An Evaluation of a Rape Prevention Program.

Abstract

This study assessed the effectiveness of an interactive, co-educational date rape prevention program. Participants for the study (n=192, 97% Caucasian) consisted of sorority and fraternity members of a larger midwestern university. Eighty-four individuals were assigned to a control group with the rest making up the intervention group. All subjects answered questions on sexual attitudes, sexual stereotypes, and other issues one week prior to the intervention program, immediately after the program, and again, one month later. The intervention group watched an interactive, improvisational theater performance in which actors portrayed a date'rape. Audience members were.then encouraged by a male/female team of counselors to offer feedback as to how the rape could have been avoided. The actors then replayed the scene, incorporating audience suggestions, and the rape did not occur. When both groups' pretest and immedige post-test scores were compared, those who watched the program, i.e., the intervention group, were less likely to endorse the kinds of rape myths and stereotypic beliefs thought to be :.ssociated with date rape. However, between-group differences were no longer evident in the one month follow up, suggesting that the program did not create lasting change. (RJM) :************************* Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ***********************************************i*********************** U.S. DEPARTMENT Of EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and improvement ECJCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC; 0 This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it 0 Minor changes have been made to improve An Evaluation of a Rape PreventiOn Program reproduction quality Points of view Or Opinions stated, this clacument do not neceSSInly represent official Patricia Frazier, Gale Valtinson, and Suzanne Candela OEM position or policy C? University of Minnesota Department of Psychology CUniversity of Minnesota PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS Minneapolis, MN 55455 MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY Poster presented at the 1993 meetIng of the American Psychological Association, Toronto. Abstract TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC).TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a coeducational rape prevention program among members of sororities and fraternities. The intervention group (n = 108) participated in an interactive theater program and completed measures of attitudes toward sexual behavior, sex role stereotypes, and dating behaviors one week prior to, and immediately and one month following, the program. The control group (n = 84) completed the same measures at corresponding time periods. Significant between-group differences were evident at the post-test but not the follow-up in the desired direction (i.e., positive change in the intervention group). Implications for programming and future research are discussed.