Research on Domestic Violence

The first thing anyone wants to know when doing research on domestic violence are the statistics (how may domestic violence events are there per day/week/month/year), are the victims or perpetrators from different social classes, are they poor, rich, middling: what is their ethnic origin? And so many more pointless questions. Pointless that is, because in all its trying to tag down the 'perfect abuser' and the 'perfect victim', we risk losing sight of the individual caught in and desperately trying to make sense of the situation they are in, namely that of being in an abusive relationship which might cost them their sanity, their home, their metal stability and health, and in some cases, even their life or that of their children.

Anyway, after being hassled for figures and domestic violence statistics, I have succumbed and presented you with those I consider (following close looks at their research methods - and funding!), the domestic violence statistics I found most likely to be as close to accurate as possible. Read here for the Domestic Violence Statistics. (And please don't blame me if you don't like them or they don't fit with the dissertation you were hoping to write.)

Research on Hidden Hurt

At Hidden Hurt we try to collate our own research too, in the form of questionnaires and feedback forms. This helps us twofold:

1. To build up a picture of the visitors to Hidden Hurt, their experiences and needs and to give you an opportunity of telling us which issues are important to you and what you would like more information on.

2. To gain a better picture of the Reality of domestic violence directly from those who are experiencing it. Sometimes this research is commissioned by students or researchers - in which case we always ensure that your data is treated anonymously and only for the purpose for which it was designed - and sometimes the research is to enable us to provide better and more complete information on Hidden Hurt directly.

Current Research Questionnaires include:

1. Domestic Violence Questionnaire

2. Domestic Violence and Stalking

At no point is any of the information gained from the questionnaires passed on to third parties directly, though some of the research results might be passed on to students or researchers in the fields of domestic violence, gender or social studies.

Sometimes we are asked to host a link to other research projects being carried out by reputable organisations, usually Universities. These links are then included on Hidden Hurt for the duration of the study.

Recommended Reading for Students

We are also in the process of compiling a list of good quality research material in the form of books and internet links for the sake of those students trying to learn about domestic violence issues. This is an on-going project, and more links and books will be added as and when we come across them. (coming soon!)