences in the instructional cues, internal item structure, and measure structure may account for these differences.

Download Full-text

Discrepant Responding Across Measures of College Students’ Sexual Victimization Experiences: Conceptual Replication and Extension

10.31219/osf.io/knvra ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

RaeAnn Elizabeth Anderson ◽

Douglas L. Delahanty

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Sexual Violence ◽

Sexual Victimization ◽

Short Form ◽

Sexual Experience ◽

College Men ◽

Violence Victimization ◽

Two Measures ◽

Experience Survey ◽

Moderate Range

Sexual violence victimization affects approximately 1 in 5 college women and 1 in 6 college men; however, rates of sexual victimization vary widely, in part due to measurement issues. The present study is the first to compare the Sexual Experience Survey-Short Form Victimization to a measure of sexual victimization designed to capture gender differences, the Post-Refusal Sexual Persistence Scale-Victimization (PRSPS-V). Prior research has compared the perpetration versions of these questionnaires and found large discrepancies. College students (N = 673: 367 women, 298 men, 8 gender minority) were surveyed. The SES-SFV identified 260 cases of sexual victimization whereas the PRSPS-V identified 330 cases; this discrepancy was largest for men. While percent agreement between the two measures ranged from 79.9-92.0%, kappa estimates indicated that agreement was in the weak to moderate range. Kappa estimates tended to be poorer for men than women. These results highlight poor precision in the measurement of sexual violence victimization, even when using well-established measures. The PRSPS-V identified more cases and may be less gender biased. We discuss how differences in questionnaire structure, item structure, and operationalization of consent may account for discordance between the SES-SFV and PRSPS-V even when controlling for item content.

Download Full-text

Analysis of a Modification to the Sexual Experiences Survey to Assess Intimate Partner Sexual Violence

10.31219/osf.io/79g4v ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

RaeAnn Elizabeth Anderson ◽

Samantha C. Holmes ◽

Nicole L. Johnson ◽

Dawn M. Johnson

Keyword(s):

Sexual Violence ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Sexual Victimization ◽

Short Form ◽

Romantic Partners ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Sexual Experiences ◽

Undergraduate Women ◽

Two Samples ◽

Assessment Strategies

Greater accuracy is needed in the assessment of sexual victimization that occurs in intimate relationships. Existing assessment strategies in the literature often represent two distinct approaches – intimate partner violence specific strategies vs. sexual violence specific strategies. The current study compared multiple distinct strategies for assessing intimate partner sexual victimization (IPSV) and evaluated a modification that optimizes intimate partner and sexual violence specific strategies. Two samples of undergraduate women were recruited. Sample 1 (N = 236) completed the Severity of Violence Against Women Scales (SVAWS) and a modified version Sexual Experiences Survey–Short Form Victimization (SES-SFV) in which participants were cued to respond both for romantic partners and non-partners (referred to as the SES-RP/NP). Sample 2 (N = 206) completed the SVAWS and was randomized to either the traditional SES-SFV or the SES-RP/NP. Across samples, the prevalence of IPSV varied based on the measure used (SVAWS = 11.7%; SES-SFV = 17.0%; SES-RP/NP = 25.4%). The SES-RP/NP identified significantly more IPSV than the SES-SFV, SVAWS, and prior studies. Both the SES-SFV and the SES-RP/NP were positively and significantly associated with the SVAWS. The results suggested that optimal measurement of IPSV would consider both intimate partner and sexual violence strategies.

Download Full-text

Reframing and Wisdom within Proverbs

Imagination Cognition and Personality ◽

10.2190/but1-rp7h-a3ja-cpc9 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 117-162 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Robert J. Tracy ◽

Nicholas Greco ◽

Erika Felix ◽

Donald F. Kilburg

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Grade Level ◽

The Other ◽

Proactive Coping ◽

Other Hand ◽

Reading Grade Level ◽

Thinking Strategies ◽

Difficult Situations ◽

Silver Lining

Many proverbs seem to convey wisdom because they help people to reframe life's predicaments. Positive reframes, such as Every cloud has a silver lining, often draw positive implications from adverse circumstances (cf. “positive reappraisals,” “gain frames”). In contrast, negative reframes, such as All that glitters is not gold, provide helpful warnings about difficult situations, and therefore encourage proactive coping (cf. “problem-focused coping”). This study examined the validity of the distinction between positive and negative reframes and whether the distinction applies to proverbs. Six judges categorized 199 proverbs as positive or negative reframes. Results showed that the positive reframes were rated by college students as more pleasant, conceptually simpler, and more familiar than the negative reframes. Further, proverbs that were composed by students were of higher quality when they were positive rather than negative reframes. On the other hand, positive and negative reframes occurred similarly often among the 199 proverbs, and did not differ consistently in rated truth, rated imagery arousal, or reading grade level. We concluded that many proverbs can be regarded as positive or negative reframes, which constitute basic thinking strategies that help people cope with life's challenges.

