Using Cognitive Interviews to Adapt Interpersonal Violence Measures for Use With Middle School Youth.

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Health
• Psychology
• Survey Methodology

Background:

• Interpersonal violence is prevalent among youth, necessitating early prevention efforts.
• Existing self-report measures for violence are often designed for older age groups, not middle schoolers.
• Assessing program effectiveness relies on youth self-reports, highlighting the need for age-appropriate tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate middle school adolescents' comprehension of survey items on interpersonal violence.
• To identify specific comprehension challenges faced by younger adolescents when responding to violence-related questions.
• To inform the adaptation of survey instruments for this demographic.

Main Methods:

• Conducted virtual cognitive interviews with 15 middle school students (grades 6-8).
• Employed content analysis to categorize comprehension issues identified during interviews.
• Gathered student suggestions for improving survey clarity and relevance.

Main Results:

• Most survey items were generally understood by participants.
• Key comprehension issues included: perpetrator intent ambiguity, unfamiliarity with sexualized violence terms, and narrow interpretations of concepts like "forced."
• Students recommended including dating relationship contexts, cyber abuse examples, and social media specifics.

Conclusions:

• Standard survey questions on interpersonal violence may require adaptation for middle school youth.
• Clarifying perpetrator intent, using accessible terminology, and broadening question interpretations are vital.
• Improving measurement tools is essential for accurately capturing interpersonal violence experiences in younger adolescents.