Measurement of Bystander Actions in Violence Intervention Evaluation: Opportunities and Challenges

AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review discusses design and methodological challenges specific to measuring bystander actions in the evaluation of bystander-based violence prevention programming. “Bystanders” are defined as people who are present immediately before, during, and/or after a violent event, but are not a perpetrator nor the intended victim. Bystander-based violence prevention programs seek to prevent or mitigate violent events by empowering bystanders to intervene on acts of violence and social norms that promulgate violence.Recent FindingsEffective bystander-based violence prevention programs demonstrate increased bystander intentions, actions, and attitudes [Bringing in the Bystander: Banyard et al. J Community Psychol.2007;35:463-481; iSCREAM: McMahon et al. Health Education Research.2015;30(4):554-568; The Men's Project: Gidycz et al. Violence Against Women.2011;7(6):720-742; and Green Dot: Coker et al. Violence Against Women2011;17:777-796] lowered violence acceptance scores (Coker et al. Violence Against Women2011;17:777-796; Banyard et al. J Coll Stud Dev2009;50(4)446-457; Cares et al. Violence Against Women.2015;21:65-87; McMahon et al. Health Education Research.2015;30(4):554-568; Moynihan et al. J Interper Viol.2015;30:110-132) and reduce sexual violence perpetration and victimization (Coker et al. Am J Prev Med.2017;52(5):566-578; Millet et al. Am J Prev Med2013;45(1):108-112; Gidcyz et al. Violence Against Women.2011;7(6):720-742). However, bystande...
Source: Current Epidemiology Reports - Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research