Quasi-experimental methodological strategy to assess changes in social attitudes and representations in the debate surrounding prostitution.

• In Event: Quantitative Methods WG Panel 2: Experimental, Quasi-experimental, and Evaluative Approaches in Criminological Research

Abstract

The present study aims to introduce a quasi-experimental methodological strategy designed to analyze changes in attitudes and social representations regarding different political discourses associated with the phenomenon of prostitution in Spain. Specifically, this methodology was designed to study these changes in students at the Miguel Hernández University in Elche. The methodological strategy consisted of several phases: in the first, literature review, development, and validation of study instruments were carried out; in the second, the experimental study was implemented and conducted. This phase began with the completion of a questionnaire (pre-test) aimed at establishing a baseline for attitudes and perceptions regarding different political debates, essential for the formation of the study groups.

The study comprised two groups: a control group and an experimental group. Both groups received news about prostitution for 3 weeks and completed various questionnaires on the subject. The difference was that the experimental group received information with political news on the topic, while the control group received neutral news where political discussion was absent.

Changes in attitudes and social representations were measured once the exposure stage to each stimulus concluded, using the same questionnaire used to establish the baseline.

Authors

• Rocio Martínez Almanza, Phd Student UMH, Researcher CRÍMINA Centre

• Braulio FIGUEIREDO Da Silva, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais