Measurements in Social Work Research

Victoria Schwager

SW 4810: Research Methods II

Wayne State University

Due 10/23/2013

Turning Point is an agency that deals with works with survivors/victims of domestic violence and sexual assault along with the homeless. Turning points has multiple components to it as well as locations. The admin building holds the offices for the therapists, the conferences rooms and rooms for group settings. Support services is all in the admin building, the domestic violence, sexual assault and childrens therapists all have offices here. Some of the CAP program is also in the admin building, and finally the director and everyone else that is in between. Next, we have two shelters which are buildings for the homeless and/or the survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, the crisis line is with shelter and then in downtown Mt. Clemens there are offices for the legal aspect of Turning Point. Turning Point deals with a diverse population, from ethnicity to backgrounds. Clients range from children to adults. Hard copies of the survey would be given before the group would start. The survey would only take a few minutes to complete and then the clients may give them back to the therapist. My survey is in hopes to determine the relationship between ability to cope with stress, anger and happiness and the way one deals with the trauma of domestic violence. My population will include a group of survivors of domestic violence. I will focus on the data collected from the surveys to try and a find a correlation between coping abilities and the trauma of violence. I will also give the survey out to a group of women who have not been affect by violence to compare the similarities and differences. In the article I found, Clinically Significant Trauma Symptoms and Behavioral Problems in a Community-based Sample of Children Exposed to Domestic Violence. The study was assessing the characteristics of domestic violence with significant levels of traumatic symptoms as well as behavioral problems. Domestic violence is a range of verbal, emotional and physical threats which results in physical aggression. Women and sometimes men of all types

can be affect by domestic violence. Adults and children affected by domestic violence may have symptoms of behavioral problems as well as coping issues. This study will help in understanding a correlation between trauma and behavior which relates to the survey I had created by both finding correlations between the trauma of violence and ones behavior. The study performed a procedure to collect the data needed to for study. This study started by doing a series of surveys to obtain the measurements needed. There were three groups of predictors for the study, 1) demographics about the child and childs family, 2) characteristics of the violent event, and 3) the childs perceptions of the violent event. The study had to perform data analysis which showed the logistic regression and how it was utilized to test the hypothesized associations. Two outcomes came from the study, 1) symptoms of trauma, and 2) problem behaviors in children. So when looking back to the results of the study, the article states results showed that perceived threat control were associated with greater odds of clinically significant levels of several trauma symptoms (and behavior problems in the case of perceived threat) after adjusting for effects of demographic factors and violence characteristics. (pg.487) Overall, the study has shown that the outcomes have consisted of traumatic threats and behavior problems due to the greater odds of clinically significant levels of trauma.

Reference: Spilsbury, J. C. et al. (2007). Clinically significant trauma symptoms and behavioral problems in a community-based sample of children exposed to domestic violence. Journal of Family Violence, 22(6), 487-499. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10896-007-9113-z

Support Services Before Group Intake/Survey

Please take a few moments to fill out the survey below. Your feedback is anonymous and will help us to continue improving the group experience. 1) Gender? (Please circle) Female Male Transgendered 2) How old are you in years? _____________ 3) Do you have children? _______ 3a) If yes, please state how many. ___________ 4) What is your marital status? (Circle one) Married Divorced Single Widow Separated 5) What is your ethnicity? ( Circle one) Caucasian African American Native American Hispanic Other (Please specify) : ______________ 6) Are you employed? ( Circle one) Yes No

7) What is your education level? (Circle one) High School Graduate GED College degree Some college Not applicable 8) What is your current living situation? (Circle one) Rent/own a home With a relative In a shelter With your partner Other: ________ 9) Sexual Orientation ( Circle one) Straight Gay Lesbian Bisexual Other Please rate the following. Not at all A little Somewhat Very much

10) Overall knowledge of Domestic Violence?

11) Ability to cope with Stress?

12) Ability to cope with Anger?

13) Overall happiness?

Codebook
Question #1 in survey: Gender? Variable label: Gender Variable description: Gender of Client Variable values: 1= female, 2=male, 3=transgender; SYSMIS: 999 Level of measurement: Nominal Question #2 in survey: How old are you in years? Variable label: Age Variable description: Age of client in years Variable values: Range from 1-105; SYSMIS: 999 Level of measurement: Ratio Question #3 in survey: Do you have children? Variable label: Children Variable description: Children client has. Variable values: 1=yes 2=no; SYSMIS: 999 Level of measurement: Nominal Question #3a in survey: If yes, please state how many? Variable label: how many Variable description: How many children Variable values: Range from 1-20; SYSMIS: 999 Level of measurement: Ratio Question #4 in survey: What is your marital status? Variable label: marital status Variable description: Martial Status of Client. Variable values: 1=married, 2=divorced, 3=single, 4=widow, 5=separated; SYSMIS: 999 Level of measurement: Nominal Question #5 in survey: What is your race? Variable label: Race Variable description: Race of Client Variable values: 1=Caucasian, 2= African American, 3= Native American, 4= Hispanic, 5= Other; SYSMIS: 999 Level of measurement: Nominal Question #6 in survey: Are you employed ? Variable label: Employment Variable description: Employment of Client

Variable values: 1=Yes, 2= No; SYSMIS: 999 Level of measurement: Nominal Question #7 in survey: What is your education level? Variable label: Education Variable description: Education Level of Client Variable values:1=High School Graduate, 2=GED, 3= College degree, 4=Some college, 5= Not Applicable; SYSMIS: 999 Level of measurement: Nominal Question #8 in survey: What is your current living situation? Variable label: Living Situation Variable description: Living Situation of Client Variable values:1=Rent/Own Home, 2=With a relative, 3= In a shelter, 4=With your partner, 5=Other; SYSMIS: 999 Level of measurement: Nominal Question #9 in survey: Sexual Orientation ? Variable label: Sexual Orientation Variable description: Sexual Orientation of Client Variable values: 1=Straight, 2=Gay, 3=Lesbian, 4= Bisexual; SYSMIS: 999 Level of measurement: Nominal Question #10 in survey: Overall knowledge of Domestic Violence? Variable label: Knowledge of DV Variable description: Knowledge of DV that Client knows Variable values: 1= not at all, 2= a little, 3= somewhat, 4= very much; SYSMIS: 999 Level of measurement: Nominal Question #11 in survey: Ability to cope with Stress? Variable label: Stress Variable description: Clients ability to cope with Stress Variable values: 1= not at all, 2= a little, 3= somewhat, 4= very much; SYSMIS: 999 Level of measurement: Nominal Question #12 in survey: Ability to cope with Anger? Variable label: Anger Variable description: Clients ability to cope with Anger Variable values: 1= not at all, 2= a little, 3= somewhat, 4= very much; SYSMIS: 999 Level of measurement: Nominal Question #13 in survey: Overall happiness? Variable label: Happiness Variable description: Clients overall happiness

Variable values: 1= not at all, 2= a little, 3= somewhat, 4= very much; SYSMIS: 999 Level of measurement: Nominal