Using Optimization Designs to Evaluate Bystander Efficacy (McBEE)

• In Event: Multi College Bystander Efficacy Evaluation (McBEE)

Abstract

For primary prevention of sexual violence and intimate partner violence, college campuses receiving Title IX funds are now required to offer bystanding training programs. However, the implementation of these programs varies from campus to campus. These variations include format (on-line, in-person, peer-taught, classroom-based), who participates, degree of voluntary participation, and type(s) of programming used. Evaluating the efficacy of bystander programming is challenging in the presence of such variation between and within campuses; traditional study designs that compare between factors are not feasible and do not provide insight as to combinations of elements that may be most effective. Screening designs, such as fractional factorials, have been suggested as alternatives for the purpose of identifying the most promising elements. While these designs are often used in the context of experimentation, use of these designs in planning a multi-campus evaluation of bystander efficacy may provide decision-makers an efficient and feasible strategy for identifying the most effective combinations of bystander elements for the campus. Pilot data incorporating qualitative measures from key informant interviews and open-ended surveys will be used with campus climate data to demonstrate the use of the fractional factorial design in the evaluation of bystander programming elements and implementation combinations.

Authors

• Heather Bush, University of Kentucky

• Ann L. Coker, University of Kentucky

• Emily Clear, University of Kentucky

• Danielle Davidov, West Virginia University

• Bonnie S. Fisher, University of Cincinnati