U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Next Millennium Conference: Ending Domestic Violence; Safety, Confidentiality and Ethics
NCJ Number
              184569

Author(s)
          Ragina Berdava;
                        Sandra Beman
Date Published

August 1999
Length
              50 pages
Annotation
              A battered women's shelter director and a researcher discuss issues related to the safety, confidentiality, and ethics of research with battered women.
Abstract
              The shelter director speaks from the perspective of one whose primary concern is that research with battered women do no harm and achieve benefits for the women. This means that researchers should consult with shelter staff and other service providers about research methodology and goals. Methodology should ensure battered women's anonymity, and interview techniques should not increase or aggravate stress for the women interviewed. Contracts should be made with the researchers to ensure that agreed-upon research procedures are followed. All interviewers should be trained in the nature of domestic violence and the needs of its victims. The researcher discusses various issues of safety, confidentiality, and ethics from the perspective of the researcher. The researcher has the difficult task of collecting accurate and valid data while ensuring that collection methods are not harmful to the battered women participating in the research. Researchers must ensure anonymity and use research techniques that are either therapeutic or benign by the standards of treatment specialists. One significant ethical issue discussed by the researcher is the overlap between partner abuse and child abuse in the same family. Often an interview with a battered woman reveals that her children have also been abused. Is the researcher obligated to report this child abuse to authorities or should the information remain confidential between researcher and subject? The researcher discusses the dilemma and how it can be resolved.
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        1999-WT-VX-0002


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Conference Material
    
  
  
Date Published: August 1, 1999
    
          Downloads
        
                      PDF

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Domestic assault
        Domestic assault prevention
        Domestic violence causes
        Female victims
        NIJ Grant-related Documents



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Racial Inequality in the Transition to Adulthood After Prison
                  Strontium Isotope Ratios of Human Hair Record Intra-City Variations in Tap Water Source
                  Decomposition of Juvenile-Sized Remains: a Macro- and Microscopic Perspective
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov