SUPPORTING STATEMENT – PART B
B. COLLECTIONS OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS
If the collection of information employs statistical methods, it should be indicated in Item 17 of OMB Form 83-I, and the following information should be provided in this Supporting Statement:
1. Description of the Activity
Describe the potential respondent universe and any sampling or other method used to select respondents. Data on the number of entities covered in the collection should be provided in tabular form for the universe as a whole and for each of the strata in the proposed sample. Indicate the expected response rates for the collection as a whole, as well as the actual response rates achieved during the last collection, if previously conducted.
The Sexual Violence Support and Experiences Study (SVSES) is a redesign of prior survey efforts including the Military Investigation Justice Experience Survey (MIJES) and the Sexual Experience Survey (SES), which were collectively fielded from 2014 – 2016. Previous research efforts were conducted in response to a Secretary of Defense Directive requiring that a standardized and voluntary survey be regularly administered to military members who brought forward a report of sexual assault and participated in the military justice process. The goal was to “provide the sexual assault victim/survivor the opportunity to assess and provide feedback on their experiences with SAPR victim assistance, the military health system, the military justice process, and other areas of support.” The SVSES maintains many of the same focus areas but expands upon previous efforts by expanding eligibility for the study.
Any Service member (Active or Reserve component) who has experienced unwnated sexual contact or sexual assault since joining the military will be eligible to participate in the SVSES, regardless of whether or not they reported the experience and regardless of the report type. Given that the purpose of the SVSES (i.e. to learn more about Service members’ experiences with the sexual assault response system and military justice process), that eligibility includes any military member (Active, Reserve, or National Guard) who has experienced sexual assault in the military, and the persistent underreporting of sexual assaults (which precludes our ability to know the universe of military members who have experienced sexual assault), the study will not deploy a sampling strategy.
Recruitment for the SVSES will include the following approaches:
Proactive outreach to Service members who previously filed an unrestricted report for sexual assault (identified using the Defense Sexual Assault Incident Database [DSAID]);
Outreach to Service members who previously requested to learn more about the study (via response to an item asking participants in the 2021 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey to indicate interest in learning more abou the SVSES); and,
Outreach by Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) professionals (e.g., Sexual Assault Response Coordinators [SARCs] and Victim Advocates [VA]) and medical/behavioral health professionals with whom Service members interact in their units or at military installations).
Given that a statistical sampling approach will not be utilized, “response rates” in the traditional sense are not applicable. The study will monitor the performance of outreach efforts for purposes of process improvement. In other words, we will track (to the extent possible) the method of outreach (from the three aforementioned approaches) that drives participants to the study landing page and to join the study.
Previous surveys of this type—the aforementioned MIJES and SES—were also non-probability surveys. We summarize participation in the most recent efforts below:
2016–2017 Military Investigation and Justice Experience Survey (MIJES); 510 respondents
2015 Military Investigation and Justice Experience Survey (MIJES); 323 respondents
2014 Survivor Experince Survey (SES); 151 respondents
2. Procedures for the Collection of Information
Describe any of the following if they are used in the collection of information:
Statistical methodologies for stratification and sample selection;
The SVSES will use a non-probability design; any Service member (Active or Reserve component) who has experienced unwanted sexual contact or sexual assault since joining the military will be eligible to participate in the study.
b. Estimation procedures; NA
c. Degree of accuracy needed for the Purpose discussed in the justification; NA
d. Unusual problems requiring specialized sampling procedures; NA
e. Use of periodic or cyclical data collections to reduce respondent burden.
Service members will receive an initial (i.e. baseline) survey of up to 64 questions (~30 minutes in length) followed by quarterly follow-up surveys that are substantially shorter in length (no more than 10 minutes to complete). The study’s quarterly design will also allow Service members to share their experiences with sexual assault support and military justice processes over time and in relation to specific circumstances or events. Information about Service members’ experience will allow SAPRO and other DoD policy offices to identify specific moments in the support or justice process that are challenging for Service members and to develop targeted solutions to address those challenges.
3. Maximization of Response Rates, Non-response, and Reliability
Discuss methods used to maximize response rates and to deal with instances of non-response. Describe any techniques used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of responses is adequate for intended purposes. Additionally, if the collection is based on sampling, ensure that the data can be generalized to the universe under study. If not, provide special justification.
