Adapting and Evaluating the Flip the Script with EAAA^TM program for Online Facilitation

Dr. Sarah Peitzmeier (University of Michigan) and I (with colleagues Katie Edwards & Misha Eliasziw) conducted pilot research (CDC pilot funding through the UM Injury Prevention Center) to assess whether an online adaptation of EAAA was feasible, acceptable, and showed promise for effectiveness in this context.  It was and did.

We now (Co-Principle Investigators: Senn, Peitzmeier; Co-Investigators: Barata, Edwards, Eliasziw; Collaborator: Hobden) have (2022-2027) Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) funding to conduct the Randomized Control Trial — “A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Efficacy of IDEA³ — An evidence-based sexual assault resistance intervention for undergraduate women adapted for internet delivery.”  The study will take place at four sites in Canada and the United States.

Adapting and Evaluating the Flip the Script with EAAA^TM program for Adolescent Girls

Funded by a Public Health Agency of Canada (2018-2023) grant awarded to Co-Primary Investigators Sara Crann and Charlene Senn (and Co-I Misha Eliasziw), this project involves two phases of research. Phase 1 (now complete) involved two mixed-method studies and consultations with project partners and youth to adapt the EAAA program for the social and developmental context of adolescence. The adapted EAAA program (A-EAAA, Flip the Script for Girls) is designed specifically for cis and trans girls between 14 and 18 years old (who have not graduated high school). Research reports from the Phase 1 studies are available below. Phase 2 will rigorously evaluate the adapted program using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 900 girls in four communities in Ontario (Windsor-Essex, London-Middlesex, Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant, and Kingston-Frontenac). While we were delayed due to COVID, participant recruitment into the RCT will begin in early 2023.

Phase 1 Research Reports

Study 1 Research Report:  “Girl, You Got This!” Project:  Study 1 Report [pdf]

Study 2 Research Report:  “Girl, You Got This!” Project:  Study 2 Report [pdf]

If you are a teen girl, parent of a teen, high school teacher, or school administrator interested in learning more about the A-EAAA program or have questions about the research, please contact Dr. Sara Crann, Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Windsor at Sara.Crann@uwindsor.ca.

Sexual Assault Resistance Education for University Women:  The Enhanced Assess, Acknowledge, Act (EAAA) Sexual Assault Resistance Program also known to students as Flip the Script with EAAA^TM program

Grant (2016-2020) and Next Steps – Knowledge Mobilization and Implementation

I (with co-investigators Barata, Radtke, Eliasziw, Thurston & McVey and collaborator Deb Chard, Wen-Do Women’s Self Defence) received funding from the CIHR to study the implementation and scale-up of the EAAA program on five Canadian university campuses. This research examined the impact of decisions that campuses make in how to recruit participants and deliver the program as well as a number of other factors in maintenance of the fidelity and effectiveness of the program. Our first publication on the success of our transfer of training is now available.  More information about this larger project.

Examining Sexual Violence Rates Among Canadian University Students 

In collaboration with Drs. Anne Forrest, Nicole Jeffrey, and Michelle Krieger, I conducted a large random sample study at one Canadian university to assess rates of sexual violence victimization and perpetration. This is only the second Canadian campus random sample study since the 1990s. We also compared these results with sexual violence rates obtained from a census-sampled campus climate survey. Most campus climate surveys have used census sampling (a type of nonprobability, convenience sampling), whereby the entire student population is invited to participate. Census sampling has a number of advantages for campus climate surveys (e.g., inclusive and cost-effective) but may over- or under-estimate the scope of campus sexual violence due to nonresponse bias. By comparing the sexual violence rates obtained from a census-sampled randomly sampled survey, we assessed the accuracy and representativeness of commonly used census-sampled campus climate surveys. We found no evidence that census-sampled campus climate surveys might misestimate sexual violence victimization or perpetration rates: our census-sampled survey produced very similar rates as our randomly-sampled survey. The published research is now available via Taylor & Francis Online and APA PsycNet.

Bystander Initiative:  Sexual Assault Prevention

In collaboration with Dr. Anne Forrest (Women’s and Gender Studies), I have conducted a number of research studies to evaluate the effectiveness of our campus activities related to the Bystander Initiative to Mitigate Sexual Assault on Campus (BI). We have studied the undergraduate students who take a 3-hr adaptation of the University of New Hampshire’s Bringing in the Bystander® workshop (see Senn & Forrest, 2015). In 2010, we began conducting a campus wide survey annually and will continue it until 2020. We will use this survey to evaluate whether our institutionalization model (See Forrest & Senn, 2017; Senn & Forrest, 2013) succeeds in producing a campus climate change. We have also conducted small studies to understand students’ reactions to the provincial Draw the Line campaign materials we use as a ‘booster’ each winter semester. More information about this project.

Women’s Experiences with Pornography

I co-authored a chapter with Ana Bridges on this topic (Bridges, Senn & Andrews, 2013). Continuing an interest from early in my career, I continue to be interested in co-designing studies with my students exploring the intersections between pornography and other media and male violence against women.

Selected Research Collaborations

Research Collaboration to Adapt EAAA for Trans Students

Dr. Sarah Peitzmeier at the University of Michigan is leading this collaboration. Two studies have just concluded to lay the empirical groundwork for possible adaptation of EAAA. For more detail, contact Dr. Peitzmeier at speitzme@umich.edu.

Research Collaboration for Empowerment Self-Defense

A group of researchers and practitioner/researchers came together for a 2019 Summit in Palo Alto, California. This meeting was funded through the generosity of ESD Global. Regular meetings since that time developing and supporting new research directions in our field.

Back row: Jennifer Keller, Stanford University; Brieanne Beaujolais,The Ohio State University; Gal Harmat, World Peace Academy, UN University for Peace, and the Arts and Social Change College; Christine Gidycz, Ohio University; Jocelyn Hollander, University of Oregon; Charlene Senn, University of Windsor; Lindsay Orchowski, Brown University; Front row: Martha Thompson, Northeastern Illinois University and IMPACT Chicago; Darlene DeFour,Hunter College; and Amy Jones, Culture of Safety.

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^TM Trademark of the SARE Centre