Researching violence against women: a practical guide for researchers and activists

Overview

Produced by PATH and the World Health Organization, this guide draws on the experience of researchers from more than 40 countries and presents methods for performing surveys and qualitative research on gender-based violence in low-resource settings. It covers all aspects of the research process, from study design to training field workers. It also describes ways to use findings to influence decision-makers. Most important, it presents clear guidelines for protecting the safety of women participating in the research.

This manual is written for anyone interested in the application of social science and public health research methods to the study of gender-based violence. The manual assumes a certain level of familiarity with the logic of research and is not a substitute for training in research or research methodologies. It is designed for researchers who want to know more about adapting traditional research techniques to the special case of investigating physical and sexual abuse. And it is designed for activists, community workers, and service providers who want to become conversant in methodological issues.