Download Full-text

Institutional Response and Impact of Reporting Sexual Violence: An Examination of Sexual and Gender Minority College Students

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/08862605211055078 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 088626052110550

Author(s):

Lauren R. Grocott ◽

Nykia R. Leach ◽

Leslie A. Brick ◽

Richard Meza-Lopez ◽

Lindsay M. Orchowski

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Sexual Violence ◽

Minority Students ◽

Sexual Minority ◽

Sexual Victimization ◽

Poor Response ◽

College Campuses ◽

Institutional Response ◽

Heterosexual Women ◽

And Gender

Although college students who are sexual and gender minorities (SGM) experience higher rates of sexual victimization than their peers who identify as heterosexual and cisgender, there is a paucity in the literature investigating how college campuses can address the needs of SGM college students in violence prevention and response. The present research examines a subset of data from the Healthy Minds Survey (HMS), a national web-based survey administered across two universities from 2016 to 2017. We examined the role of SGM status in the rates of sexual violence, perceptions of their college/university’s institutional response to reports of sexual violence (e.g., taking a report seriously and taking corrective action), and the perceived impact of reporting sexual violence (e.g., students would support the person making a report). Logistic regression analyses revealed higher rates of sexual victimization among sexual minority students (compared to heterosexual), women (compared to men), and transgender and gender diverse (TGD) students (compared to cisgender). In addition, sexual minority (compared to heterosexual), women (compared to men), and TGD (compared to cisgender) students were more likely to perceive their institution would have a poor response to reports of sexual violence. Women and sexual minority students were also likely to believe that students who report sexual violence would suffer academically. These findings highlight the need for continued efforts to enhance sexual assault prevention and response efforts on college campuses, especially for SGM students.

Download Full-text

The Psychometric Properties of the Sexual Experiences Survey – Short Form Victimization (SES-SFV) and Characteristics of Sexual Victimization Experiences in College Men

10.31219/osf.io/cenmd ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

RaeAnn Elizabeth Anderson ◽

Shawn P Cahill ◽

Douglas L. Delahanty

Keyword(s):

Convergent Validity ◽

Sexual Victimization ◽

Short Form ◽

College Men ◽

Reliability And Validity ◽

Sexual Experiences ◽

Reliability Estimates ◽

Psychometric Data ◽

Test Retest Reliability ◽

Unwanted Sexual Contact

Estimates of the rate of sexual victimization in college men vary wildly - likely due to the lack of validated measures. This study provides psychometric data on the Sexual Experiences Survey - Short Form Victimization (SES-SFV) and basic descriptive characteristics of sexual victimization of college men via the SES-SFV. Participants (n = 405) completed a web survey containing the study measures; a subset of 69 participants completed the SES-SFV again 1-3 weeks later. Convergent validity correlations were consistent but modest in size. Two-week test retest reliability estimates varied widely by the type of sexual victimization assessed and scoring format used; dichotomous scores were the most reliable and category scores the worst. Over one in four participants (28%) reported experiencing sexual victimization at Time 1; most reported victimization frequencies greater than one (22.8% of sample). Using behaviorally specific items, one in seven reported experiencing rape (14.1%). The most common type of sexual victimization experienced was unwanted sexual contact. Rape acknowledgement among men who experienced rape (12.2%) was much lower than has been observed in women. Our results indicate mixed evidence for the reliability and validity of the SES-SFV in college men, highlight important characteristics of sexual victimization in college men, and demonstrate the need for further research on the best strategies for the assessment of sexual victimization in college men.

Download Full-text

MEASURING SEXUAL VICTIMIZATION AND PERPETRATION IN TODAY’S SOCIETY: MODIFICATIONS TO THE SEXUAL EXPERIENCES SURVEY

10.31235/osf.io/cgevu ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Joke Depraetere ◽

Adina C. Inescu ◽

Lotte De Schrijver ◽

Anne Nobels ◽

Ines Keygnaert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Violence ◽

Large Scale ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Major Public Health Problem ◽

Prevalence Rates ◽

Sexual Experiences ◽

Representative Study ◽

Belgian Population ◽

Definition Of ◽

Scientific Attention

Sexual violence is a major public health problem that has received increasing scientific attention over the years. Prevalence rates, however, remain inconclusive due to inconsistencies in the applied definition of sexual violence. While the development of the Sexual Experiences Survey (SES) and its popular use among scholars already allowed for greater comparisons between studies, the latest revision dates back from 2006. In the meantime legal definitions have changed and other forms of sexual violence have become more prominent. This paper discusses changes made to the SES in the context of a large-scale national representative study regarding sexual violence among the Belgian population. The rationale indicated that changes to the SES may be necessary to increase its applicability in today’s society. The aim of this paper is to inform future scholars who wish to examine sexual violence and make similar changes, therefore allowing for greater comparability between studies. In addition, we aim to create a platform for future discussions and documentations of changes made to the SES that may eventually be used as a basis for future revisions of the SES tool.

Download Full-text

Prior Sexual Victimization and Disclosure of Campus Sexual Violence Among College Students

Journal of College Counseling ◽

10.1002/jocc.12114 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 56-69

Author(s):

Kate Stepleton ◽

Sarah McMahon ◽

Cathryn C. Potter ◽

Michael J. MacKenzie

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Sexual Violence ◽

Sexual Victimization

Download Full-text

Comparing Prevalence and Correlates of Intimate Partner Sexual Victimization Relative to Other Victim–Offender Relationships in College Students

Violence and Victims ◽

10.1891/0886-6708.vv-d-18-00205 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 39-53

Author(s):

Nicole L. Johnson ◽

Samantha C. Holmes ◽

Dawn M. Johnson ◽

Caron Zlotnick

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

College Women ◽

Sexual Victimization ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

College Campuses ◽

Tertiary Prevention ◽

Prevalence Rates ◽

Intimate Partners

Research on sexual victimization (SV) in college women often focuses on perpetration by nonpartners thus, little is known about SV by intimate partners on college campuses. To address this gap in the literature, the current study compared prevalence and revictimization rates and negative correlates of SV based on victim–offender relationship. Findings suggest higher prevalence rates of SV perpetrated by a nonpartner compared to an intimate partner although similar and alarming rates of revictimization. Regarding negative correlates of SV, no differences were identified based on victim–offender relationship; however, victims of SV by both an intimate partner and a nonpartner demonstrated the highest negative correlates. These findings demonstrate the importance of addressing SV by nonpartners and intimate partners and the necessity for tertiary prevention efforts to decrease revictimization.

Download Full-text