Violence Against American Indian and Alaska Native Women: Primary Data Collection
Primary data collection — the collection of information from first-hand sources using methods like questionnaires, interviews and case studies — is a component of NIJ's research program on Violence Against American Indian and Alaska Native Women. Primary data collection is important because much of the data required to address the goals of the research program is not available from data systems or sources, has not been collected, or has been collected but is incomplete.
NIJ has three primary data collection efforts underway:
- Tribal Study of Public Safety and Public Health Issues Facing American Indian Women.
- American Indian and Alaska Native Lifetime Prevalence of Interpersonal and Sexual Violence Survey.
- Federal Response to Indian Country Crime Study.
1. Tribal Study of Public Safety and Public Health Issues Facing American Indian Women
This tribal study will collect standardized questionnaire data from a sample of American Indian women, age 18 and older, who are enrolled members from tribal communities that agree to participate. The questionnaire will collect data on public safety and public health issues. The goals include:
- Determining the extent of victimization and revictimization.
- Determining the coexistence of other forms of victimization.
- Examining any formal service utilization.
- Examining any formal and informal help-seeking behavior.
In preparation for the tribal study, NIJ is currently working with:
- Researchers at RTI to develop a questionnaire and all supporting documents to generate annual and lifetime estimates of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking among American Indian women in Indian Country.
- The Census Bureau to develop possible approaches to the sample design that are based on the 2010 Census Tribal Statistical Areas Program.
2. American Indian and Alaska Native Lifetime Prevalence of Interpersonal and Sexual Violence Survey
As part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Surveillance System, the American Indian and Alaska Native population will be oversampled in fiscal year 2010 — the oversample will come primarily from urban areas. The goal is to generate geographically representative estimates for American Indian and Alaska Native lifetime prevalence of interpersonal and sexual violence.
3. Federal Response to Indian Country Crime Study
NIJ will begin collecting detailed information about the work performed by federal representatives regarding cases originating in Indian Country that involve violence against women. RTI is helping NIJ develop and implement methods and instruments to collect that detailed information.
