Survey of Unwanted Sexual Attention in University Residences

Abstract

The Survey of Unwanted Sexual Attention in University Residences (SUS AUR) is a comprehensive, multi-section instrument developed by Kathleen V. Cairns and Julie Wright at The University of Calgary. This survey was constructed as an amalgamation of several existing, standardized psychological instruments, supplemented by specific demographic and site-specific questions tailored to the unique environment of residence halls. Its primary application was to systematically identify the prevalence and specific types of sexual harassment and sexual coercion occurring within undergraduate residence halls on a university campus.

The instrument was designed not only to quantify these incidents but also to explore the relationship between student attitudes and beliefs regarding sexual conduct and the actual occurrence of unwanted sexual attention. The survey is notable for its extensive narrative sections, which facilitated robust qualitative analysis. This narrative data confirmed and significantly expanded upon the findings derived from the initial quantitative analyses, providing valuable context regarding the impact of these experiences on residents. Specific research outcomes resulting from the use of this survey have been detailed in multiple published academic articles by Cairns (1993a, 1993b, 1994a, 1994b).

Keywords

Sexual harassment, Sexual coercion, University residences, Student safety, Sexual assault, Attitudes, Gender roles, Demographic data, Qualitative research, Campus environment.

Authors

Kathleen V. Cairns, Julie Wright.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Survey of Unwanted Sexual Attention in University Residences was two-fold: first, to systematically identify and categorize the spectrum of unwanted sexual behaviors, ranging from subtle sexual harassment to overt sexual coercion, taking place within the specific context of university residences. Second, the survey aimed to explore the complex psychological and sociological factors that underpin these incidents, specifically focusing on how student attitudes and beliefs about gender interaction and sexual roles correlate with the observed patterns of unwanted sexual attention.

The instrument was strategically designed to incorporate questions addressing issues unique to the residential setting, such as the influence of floor activity level, the gender composition of the floor, and the length of time the participant had lived in residence, as these factors were expected to systematically affect responses. By integrating previously validated instruments with site-specific questions, the survey provided a comprehensive framework for understanding and addressing campus safety and interpersonal conduct issues among the undergraduate population.

Construct

The SUS AUR measures a complex, multi-dimensional construct related to unwanted sexual attention and the social climate within university housing. The instrument covers ten distinct sections focusing on several core constructs:

• Demographics and Context (Section A): Characteristics related to the sample population and residential living arrangements (e.g., age, gender, type of residence, floor dynamics).
• Attitudes Towards Sex and Harassment (Section B): General beliefs about gender interaction and sex roles, utilizing standardized scales (Sexual Harassment Attitude Scale and Attitudes Toward Sex, Dating and Rape Scale).
• Unwanted Sexual Activity Engagement (Section C): Self-reports regarding reasons for engaging in unwanted sexual activity.
• Observed and Experienced Harassment Behaviors (Section D): Frequency and offensiveness of specific behaviors widely considered to constitute sexual harassment (e.g., unwanted touching, sexually suggestive gestures).
• Sexual Aggression and Victimization (Sections E & F): Personal experiences of unwanted sexual activity, ranging from fondling to intercourse, including factors like coercion, alcohol/drugs, and physical force (using the Sexual Experiences Survey). These sections are gender-specific, reflecting the typical victim/offender dynamics.
• Qualitative Experiences (Sections G, H, I): Narrative descriptions of incidents of sexual harassment, non-sexual physical abuse, and the most personally affecting sexually inappropriate behavior.
• Perceived Knowledge and Safety (Section J): Participants’ judgments regarding their personal knowledge of sexual harassment and assault, and their impressions of personal safety in residence.

Validity

Although the source content does not provide specific quantitative validity coefficients for the final, amalgamated SUS AUR instrument, the measure demonstrates strong evidence of content validity through its systematic integration of previously published and validated measures. The survey incorporates established instruments such as the Sexual Harassment Attitude Scale (Lott, Reilly, & Howard, 1982), the Attitudes Toward Sex, Dating and Rape Scale (Dull & Giacopassi, 1987), and the Sexual Experiences Survey (Koss & Oros, 1982).

A crucial element supporting the instrument’s validity is the inclusion of extensive qualitative data gathered through narrative sections (G, H, and I). The qualitative analysis of these narratives confirmed and elaborated on the findings from the quantitative sections, suggesting strong convergent evidence and ecological validity, ensuring that the defined behaviors and attitudes accurately reflect the lived experiences of students in the university residence context.

