Date of Conferral

2019

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Julie Lindahl

Abstract

One in four women experience sexual assault during college. With rates of sexual assault on college campuses continuing to increase, the need for advanced analysis utilizing contemporary variables is justified. The purpose of this quantitative study was to compare two groups of female college-attending students. One group was certain and the other suspected that they were sexually assaulted while incapacitated (independent variables). Dependent variables compared between groups were offender type (interest on offenders with fraternal affiliations), law enforcement reporting decisions, and barriers to reporting sexual assault. Four research questions measured whether there was a statistically significant difference amongst the dependent variables when compared to the independent variables. The theoretical foundation for this study was empowerment theory. A comparative research design was used to examine archival data from the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research. Logistic regression and chi-square analysis showed mostly significant results: fraternal membership, reporting to law enforcement, and barriers to reporting to law enforcement were statistically significant. In addition, ad hoc tests were significant, indicating that being on a date with the offender, university disciplinary action taken, and whether the offender was arrested were all statistically significant variables. Social change is achievable at two levels, organizational and societal. Universities, advocacy groups, and governmental agencies may all benefit from contemporary findings. Furthermore, improved societal understanding of campus sexual assault culture and victimology can create a safe space for victims to report sexual assault on a college campus when it involves incapacitation.

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