U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Risk of Partner Aggression Research: Impact of Laboratory Couples Conflict Protocols on Participants

NCJ Number
215102
Journal
Violence and Victims Volume: 21 Issue: 4 Dated: August 2006 Pages: 483-497
Author(s)
Daniela J. Owens M.A.; Richard E. Heyman Ph.D.; Amy M. Smith Slep Ph.D.
Date Published
August 2006
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study explored the impact on respondents of participating in male-to-female intimate partner violence (IPV) research projects.
Abstract
Results indicated that both male (95.2 percent) and female (96.4 percent) participants in IPV research perceived their participation as helpful to their relationships as well as to them personally. Men with histories of IPV did not significantly differ from men without such histories in their ratings of study impact. In contrast, women in relationships with violent men rated their participation in the study as significantly more helpful than women without violent partners. None of the participants reported violence as a result of their participation. The findings are encouraging for researchers concerned about the impact of their IPV studies on at-risk research subjects. Participants were 85 couples who were recruited using random-digit dialing (RDD) and who agreed to complete the RDD survey, which collected information on demographics, relationship happiness, and physical aggression between partners. Specific measures included the Quality of Marriage Inventory and the Conflict Tactics Scale. The questionnaire also collected information about the impact of the study on the participant and on the relationship. Statistical data analysis techniques included the use of hierarchical linear modeling. Future research on IPV should include questions that assess study impact in order to increase the amount of systematic data available on the effects of research participation. Tables, notes, references