Discussion Response

 Replies to your classmates' initial posts should be minimum of 250 words.

For this week’s forum the specialty area that I feel would be studied by Industrial/Organizational psychologists would be Military Sexual Assault victims service longevity.  The psychologist’s research areas of interests are in the improvement of productivity, health and quality of work life.  In my two years as the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, I found there was no data collected on service longevity (military personnel reenlisting or staying in the military past their current commitment) of military sexual assault victims who had unrestricted reports of assault.  I feel there should be research to determine if Sexual Assault victims get out of the military due to the lack of care received after the incident and the fear of possibly being stationed with the perpetrator at another location.   

My Research Proposal

1. Proposed study's topic and focus


Research Military Sexual Assault victims over a period of six years to determine if the care they received provides them the opportunity to stay in the military for a career or does it hinder them and therefore they separate before or after their obligated commitment. 

2. Hypothesis (can be in a form of question or stating the Ho and Ha) 


Null = Ho - Lack of care is the deciding factor for a sexual assault victim to depart the military after their current commitment.

Alternate -Ha - Lack of care is not the deciding factor for a sexual assault victim to depart the military after their current commitment.

3. Participants (also sometimes referred to as "subjects")


This research would include unrestricted reports by military personnel filed in Defense Sexual Assault Incident Database (DSAID) for a period of six years.  This would include around 18,000 participants taken from fiscal year 2011 to fiscal year 2015 (sapr.mil).

4. Proposed sampling method 


My proposed sampling method would be purposive sampling.  I want to target only military personnel who filed unrestricted reports.  This means I would filter out any report filed by civilian and/or military dependents.

5. Data gathering method 


1. I would use a demographic questionnaire to obtain more background information since the information in DSAID may not be complete.

2. I would develop a written questionnaire to be sent to all possible participants.

3. I would develop a phone interview questionnaire to use in the follow-up session from those returned questionnaires.  This would allow for more detailed information or clarification of provided information.

6. Method of analysis (The type of statistics you would use to analyze gathered data; not stats formula details, but which stats you would use).


The method of analysis that I would use is descriptive.  The quantitative data would allow for better compilation of the large volume of data from the questionnaire and the demographics data as a whole. 

7. An explanation of your study's contribution/s to the field (the benefits to individuals, group's and society as a whole of the study results. 

This research would provide insight into how the system is treating victims on a macro level.  The SAPR office has data validating it’s responsive care for victims, however there is no data found that shows the long term effects the military has in treating victims after they leave the immediate care of the SAPR personnel.  Additionally, this data could give insight into possible trouble spots within the units (one career field having a higher number of separations over another) which could lead more a more in depth study targeting specific career fields.  The focus on using six years of study over just one or two is driven by the fact that enlisted personnel between all the services can serve from two to six years on a single enlistment.  For officers, four years is standard, however this can shift depending on the career field they have chosen (one example are flyers who have to serve 10 years).  This study could provide leadership with data that confirms the military is taking care of victims in a whole person concept (personal, spiritual, career) or it could show gaps and/or lagging care that could be addressed in short manner.  For a clarification, unrestricted reporting are sexual assault reports that are known and reported to military commanders and law enforcement for investigation.