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Heterogeneity Among Violence-Exposed Women: Applying Person-Oriented Research Methods

NCJ Number
236331
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 23 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2008 Pages: 389-415
Author(s)
Paula S. Nurius; Rebecca J. Macy
Date Published
March 2008
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This issue focused on violent victimization against women.
Abstract
Variability of experience and outcomes among violence-exposed people pose considerable challenges toward developing effective prevention and treatment protocols. To address these needs, the authors present an approach to research and a class of methodologies referred to as person oriented. Person-oriented tools support assessment of meaningful patterns among people that distinguish one group from another, subgroups for whom different interventions are indicated. The authors review the conceptual base of person-oriented methods, outline their distinction from more familiar variable-oriented methods, present descriptions of selected methods as well as empirical applications of person-oriented methods germane to violence exposure, and conclude with discussion of implications for future research and translation between research and practice. The authors focus on violence against women as a population, drawing on stress and coping theory as a theoretical framework. However, person-oriented methods hold utility for investigating diversity among violence-exposed people's experiences and needs across populations and theoretical foundations. (Published Abstract)