Student Knowledge and Understanding of Sexual Violence: A Case Study at Duke University
Abstract
An estimated 20-25% of women experience sexual assault while at college. In response,
institutions of higher education are improving their policies and working to educate
students on the issue. The purpose of this study is to examine whether undergraduate
students at Duke University know and understand the University’s Student Sexual Misconduct
Policy on consent and sexual violence. Data gathered from student surveys (n = 320)
yielded mixed results on respondents’ knowledge of the policy. In addition, though
students had greater understanding of sexual violence than hypothesized, respondents
lacked understanding of the role of alcohol in consent. Statistical analyses showed
that men, varsity athletes, freshmen and non-LGBTQ students were more likely to misunderstand
sexual violence, as measured through responses to scenario questions on the student
survey. Recommendations of this study to the University include adding information
on alcohol and consent to the Student Sexual Misconduct Policy, improving outreach
and follow up for educational programming, and implementing scenario questions in
future surveys and training materials.
Type
Honors thesisDepartment
Public Policy StudiesPermalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/11467Citation
Becker, Erica (2016). Student Knowledge and Understanding of Sexual Violence: A Case Study at Duke University.
Honors thesis, Duke University. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/11467.Collections
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