Law Enforcement Students Preconceived Estimations on False Reporting Sexual Assault & Rape Myths

Presenter Information

Avery Whooley, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Location

CSU Ballroom

Start Date

2-4-2019 2:00 PM

End Date

2-4-2019 3:30 PM

Student's Major

Sociology and Corrections

Student's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Mentor's Name

Pedro Thomas

Mentor's Department

Sociology and Corrections

Mentor's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Description

I conducted research by administering a ten question survey to students who are in lower-level Law Enforcement courses. The basis of the survey is to gather their preconceived beliefs about the prevalence of false reports of sexual assault and their general belief in rape myths. By conducting this research my hope is to draw attention to how potential law enforcement officers may either be prepared to interact with potential victims of sexual assault, or require more training and preparation in their undergraduate years in order to be competent in dealing with sexual assault victims. The survey sample is relatively small and will be completed in the beginning of March which is when I will be able to accurately analyze the data that has been compiled. I am expecting that the results are fairly progressive and that respondents will have been able to recognize rape myths and the low prevalence of false reporting sexual assault with a fair amount of accuracy. In the era of #MeToo and mass media publicizing of sexual assault, I expect college students to be more cognizant than their older counterparts. Regardless of the results, I will be turning over the data to the Law Enforcement director, Dr. Pat Nelson, for her to be able to gauge if this is something that needs further addressing in the Law Enforcement Undergraduate Program.