NCJ Number
194314
Date Published
2001
Length
16 pages
Annotation
Results are presented from 14 focus groups of victim advocates and practitioners on how researchers, practitioners, and victim advocates could pool their resources and work collaboratively on research into violence against women.
Abstract
In an effort to overcome barriers to team work and foster collaborative working relationships among researchers, victim advocates, violence against women practitioners, and other professionals in the field, 14 focus groups were assembled. The focus groups were tasked with identifying ways in which practitioners, victim advocates, and researchers could collaboratively spearhead research efforts on violence against women. The focus groups identified common ground and interests among participants, unique concerns of practitioners, unique concerns of researchers, and existing sources of tension between participants. Researchers cited a lack of open-mindedness among practitioners regarding research findings as a major barrier to effective collaboration. Practitioners cited a lack of sensitivity among researchers to victims of violence as a major barrier to collaborative efforts. Despite barriers, all participants agreed that effective collaboration was necessary for successful research into prevention of violence against women. Mutual respect, mutual trust, and open communication were cited across all focus groups as key elements to effective collaboration. 2 Appendixes