SSWR Doctoral Student Spotlight
The SSWR Doctoral Student Members Task Force is launching a new series featuring research conducted by doctoral students. The series is intended to bring awareness and attention to the research being done by social work doctoral students, as well as important issues in the field. One spotlight piece will be featured each week on the SSWR Doctoral Student Member Blog & Facebook Page during the fall 2018 semester.
Addressing Alcohol's Role in Campus Sexual Assault
LB Klein
Student Researcher: Lauren "LB" Klein, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
About the Researcher: LB Klein, MSW, MPA is a third-year doctoral student in UNC-Chapel Hill's School of Social Work and fellow with the Prevention Innovations Research Center at the University of New Hampshire. Her research centers gender-based violence prevention, intervention, and policy with a particular focus on LGBTQ communities and implementation science.
Description of the Study: Addressing Alcohol’s Role in Campus Sexual Assault is a community participatory action research project to integrate research and practice evidence to help prevention specialists begin to answer the frequently asked question: How should our campus address alcohol in our sexual assault prevention efforts?
Inspiration for the Study: Campuses are urged to address alcohol’s role in campus sexual assault. However, there is limited guidance for sexual assault prevention specialists on how to do so.
Methodological Approach: This study used a critical feminist community participatory action research approach that included a systematic review, semi-structured interviews, and consultation with an expert advisory group.
Findings: This study yielded critical findings about practitioner challenges, gaps in existing literature and interventions, innovative and promising practices, recommendations for partnership and messaging, and vision for the future.
Implications: Campus-based prevention educators have critical insight into how to navigate university systems to effectively address alcohol's role in campus sexual assault.
Challenges Encountered: Integrating research and practice in an emerging field that lacks evidence-based intervention is both challenging and rewarding.
Questions or comments for LB? Email her: lbklein@unc.edu