Researching Violence and Evaluating Interventions (short course)

More about this course

This course will focus on methodological approaches to researching forms of violence, which are primarily targeted against women and children (eg. domestic violence, rape, sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and trafficking, crimes in the name of honour, female genital mutilation, stalking and harassment) and evaluating support and prevention initiatives/interventions.

Content will cover

• feminist epistemologies and power in the research process
• formulating research questions
• ethical dilemmas and practices
• survey methods, including prevalence data
• qualitative research exploring women and children’s perspectives as well as those of perpetrators
• creative and arts-based methods
• policy-oriented research
• approaches to evaluation and the specific issues, challenges and opportunities when evaluating interventions with victim-survivors and perpetrators of violence

Assessment

The course is assessed 100% by coursework, which involves the analysis of survey data followed by a research plan.

This will consist of two pieces of written assessments. The first, an analysis of survey data, will be submitted on day five of the course. The summative assessment is a plan for a research or evaluation project, to include a 2,000-word review of existing literature on methodological approaches to researching the chosen topic. The research plan must include an overarching research question, aims, objectives and a detailed case for the proposed methodology.

Students must pass both pieces of coursework.

Entry requirements

There are no entry requirements for this course, which is also taught at postgraduate level as part of London Met's Woman and Child Abuse MA.

Who's this course for?

Our courses are aimed at professionals currently working in the statutory or voluntary sector who wish to:

• conduct an internal evaluation, monitoring and small-scale research projects
• develop and extend specialist services dealing with child and/or woman abuse
• undertake policy development at a local, regional or national level where you are responsible for delivering support and advocacy services, coordinating multi-agency forums and/or improving the response of the criminal justice and/or health sectors
• deliver government and/or agency policy commitments with respect to safeguarding children, addressing domestic violence, rape, female genital mutilation (FGM), forced marriage, sexual exploitation and other forms of violence against women

Course structure

This course will be delivered in class over six full days across one semester.

By the end of the module, you should be able to:

1. critically assess a range of research methods appropriate for exploring violence and abuse
2. develop and present an analysis of data on violence against women and/or children
3. design a research plan, linking research questions to methodological and/or evaluative approaches
4. recognise ethical issues and practices when researching violence and evaluating interventions

Where this course can take you

Former students have gone on to:

• work in specialist support services for women and children who have experienced violence
• jobs in research on women, children and violence against women
• work in social care settings, ie mental health and social work
• lead on policy on violence against women and/or child abuse
• set up non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in their country of origin to support women's rights
• undertake PhDs (following other necessary qualifications)

Course dates

This course is delivered from 10am to 5pm. The dates for the next intake in 2023/24 academic year are as follows:

• Thursday 12 October 2023
• Friday 13 October 2023
• Thursday 2 November 2023
• Friday 3 November 2023
• Thursday 30 November 2023
• Friday 1 December 2023

The teaching methods will include group work, lectures, guest lectures, workshops and audio-visual material. Case study material will be supplied as well as recommended reading to support each session.

When to apply

There is no official closing date for this course, but you are advised to apply as early as possible as we will only consider your application if there are places available on the course.