Session: Measurement Issues in Bystander Intervention (Society for Social Work and Research 27th Annual Conference - Social Work Science and Complex Problems: Battling Inequities + Building Solutions)

All in-person and virtual presentations are in Mountain Standard Time Zone (MST).

SSWR 2023 Poster Gallery: as a registered in-person and virtual attendee, you have access to the virtual Poster Gallery which includes only the posters that elected to present virtually. The rest of the posters are presented in-person in the Poster/Exhibit Hall located in Phoenix A/B, 3rd floor. The access to the Poster Gallery will be available via the virtual conference platform the week of January 9. You will receive an email with instructions how to access the virtual conference platform.

33 Measurement Issues in Bystander Intervention

Schedule:
Thursday, January 12, 2023: 3:15 PM-4:45 PM
Alhambra, 2nd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)
Cluster: Research Design and Measurement
Symposium Organizer:
Annelise Mennicke, PhD, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Discussant:
Annelise Mennicke, PhD, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Bystander intervention is an evidence-based approach to preventing multiple forms of harm (including interpersonal violence, bullying, and discrimination). However, a perennial challenge in the field of bystander intervention is how to best measure bystander intervention behaviors and related constructs (e.g., intentions, self-efficacy, barriers). Relatively few validated measures of bystander intervention behavior and related constructs exist, and many have become outdated as trends shift and new knowledge about bystander opportunity and behaviors emerge. The purpose of this symposium is to highlight current and emerging research into the complex topic of measurement of bystander intervention behaviors and related constructs. Social workers have an important role to play in the development, implementation, and evaluation of such programs. Paper 1 documents the results of a systematic review of validated measures of bystander intervention. Relatively few scales (n=24) were identified across domains of harm, with considerable limitations in scope and sampling. Study 2 describes the process of creating a measure of bystander intervention to combat sexual harassment within workplaces, accounting for complexities such as power dynamics and the role of identities impacted by systematic forms of oppression (e.g., racism, homophobia). Relatedly, Paper 3 describes the psychometric properties of a measure of bystander intervention behaviors among faculty and staff on a university campus, suggesting a 3 factor structure for both bystander attitudes (innapropriate comments from students, inappropriate comments from faculty, desire to participate in activities) and bystander behaviors (concern regarding the victim, activities to end sexual violence, concern over inappropriate statements). This provides important context for determining the best practices for assessing bystander intervention behaviors. Paper 4 provides additional nuance to the measurement of bystander intervention behavior by asking 2,266 students from 2 universities about their amount of opportunity to directly confront someone at risk of perpetration sexual violence, frequency of taking the described action, and consequences of acting. Students reported intervening in the majority of situations and most reported no harmful consequences as a result. Lastly, Paper 5 describes the results of a qualitative content analysis of 5,154 open-ended responses from students at 15 universities, responding to prompts about what bystander behaviors they utilized and what opportunities they had for bystander behavior. Preliminary themes suggest a need to include more diverse options when assessing for bystander behaviors (e.g., getting drunk friends home safely), as well as a range of concerning events that respondents viewed as opportunities for intervention (e.g., racist events, suicidal ideation by peers, public fights) which are not typically considered targets of bystander intervention. Together these five papers highlight a range of novel techniques that are being utilized to improve measurement of bystander intervention behaviors and related constructs. As bystander intervention is recognized as an evidence-based technique central to a comprehensive approach to violence prevention, more social workers will be tasked with implementing such strategies in schools, workplaces, and communities. It is critical to have rigorous measurement tools that can inform both program design and evaluation.
* noted as presenting author
A Systematic Review of Validated Measures of Bystander Related Constructs
Annelise Mennicke, PhD, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Erika Montanaro, PhD, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Jessamyn Bowling, PhD, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Anvi Tirunagari, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Madi Williams, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Bridget Jules, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Sydney Campbell, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Hannah Carlson, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Shayna Farris, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Neha Kissler, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Victoria McClare, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Alyssa McGonagle, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Phoebe Pruneda, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Gabrielle Haley, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Sarah McMahon, PhD, Rutgers University; Christopher Correia, Auburn University; Kevin Benson, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Jessica Willard, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Abigail Post, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Sean McCabe, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Austin Coates, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Alexa Sotiroff, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Erin Meehan, MSW, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Developing a Measure to Assess Workplace Bystander Intervention
Sarah McMahon, PhD, Rutgers University; Laura Johnson, PhD, Temple University
Development of the Bystander Attitude and Behavior Scales with University Faculty
Nada Elias-Lambert, PhD, Texas Christian University; Kristin Bolton, PhD, University of North Carolina at Wilmington; Jessica Grace, Texas Christian University; Sarah Leat, PhD, University of Texas at Arlington; Richard Pond, PhD, University of North Carolina Wilmington
A Nuanced Approach to Measuring Bystander Intervention Opportunity, Action, and Consequences
Jill Hoxmeier, PhD, Central Washington University; Sarah McMahon, PhD, Rutgers University; Julia Cusano, MSW, Rutgers University
Using Student Voice to Inform Measurement of Bystander Opportunities and Actions
Annelise Mennicke, PhD, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Jessamyn Bowling, PhD, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Erin Meehan, MSW, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Anvi Tirunagari, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Keshawn Mathews, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Gabrielle Haley, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Victoria McClare, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Hannah Carlson, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Madi Williams, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Neha Kissler, University of North Carolina at Charlotte; Heather Bush, PhD, University of Kentucky; Ann Coker, PhD, University of Kentucky
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