ELDER VICTIMIZATION--A PILOT FEASIBILITY STUDY

目前的建议是进行一项试验性可行性研究，以确定评估老年人受害行为的最有效手段，不仅包括虐待老年人，而且包括陌生人犯下的受害行为。这项试点可行性研究的结果将使研究人员能够有效地开展一项以人口为基础的针对老年人的犯罪及其影响的国家研究。我们已经完成了初步研究，在电话（N=549）和面对面（N-36）两种形式中使用了这种评估方法。初步研究表明，该方法是可行的、灵敏的、准确的。然而，还没有完成对老年人的电话和面对面策略的比较。在拟议的可行性研究中，我们将评估修改现有方法的有效性，这些方法通过面对面和电话访谈的形式对犯罪受害者进行全国性的调查研究。此外，我们将评估使用同龄和非同龄访谈者的相对有效性。具体来说，我们将调整在我们的全国青少年调查和全国妇女研究中用于测量虐待和攻击的策略，以用于老年人。结果将根据参与率、披露率、成本和参与者满意度来衡量。与现有研究相比，本提案专门针对老年人虐待和陌生人受害进行研究。也就是说，现有的研究要么针对家庭虐待，要么针对犯罪受害者，但不是同时针对两者。这是有问题的，因为数据表明，不同形式的受害往往具有相似的风险因素，而且两种形式的受害的影响往往重叠。因此，本研究将考虑家庭暴力和陌生人攻击。要回答的问题包括：对这一人群进行调查研究的最佳形式是什么（面对面还是电话；同龄还是非同龄）？什么因素会影响这种格式的选择（例如，受害类型）？与每个相关的后勤问题是什么（例如，成本、时间、强制性报告问题、隐私问题）？与每个项目相关的其他因素是什么（例如，参与率、完成率、参与者体验评级）？

The present proposal is to conduct a pilot feasibility study to determine the most effective means by which to assess victimization in older adults, including not only elder abuse, but also stranger-perpetrated victimization. Findings from this pilot feasibility study will enable researchers to efficiently conduct a population-based national study of crime against elders and its effects. We have completed preliminary studies in which this assessment methodology was used in both telephone (N=549) and in-person (N-36) formats. These preliminary studies indicate that the methodology is feasible, sensitive and accurate. However, no comparison of telephone and in-person strategies with older adults have been completed. In the proposed feasibility study, we will evaluate the effectiveness of modifications to our existing methods of conducting nationally based survey research on crime victims via both in-person and telephone interview formats. In addition, we will evaluate the relative effectiveness of using age-peer and non-age-peer interviewers. Specifically, we will adapt strategies used to measure abuse and assault in our National Survey of Adolescents and the National Women's Study for use with older adults. Outcome will be measured in terms of participation rates, disclosure rates, cost, and participant satisfaction. In contrast to existing research, this proposal specifically targets both elder abuse and stranger victimization for study. That is, existing studies have targeted either domestic abuse or criminal victimization, but not both simultaneously. This is problematic in light of data which indicate that different forms of victimization often share similar risk factors, and effects both forms of victimization are often overlapping. Thus, this study will consider both domestic abuse and stranger assault. Questions to be answered include: what is the best format for survey research with this population (face to face vs. telephone; age peer vs. non-peer)? what factors affect the selection of this format (e.g., victimization type)? what are the logistical problems associated with each (e.g., cost, time, mandatory reporting issues, privacy concerns)? what other relevant factors are associated with each (e.g., participation rates, completion rates, participant experience ratings)?