DATA NEEDS IN RELATION TO ‘PROGRAMS, RESEARCH AND EVALUATION’ ELEMENT OF THE FRAMEWORK
Planning both the content and target audience(s) of education and prevention programs needs a sound information base. Data are needed to identify and analyse high-risk groups (of potential victims and potential perpetrators), the attitudes they hold, and their behaviour patterns. Data from all other elements of the Framework are needed for this breadth of analysis and for input to the planning and delivery of education and prevention programs. Accordingly, all of the data sources listed in previous elements may be considered relevant.
Collection and reporting of data about program objectives, activities, deliverables, client numbers and profiles, costs and outcomes, may be a part of the arrangements negotiated by funding agencies. This information may then be collated for all such programs and made available through, for example, the Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse. Although evaluation of FDV-related interventions and programs is generally limited to the objectives of a specific program, the outcomes of education and prevention programs can be evaluated through the impact they have on the Context and Risk elements of the Framework. Therefore, measurement of changes over time in these areas is again needed.
Research/policy questions
- What are the determinants of FDV?
- How can FDV be prevented?
- How can the risk (prevalence and incidence) of FDV be reduced?
- Where should attempts be made to intervene to reduce the risk of FDV?
- How can the formation of individual and community attitudes be influenced?
- What are the perceptions held in the community now and how can these existing attitudes be changed?
- How can unacceptable behaviours be changed?
- How can behaviours in specific population groups or settings be influenced?
- Which formal interventions from the health, welfare or justice systems reduce the occurrence of FDV incidents?
- Which supportive interventions for victims are most effective in assisting recovery?
- What is the effectiveness of education programs aimed at reducing FDV and changing community attitudes generally?
- How effective are specific prevention and intervention programs that are available to victims and perpetrators, in terms of cost, utilisation and outcome?
- What effects do the presence of or lack of family and community support have on engagement with programs, and successful intervention?
Potential units for analysis
In conducting research and evaluation, and developing and delivering programs, information about the following units of analysis may be useful:
- People (both victims and perpetrators of FDV);
- Behaviours in incidents (of FDV);
- Re-entry of FDV perpetrators to the criminal justice system;
- Attitudes of program participants;
- Satisfaction of program participants; and
- Services and practitioners' activity and budgetary expenditure.
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