Domestic violence research in Canada : an assessment and re-direction

Domestic violence has been identified as a problem for over twenty-five years. However, a number of reviews have demonstrated the lack of research in this area, especially in Canada. In order to encourage and provide direction for future research, past studies must be assessed. Attention must be given to both methodological and theoretical issues and the implications for domestic violence research. The focus of this thesis is the critique of three Canadian surveys. The purpose is: (1) to offer a critique of the methodology and the theoretical assumptions underlying each of these surveys, and (2) to propose revisions to advance the empirical research of domestic violence. The objectives are accomplished through a literature review of domestic violence and through a detailed assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of each of the surveys. This assessment revealed the need for more domestic violence research in Canada, making theoretical and methodological revisions to increase the reliability of these data and the validity of surveys as effective research tools. Theoretically, researchers need to consider a synthesis of existing domestic violence perspectives, emphasizing psychological and interactional theories, in order to provide a fuller understanding of the complexity of domestic violence. Methodologically, future research should focus on both men and women as victims and offenders, creating measurement tools tailored to each gender. Researchers need to further explore the perceptions of men and women about their intimate relationships and how domestic violence affects their lives.Arts, Faculty ofSociology, Department ofGraduat