Consent

Sexual Violence Support and Experiences Study

Agency Disclosure Notice

The public reporting burden for this collection of information, OMB Control Number: 0704-XXXX, is estimated to average 30 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing the instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or burden reduction suggestions to the Department of Defense (DoD), Washington Headquarters Services, at [email protected] (OMB Control Number:0704-XXXX). Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number.

Privacy Advisory

This study assesses the respondent’s perspective regarding survivor support services and the military justice process. Study members will take an initial survey and then receive invitations to very short follow-up surveys on a quarterly basis until you elect to leave the study or the study ends. Your name and contact information are only used for distribution of the survey. Your responses to the demographic questions will allow the DoD to better analyze all responses among varying demographic groups. The survey is confidential. Therefore, any responses you provide regarding experiences with sexual assault or unwanted sexual contact will not impact your reporting options. The Office of People Analytics (OPA) has received a federal "Certificate of Confidentiality" that provides additional protection against any attempt to subpoena confidential survey records. Responding to this survey is voluntary. There is no penalty to you if you choose not to respond.

Additional Information

Justification for the Sexual Violence Support and Experiences Study (SVSES) comes from guidance from the 2019 Sexual Assault Accountability and Investigation Task Force SAAITF) which called for the need to: assess victims’ experiences with services provided; assess victims’ overall experience with the military justice process; assess compliance with policies and regulations; and, determine areas of improvement to ensure an unparalleled and supportive system is in place. References to the perpetrator or offender throughout the study should be interpreted as “alleged perpetrator” or “alleged offender” because without knowing the specific outcomes of a particular allegation, the presumption of innocence applies unless there is an investigation that substantiates the allegations and there is an adjudication of guilt. For more information see https://media.defense.gov/2019/May/02/2002127159/-1/-1/1/ saaitf_report.pdf.

The data collection procedures are not expected to involve any risk or discomfort to you.

In no case will individual identifiable survey responses be reported. Identifying information will be used only by government and contractor staff engaged in, and for purposes of, survey research.

The government and its contractors have a number of policies and procedures to ensure the survey data are safe and protected. For example, no identifying information (name, address, Social Security Number) is ever stored in the same file as survey responses.

Your responses could be used in future research. Survey data may be shared with DoD researchers or organizations outside the DoD who are conducting research on DoD personnel. In many cases, these researchers will be provided with a dataset containing limited demographic information (for example, Service/component and gender). OPA performs a disclosure avoidance analysis to reduce the risk of there being a combination of demographic variables which can single out an individual. In some instances, and only with sponsor approval, OPA may make available datasets with additional demographic variables to a small number of approved researchers. There is some risk individuals might be identified on these datasets; however, OPA implements several procedures to protect the data. Statistical analyses can only be performed after review and approval to ensure identifying information is not released. Access to these datasets will only be allowed on a need-to-know basis with an approved data sharing agreement in place. Researchers approved for access to these datasets must adhere to strict procedures, including - but not limited to - data sharing agreements, secure transfers of data, destruction of files upon completion of research, and authorization to reuse data. In addition, receipt and use of these datasets must adhere to all DoD information assurance, security, and other data use policies.

Subject to approval by the Department of Defense, some findings may be published by the Office of People Analytics (OPA) or in professional journals or presented at scientific conferences. 

If you answer any items in such a way that you indicate distress or being upset, etc., you will not be contacted for follow-up purposes. However, if you indicate a direct threat to harm yourself or others within responses or communications about the survey, because of concern for your welfare, OPA may notify an office in your area for appropriate action.

A respondent who experienced sexual harassment or sexual assault may experience discomfort and/or other emotions while completing the survey. Contact information is provided below for those who experience such discomfort.

If you are a victim of sexual assault, unwanted sexual contact, or a person who wishes to prevent or respond to this crime, you may want to contact a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) or Victim Advocate (VA). To reach the DoD Safe Helpline 24/7 for restricted/unrestricted reporting and established DoD Sexual Assault Services, call a hotline number:

Toll-Free: 1-877-995-5247

DSN: 94-877-995-5247

Worldwide: https://www.safehelpline.org/ or www.sapr.mil/

If you experience any difficulties while taking the survey, please contact the Survey Processing Center by sending an e-mail to _____________or calling, 1-800-881-5307. If you have concerns about your rights as a study participant, please contact the OUSD(P&R) Research Regulatory Oversight Office at 703-681-1568/703-681-6665 or e-mail [email protected].

Once you start answering the survey, if you desire to withdraw your answers, please notify the Survey Processing Center. Please include in the e-mail or phone message your name, Ticket Number (or DoDID if you do not have a Ticket Number), and the PIN that you selected when you started the survey. Unless withdrawn, partially completed survey data may be used.

Click Continue if you agree to take the survey.