STUDENT JUDGMENTS ABOUT DATING VIOLENCE: A Factorial Vignette Analysis

Abstract

Survey vignette methodology was employed toinvestigate student beliefs about what constitutesabusive behaviors in dating relationships. A packet of15 unique vignettes depicting incidents that might be considered to be violent was distributed torandomly selected graduate and undergraduate studentswho were asked to rate physical abusiveness. Based onmultiple regression analysis, both contextual and student demographic characteristics were foundto influence abusiveness ratings. Significant predictorsof abuse judgments were nature of the aggressive act andvictim's gender and sexual orientation. More severe acts of aggression, female victims, gayand lesbian victims, a history of violence in therelationship, injurious outcome, male perpetrator, andalcohol consumption significantly increased abusiveness ratings. More advanced students and femalestudents tended to make higher abuse ratings, whereasbeing in a relationship was associated with lowerratings. Although both contextual and demographicfactors affected student judgments of abusiveness,student characteristics explained relatively littlebeyond what was accounted for by situational variablesin the scenarios depicted.