Measurement of sexual aggression in college men: a methodological analysis

Researchers have devoted increased attention in recent years to the measurement of sexual aggression in college populations. This review describes and critically examines current methods of measuring sexual aggression which rely on a self-reported history of such behavior. We suggest that the construct validity of these approaches can be enhanced through a systematic consideration of instrumentation and methodological issues. Twenty-six empirical studies were evaluated with regard to sample characteristics such as size, type, representativeness, and subject exclusion criteria, as well as study design, measurement method, statistics reported, use of debriefing, and control for socially desirable response bias. Specific instrumentation methodology to measure a self-reported history of sexual aggression was examined in detail.