The SVSES is a non-probability survey meaning that no statistical sampling approach will be utilized. Results of the study will not be generalizable to the full universe of sexual assault survivors or to the full population of military members. A non-probability approach is necessary because persistent under-reporting of sexual assault and other forms of sexual violence makes it impossible to know or identify the full population of military sexual assault survivors. Moreover, under-reporting of sexual assault means that, even where sampling approaches are utilized (for example, the Workplace and Gender Relations Survey), a substantial sample size is necessary to collect enough usable data for creating population-level estimates. Given the interest in collecting feedback from respondents over time, we would need to maintain this substantial sample size over time which would amount to a substantial burden. While a non-probability design will not allow for generalizability to the full population, consolidating Service member feedback regarding their experiences with the sexual assault response and accountability system will still be highly informative to policy leaders in the DoD.
Recruitment for the SVSES will involve proactive outreach to Service members who previously filed an unrestricted report for sexual assault, Service members who requested to learn more about the study, and via SAPR professionals located in military units and at military installations worldwide.
OPA will take several steps to encourage articipation in the study, including:
Targeted outreach (via emial) to military members who have made an unrestricted report as identifed using the DSAID (the DoD’s official source of data on sexual assault reporting)
Targeted outreach (via emial) to military members who indicated interest in the SVSES via a question included on the 2021 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Military Members (2021 WGR).
Conducting training for SAPR professionals to explain the purpose and benefits of the study and how they can encourage participation.
Revising the sexual assault report intake form used by SAPR professionals to include a task for them to inform Service members who report sexual assault about the option to join the study.
Developent of a flyer with QR code and “text to join” feature for posting in unit or installation areas to include medical and behavioral health facilities that sexual assault survivors may utilize.
The option for Service members to provide their preferred method of contact (email and/or mobile phone number) to receive reminders for follow-up surveys.
Study enrollment and the survey questionnaires will be easily accessible via the web, and survey instruments were designed with participant burden in mind.
4. Tests of Procedures
Describe any tests of procedures or methods to be undertaken. Testing of potential respondents (9 or fewer) is encouraged as a means of refining proposed collections to reduce respondent burden, as well as to improve the collection instrument utility. These tests check for internal consistency and the effectiveness of previous similar collection activities.
Cognitive interviews were conducted with Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs), Victim Advocates (VAs), and Service members who have experienced sexual assault. Interviewees provided feedback on draft versions of the questionnaire and outreach materials to inform the study team regarding the clarity and accuracy of recruitment materials, select survey questions, and response options. Survey metrics included in the questionnaire are derived from existing validated metrics available in the body of scientific literature specific to the topic areas of the survey. Where available, metrics were identified from existing military surveys (e.g., the Workplace and Gender Relations Survey, the Status of Forces Survey, and the Workplace and Equal Opportunity Survey).
5. Statistical Consultation and Information Analysis
a. Provide names and telephone number of individual(s) consulted on statistical aspects of the design.
N/A
Provide name and organization of person(s) who will actually collect and analyze the collected information.
Data will be collected by OPA’s operations contractor, Data Recognition Corporation (DRC). Contact information is listed below.
Ms. Valerie Waller, Senior Managing Director, Data Recognition Corporation, [email protected]
Ms. Amy Seller, Senior Project Manager - Survey Services, [email protected]
Data will be analyzed by OPA social scientists and analysts. Contact information is listed below.
Dr. Rachel Breslin, Chief of Military Gender Relations Research, Health & Resilience Research Division – OPA, [email protected]
Dr. Ashlea Klahr, Director, Health & Resilience Research Division – OPA, [email protected]
Dr. Becky Lane, Managing Researcher – Fors Marsh Group, [email protected]
Dr. Kathryn Elvey, Senior Researcher – Fors Marsh Group, [email protected]
Dr. Kiersten Downs, Senior Researcher – Fors Marsh Group, [email protected]
Mr. Mark Petusky, Operations Analyst – Fors Marsh Group, [email protected]
Mr. Alex Fernandez, Operations Analyst – Fors Marsh Group, [email protected]
Ms. Kimberly Hylton, Senior Researcher – Fors Marsh Group, [email protected]
Ms. Amanda Barry, Director, Military Workplace Climate Research – Fors Marsh Group, [email protected]
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| Author | Patricia Toppings |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2022-09-14 |