Methodological Issues in the Use of Survey Data for Measuring and Characterizing Violence Against Women

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Abstract
There are numerous methodological pitfalls in the use of survey data to study violence against women. This article reviews some of the major problems, including definitional problems, operationalization of concepts, recall bias, underreporting, question order, external validity, and the sex and ethnicity of interviewers. Recommendations for improving methodology are made, and some of the latest developments in the field are reviewed. It is argued that research ethics are particularly difficult and important in this field of study, not only for the potential emotional trauma to the respondents, but also for the potential for actual revictimization.