Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/13
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This research is the first phase of a larger study on women's experiences of custody and visitation in the context of domestic violence. The outputs completed during the 2009 reporting period include the finalization of the research design; the creation of a screening tool to identify our target population; the creation of two data collection instruments; IRB approval; data collection; data entry; and preliminary analyses. We used a mixed-methods study design to examine the experiences of our population. Due to the dearth of information on this topic, we used qualitative interviews to more fully elucidate the issues and safety concerns facing our population. We also pilot-tested a quantitative scale. We created a screening tool used to identify respondents who met the study inclusion criteria, and to invite them to participate in the study. The screening tool was administered over the telephone, and respondents who met the inclusion criteria were asked if they were willing to share their experiences with child custody cases and safety issues. Those who agreed were enrolled in the study. The first instrument created for our study was a semi-structured interview protocol entitled "The Child Custody Experiences Study Interview Guide." We designed the Interview Guide to elicit information regarding abuse history, experiences with court processes, custody and visitation arrangements, and safety concerns. The second instrument created for our study was the "Conciliation Experiences Survey" (CES). The CES is a quantitative scale designed to gather information on the participants' experiences of secondary victimization, or revictimization, during conciliation, which is where the first custody arrangement is developed. The CES was developed based on existing scales regarding secondary victimization in the sexual assault and crime victim literatures (Campbell, 2005; Campbell & Raja, 1999; Orth, 2002; Orth & Maercker, 2004). It is the first scale to examine secondary victimization of domestic abuse survivors. Once IRB approval to conduct human subjects research was granted, we proceeded to identify our target population through the examination of publicly available court records. Research assistants called all prospective participants and screened them for inclusion. In all, 23 participants were recruited for the study. Participants ranged from 23 to 52 years old, with a mean of 40 years old. Eighty-seven percent of participants were White, 8.7 percent were Latina, and 4.3 percent were African American. Interviews ranged from 35 to 240 minutes, averaging 108 minutes. The interviews were recorded with digital audio recorders. Given our knowledge of the literature and of the interviews, we have developed working hypotheses to be tested using the qualitative data analysis technique of Analytic Induction. Quantitative data from the CES will be used to triangulate participants' experiences regarding conciliation, as well as to refine the scale for use in future research. Verbatim transcription of the interviews has begun, as has preliminary coding of the interviews. Entry of the quantitative CES data is complete, and preliminary data analysis has commenced. PARTICIPANTS: April M. Zeoli: Principal Investigator. Along with her collaborative team, Zeoli developed the research questions; designed the research and its protocol; created the screening tool and Child Custody Experiences Study Interview Guide; recruited and managed research assistants; obtained IRB approval; managed and secured data collected by the research assistants; created a secure website for exchange of confidential data with approved persons; and developed the data analysis plan. Cris Sullivan: Co-Investigator. As part of the collaborative team, Sullivan developed the research questions; designed the research and its protocol; created the screening tool and Child Custody Experiences Study Interview Guide; oversaw the creation of the Conciliation Experiences Survey; trained research assistants to conduct screenings and interviews; and developed the data analysis plan. Sheryl Kubiak: Co-Investigator. As part of the collaborative team, Kubiak developed the research questions; designed the research and its protocol; created the screening tool and Child Custody Experiences Study Interview Guide; and developed the data analysis plan. Echo Rivera: Research Assistant. As part of the collaborative team, Rivera developed the research questions; designed the research and its protocol; created the screening tool and Child Custody Experiences Study Interview Guide; identified, screened and interviewed research participants; transcribed interviews; and developed the data analysis plan. Rivera was also responsible for the creation of the Conciliation Experiences Survey. Alexis Norris: Research Assistant. Norris identified, screened and interviewed research participants and, as part of the collaborative team, developed the data analysis plan. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
While we have not completed data analysis, we have learned much about identifying our target population. Our method of identifying prospective participants through publicly available court records resulted in recruitment of 23 participants out of 29 eligible women, but out of 174 potential participants identified in court records. Over half of the phone numbers collected were disconnected or wrong numbers, despite having accessed court records filed within the previous three years. This is likely because people undergoing divorce do not remain in the same residence after filing. Another factor potentially reducing the number of working phone numbers for our participant pool is the increasing popularity of cell phones and diminishing number of land lines. Of the 23 participants in the study, few experienced the physical violence that is often commonly considered to constitute "domestic violence." Instead the majority experienced emotional abuse and controlling behaviors, which are less likely to receive attention but are generally considered by women to be even more devastating than physical violence. This sample, then, allows us to contribute to the literature about these more "hidden" forms of domestic abuse. In future studies, we intend to recruit a larger sample that includes more women experiencing physical violence. We learned through this study that it is difficult and time-consuming to recruit this group of women, in part likely due to their not listing their phone numbers and/or moving frequently to avoid their perpetrators. In light of this information, the recruitment technique for the next phase of the research will be altered to increase both the likelihood of successfully contacting prospective participants, and of including more women who have experienced physical violence.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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