Jae Applewhaite

Lower 6 Arts

Sociology

You are asked to conduct research on domestic violence in the common-law family unit.

1. Describe the research design you would use and provide justification for your choice. 17 Marks

2. Explain TWO ethical issues that should be taken into consideration when conducting your
research. 8 Marks

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence in the USA defines Domestic violence as “the wilful
intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behaviour as part of a
systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. It
includes physical violence, sexual violence, threats, and emotional/psychological abuse”.

With the above background, the research will be undertaken with the following objectives:

1. To determine the prevalence (how common), characteristics (type) and alleged reasons for
domestic violence reported against adults (male and female) and children in the common law family
unit. For purposes of the research, I would define the family unit as a cohabitating relationship
between adult male and female, who may or may not have children. The research would be
interested in domestic violence which has occurred within the last 12 months.

2. To determine the perceived ability of the abused to cope with the act of violence, and to
overcome the situation.

3. To determine if there is a greater correlation between domestic violence and the common law
family unit versus domestic violence and the nuclear family (married family unit).

METHOD:
Given that empirical evidence indicates that domestic violence is perpetrated mainly against women,
I would use a sample with this bias. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief,
Intimate Partner Violence, 1993-2001, February 2003, 85% of domestic violence victims are women.
The sample would be made up of 85% women between 18 and 65 years old, 8% men between 18
and 65 years old, and 7% children between the ages of 10 and 18 years. The study would be a
community-based cross-sectional study.

The sample size would be based on the size of the population being studied using an online sample
size calculator. For example, if the community being studied consisted of 1000 common law families,
the size of the sample population would be 213, given a desired confidence level of 90% and a
margin of error of +/- 5%. This sample size would allow us to be 90% confident that the sample
results are representative of the larger population, + or - 5%.

Based on the eventual sample size the duration of the study will be determined.

The study tool would be a pre-designed, pre-tested and structured questionnaire which would
capture the following information about the respondents.
Demographic characteristics of the respondents:
Age group

Religion

Level of Education

Number of children

Type of family (Nuclear / Joint)

Range of family income

Characteristics of violence reported by the respondents

Frequency of violence in last one year

 Few times in a week

 Few times in a month

 Few times in a year

Perpetrators of violence

 Husband

 Father

Wife

Mother

Perpetrators intoxicated during the act

 Yes

 No

Specific acts of physical assault

 Slapping

 Kicking

 Beating with a stick or rod (etc.)

Reasons for violence reported by the respondents

Underlying

 Not having a child

 Relationship with another person

 Disobeying elders/perpetrators

 Unemployment of perpetrator

 Poor family income

 Not approving relationship with parents

Causing immediate provocation

 Not obeying or arguing back

 Refusing sex

Perceptions of the respondents to cope with the act of violence

 Revolt
 Tolerate
 Try to convince assaulter
 Seek help outside
Perceptions of the respondents to overcome the situation
 Opportunity of education
 Being economically productive
 Better family income
 De-addiction of assailant
 Changing oneself
 Can’t say
The Study technique would be the unstructured interview method. Once permission is obtained
from the participants of the survey, participants will be interviewed face to face at a location
agreeable to the participant. Special permission will be obtained from parent or guardian of children
for their participation in the research. The anonymity of the responses will be guaranteed. The
interviewees will be asked about their demographic profile, characteristics and reasons for violence
and their perceptions towards this.

Analysis of data: The data obtained will be collated and analysed statistically using accepted
statistical tests. Credible published research data on domestic violence within married families will
be compared to the results of the research to determine in which group domestic violence is more
prevalent.

Rationale for method / design chosen.

The benefits of using a pre-designed, pre-tested and structured questionnaire is that it will provide
quantitative research data which is measurable and objective. The data will allow for comparisons to
be made across the various categories such as age group, level of education etc. The data can also be
easily presented in the form of tables and hypothesis can be tested. The fact that the questionnaire
has been pretested will also improve its effectiveness.

The use of the unstructured interview will add value to the quantitative information generated by
the questionnaire. One will be able to have an improve cognitive understanding of the questionnaire
responses. Rich and better descriptions can be obtained to illuminate the questionnaire responses.
The interview is also more personal and will bring a sense of humanness to the research process.
Two ethical issues that should be taken into consideration when conducting this research are:

1. The need to obtain formal consent from research participants. Participants should be made aware
that they are taking part in research, interviews are being recorded and what will be required of
them.

2. The anonymity and confidentiality of the participants should be protected. Research data should
be protected at all stages of the process from collection to publication. To enhance anonymity
pseudonyms should be used.

In summary, my research methods would be mixed, utilizing both a quantitative approach

(questionnaire), and a qualitative approach (unstructured interview). This approach would not be to
simultaneously satisfy both the positivist and interpretivist among us, but rather to garnished
information which will be more illuminating and useful.