The study in which you are being asked to participate is designed to investigate the victims’ experience of Lesbian Domestic Violence and the victims’ willingness or unwillingness to call the police. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of internalized homophobia and levels of outness and the roles they play in the decision of the victim to call the police for help.

This study is being conducted by Kathy Dart to meet the requirements for a Masters in Criminal Justice at California State University, San Bernardino under the supervision of Dr. Deborah Parsons, professor of Criminal Justice. This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board, California State University, San Bernardino.

If you decide to participate, you will be asked to complete a survey about internalized homophobia, level of outness, abusive behaviors, the willingness or unwillingness of the victim to call the police, the effectiveness and response of the police, along with a demographic section.

The survey will take about 10 minutes to complete. Your participation in this study is completely voluntary. The survey is completely anonymous – the information you provide cannot be associated with you individually. Your name will not be recorded, nor any other information that could identify you.

Some of the questions will be personal in nature or may involve recalling upsetting experiences. You are free to withdraw from this survey at any stage by clicking on the “Exit this Survey” button on the top right hand corner of the survey screen.
Should you wish to have the findings of this study made available to you, please email the researcher and a summary of the final results can be sent to you at the conclusion of the study.

Should you feel distressed by any of the questions in the survey or have any concerns about the way in which the project was conducted, please feel free to contact Dr. Deborah Parsons at (909-537-7364). E-mail: parsons@csusb.edu

Please click the “NEXT” button below to indicate your consent and begin taking the survey.