AAUW Sexual Harassment Survey

Abstract

The AAUW Sexual Harassment Survey is a specialized psychological instrument developed by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) to measure the prevalence, nature, and context of sexual harassment experienced by students in K-12 school settings. It was foundational to the landmark 2001 report, Hostile Hallways: The AAUW Survey of Sexual Harassment in America’s Schools.

The survey is comprehensive, covering both victimization (experiences of being harassed, Question 1) and perpetration (behaviors directed toward others, Question 6) within school-related times. The instrument systematically tracks the frequency of a broad spectrum of behaviors, ranging from verbal comments and suggestive gestures to severe physical acts. Furthermore, it collects detailed contextual data regarding the location of the incident, the identity of the perpetrators, and the emotional impact on the student.

Keywords

Sexual Harassment, School Climate, Bullying, Hostile Environment, Adolescent Psychology, Victimization, Perpetration, AAUW, Title IX.

Authors

American Association of University Women (AAUW)

Purpose

The primary purpose of the AAUW Sexual Harassment Survey is to systematically document the frequency and characteristics of sexual harassment incidents experienced and committed by students within the school environment. The generated data is intended to inform policy development, educational interventions, and legal compliance efforts aimed at creating a safer and more equitable school climate for all students.

The instrument’s design allows researchers to differentiate between various forms of sexual misconduct and to analyze contributing factors, such as the relationship between the victim and the perpetrator (e.g., peer vs. school employee) and the location where harassment is most likely to occur. This detailed information is crucial for targeted prevention programs.

Construct

The core construct measured is Sexual Harassment, specifically operationalized within the context of the K-12 educational setting. This construct is defined by a detailed checklist of unwelcome sexual behaviors, encompassing verbal, nonverbal, and physical conduct that occurs during school-related times.

The scale measures two key sub-constructs: Sexual Harassment Victimization, which quantifies the frequency with which a student is subjected to these behaviors, and Sexual Harassment Perpetration, which assesses the frequency with which a student directs these behaviors toward others. Additionally, the survey explores secondary constructs related to motivation for perpetration (e.g., power dynamics, social norms) and the resulting emotional distress experienced by victims.

Validity

Specific statistical measures of validity (e.g., criterion or construct validity coefficients) are not detailed in the source materials. However, the instrument demonstrates high Face Validity and Content Validity due to its comprehensive and behaviorally explicit item list. The items were developed by the AAUW, a recognized authority in gender equity research, ensuring alignment with widely accepted definitions of sexual harassment relevant to educational contexts, including those informed by Title IX regulations.

The scale’s structure, which includes detailed contextual questions about the perpetrator, location, and emotional response, enhances the ecological validity of the findings, ensuring that the measured behaviors accurately reflect real-world experiences within schools.

Reliability

The source excerpt does not provide formal statistical reliability estimates, such as Cronbach’s Alpha or test-retest reliability scores. However, the instrument is structured for consistent measurement through the use of clear, unambiguous behavioral descriptions and a consistent four-point frequency scale for the core items, which minimizes measurement error due to item interpretation.

Factor Analysis

Information regarding formal factor analysis of the AAUW Sexual Harassment Survey is not included in the source content. The scale is typically utilized as a comprehensive index of overall exposure to sexual harassment. Researchers may categorize the 14 behavioral items into sub-domains (e.g., verbal/nonverbal vs. physical harassment) based on theoretical distinctions, rather than strictly empirical factor structures.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report questionnaire / Psychological Assessment Tool

Format: Mixed-response format. Core victimization and perpetration items (Questions 1 and 6) use a 4-point frequency scale (Never, 1-2 times, 3-5 times, 6+ times). Contextual and attribution items (Questions 2, 3, 4, 7, and 8) use a dichotomous Yes/No response format.

Language Available: English

Population Group: Adolescents and youth attending school.

Age Group: Typically middle school and high school students (K-12).

Population Details: Students surveyed as part of the national AAUW study on sexual harassment in American schools.

Test Methodology: Retrospective self-report, assessing experiences and behaviors over the past year during explicitly defined “school-related times.” Scoring involves converting frequency responses to ordinal scores (Never=0, 1-2 times=1, 3-5 times=2, 6+ times=3) and binary responses to Yes=1, No=0.

Keywords

Title IX, School Safety, Adolescent Risk Behavior, Sexual Harassment, Educational Research, Perpetration, Public Health.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: [Not Available]

Affiliation Email addresses: [email protected]

Correspondence Address: AAUW Educational Foundation, American Association of University Women, 1111 Sixteenth St. NW, Washington, DC 20036

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The scale was developed and administered for the 2001 AAUW study. The instrument is generally available for non-commercial academic and research use, though formal permissions should be sought from the AAUW Educational Foundation. The scale has been included in governmental resources, such as the CDC’s compendium of bullying assessment tools. The original PDF containing the instrument is cited as being available online via a CDC link. The original PDF can be downloaded here: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/bullycompendiumbk-a.pdf

Reference’s

• American Association of University Women (2001). Hostile hallways: The AAUW Survey of Sexual Harassment in America’s Schools. Washington, DC.

• The instrument is documented in: Measuring Bullying Victimization, Perpetration, and Bystander Experiences: A Compendium of Assessment Tools, available online at: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/bullycompendiumbk-a.pdf

Items of the AAUW Sexual Harassment Survey

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

School-related times include when you are on your way to or home from school; when you are on school grounds‚ including before‚ during‚ or after school hours; and when you’re on a school trip.

Questions 1 and 6: Never‚ 1-2 times‚ 3-5 times‚ 6+ times‚ Not Sure

a. Made sexual comments‚ jokes‚ gestures‚ or looks.

b. Showed‚ gave‚ or left you sexual pictures‚ photographs‚ illustrations‚ messages‚ or notes.

c. Wrote sexual messages/graffiti about you on bathroom walls‚ in locker rooms‚ etc.

d. Spread sexual rumors about you.

e. Said you were gay or lesbian.

f. Spied on you as you dressed or showered at school.

g. Flashed or “mooned” you.

h. Touched‚ grabbed‚ or pinched you in a sexual way.

i. Pulled at your clothing in a sexual way.

j. Intentionally brushed against you in a sexual way.

k. Pulled your clothing off or down.

l. Blocked your way or cornered you in a sexual way.

m. Forced you to kiss him/her.

n. Forced you to do something sexual‚ other than kissing.

If you have answered NEVER to ALL the above listed behaviors in question 1‚ go to QUESTION 6.

2. This question refers to the types of behaviors listed in Question 1 that you have experienced during school-related times during the last year. Were these behaviors done to you by … (select all that apply)

• a. One person (a male). YES‚ NO

• b. One person (a female). YES‚ NO

• c. More than one person (all male). YES‚ NO

• d. More than one person (all female). YES‚ NO

• e. More than one person (both male and female). YES‚ NO

3. This question refers to the types of behaviors listed in Question 1 that you have experienced during school-related times during the last year. Were these behaviors done to you by … (select all that apply)

• a. A student. YES‚ NO

• b. A former student. YES‚ NO

• c. A teacher. YES‚ NO

• d. A teacher’s aide. YES‚ NO

• e. A principal. YES‚ NO

• f. A counselor. YES‚ NO

• g. A coach. YES‚ NO

• h. A substitute teacher. YES‚ NO

• i. A bus driver. YES‚ NO

• j. Another school employee. YES‚ NO

• k. Someone else. YES‚ NO

4. This question refers to the types of behaviors listed in Question 1that you have experienced during school-related times during the last year. Were these behaviors done to you … (select all that apply)

• a. In a classroom. YES‚ NO

• b. In the hall. YES‚ NO

• c. In the gym or playing field. YES‚ NO

• d. In the cafeteria. YES‚ NO

• e. In the locker room area. YES‚ NO

• f. In the bathroom. YES‚ NO

• g. In the parking lot. YES‚ NO

• h. Outside the school (on school grounds) other than the parking lot. YES‚ NO

• i. On school transportation on the way to school or on the way home. YES‚ NO

• j. At a school-sponsored trip. YES‚ NO

5. This question refers to the types of behaviors listed in Question 1 that you have experienced during school-related times during the last year. Which of the following best describes how you felt right after these behaviors were committed? … (select only ONE)

• a. I was very upset

• b. I was somewhat upset

• c. I wasn’t very upset

• d. I wasn’t at all upset

• e. Not sure

6. During the last year‚ how often‚ if at all‚ have YOU done the following things to someone (this includes students‚ teachers‚ other school employees‚ or anyone else) during school-related times when that person did not want you to?

Again‚ school-related times include when you are on your way to or home from school‚ when you are on school grounds‚ including before‚ during‚ or after school hours‚ and when you’re on a school trip.

• a. Made sexual comments‚ jokes‚ gestures‚ or looks.

• b. Showed‚ gave‚ or left someone sexual pictures‚ photographs‚ illustrations‚ messages‚ or notes.

• c. Wrote sexual messages/graffiti about someone on bathroom walls‚ in locker rooms‚ etc.

• d. Spread sexual rumors about someone.

• e. Said someone was gay or lesbian.

• f. Spied on someone as they dressed or showered at school.

• g. Flashed or “mooned” someone.

• h. Touched‚ grabbed‚ or pinched someone in a sexual way.

• i. Pulled at someone’s clothing in a sexual way.

• j. Intentionally brushed against someone in a sexual way.

• k. Pulled someone’s clothing off or down.

• l. Blocked someone’s way or cornered someone in a sexual way.

• m. Forced someone to kiss you.

• n. Forced someone to do something sexual‚ other than kissing.

7. During school-related times in the past year‚ have you ever directed these types of behaviors listed in Question 6 towards…

• a. A student the same sex as you. YES‚ NO

• b. A student who is the other sex. YES‚ NO

• c. A teacher or other school employee the same sex as you. YES‚ NO

• d. A teacher or other school employee who is the other sex. YES‚ NO

8. A list of reasons why people say they have done the types of behaviors in Question 6 to others follows. Do the following reasons describe why you did these towards someone in the past year during school-related times?

• a. It’s just part of school life; a lot of people do it; it’s no big deal. YES‚ NO

• b. I wanted that person to think I had some sort of power over them. YES‚ NO

• c. I wanted something from that person. YES‚ NO

• d. My friends encouraged me / “pushed” me into doing it. YES‚ NO

• e. I thought the person liked it. YES‚ NO

• f. I wanted a date with the person. YES‚ NO