Reliability

The reliability of the SUS AUR is indirectly supported by the established psychometric properties of its constituent standardized scales. While specific internal consistency or test-retest reliability statistics for the entire 10-section instrument are not explicitly reported in the source description, the core attitude and experience measures rely on instruments with documented reliability in the psychological literature.

Furthermore, the systematic structure of the quantitative sections, which often employs a standardized 5-point Likert scale for attitude assessment, contributes to reliable measurement across the sample. The detailed collection of demographic and situational variables (Section A) also ensures that contextual factors potentially impacting responses are controlled, enhancing the overall methodological consistency of the data collected.

Factor Analysis

Specific details regarding a comprehensive factor analysis of the Survey of Unwanted Sexual Attention in University Residences are not documented in the provided source material. Given the instrument’s structure—functioning as a battery that combines distinct, multi-source measures (demographics, standardized scales, modified scales, and qualitative prompts)—it is unlikely to possess a single, unified factor structure.

The design effectively separates measures of attitudes (Section B), specific harassment behaviors (Section D), and severe sexual coercion experiences (Section E). This segmentation allows researchers to analyze different facets of unwanted sexual attention independently, providing depth through varied quantitative and qualitative data streams rather than relying on a singular underlying factor.

Instrument

Test Type: Multi-component Survey Instrument (A composite battery combining standardized scales, modified research instruments, demographic items, and qualitative narrative prompts).

Format: Mixed-format survey utilizing structured quantitative responses (e.g., frequency counts, 5-point Likert scale agreement/disagreement) and extensive open-ended narrative sections (Sections G, H, I).

Language Available: English (Original research context is Canadian).

Population Group: Undergraduate Students residing in on-campus residence halls.

Age Group: Typically late adolescence to early adulthood (Undergraduate age range).

Population Details: The sample population consisted of undergraduate residents in campus housing, targeted to assess issues of sexual harassment and coercion specific to the residential environment.

Test Methodology: Self-report questionnaire designed to be administered to large groups. Sections E (Female) and E (Male) are tailored to the perspective of the recipient and the offender, respectively, reflecting observed gender disparities in serious offenses.

Keywords

Campus climate, Undergraduate housing, Sexual roles, Victimization, Offender perspective, Attitude measurement, Quantitative data, Narrative research.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source.

Affiliation Email addresses: [email protected] (for Kathleen V. Cairns).

Correspondence Address: Kathleen V. Cairns, Department of Educational Psychology, The University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Survey of Unwanted Sexual Attention in University Residences was developed and utilized for research published primarily in 1993 and 1994 (Cairns, 1993a, 1993b, 1994a, 1994b). As the instrument incorporates elements from several existing scales (Lott et al., 1982; Koss & Oros, 1982; Dull & Giacopassi, 1987), researchers should ensure compliance with the usage terms of the original instruments. For permissions related to the unique demographic and qualitative sections added by Cairns and Wright, interested parties should contact the corresponding author, Kathleen V. Cairns, for guidance on current licensing and usage fees.

Reference’s

Cairns, K. V. (1993a). Sexual entitlement and sexual accommodation: Male and female responses to sexual coercion. The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 2, 203–214.

Cairns, K. V. (1993b). Sexual harassment in student residences: A response to Dekeseredy and Kelly. Journal of Human Justice, 4, 73–84.

Cairns, K. V. (1994a). A narrative study of qualitative data on sexual assault, coercion and harassment. Canadian Journal of Counselling, 28, 193–205.

Cairns, K. V. (1994b). Unwanted sexual attention in university residences. Journal of College and University Student Housing, 24, 30–36.

Dull, R. T., & Giacopassi, D. J. (1987). Demographic correlates of sexual and dating attitudes. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 14, 175–193.

Koss, M. P., & Oros, C. J. (1982). Sexual experiences survey: A research instrument investigating sexual aggression and victimization. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 50, 455–457.

Lott, B., Reilly, M., & Howard, D. R. (1982). Sexual assault and harassment: A campus community case study. Signs, 8, 296–319.

Muehlenhard, C. L., & Cook, S. W. (1988). Men’s self-reports of unwanted sexual activity. The Journal of Sex Research, 24, 58–72.

Reilly, M. E., Lott, B., & Gallogly, S. M. (1986). Sexual harassment of university students. Sex Roles, 15, 333–358.

Items of the Survey of Unwanted Sexual Attention in University Residences

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

Section D (adapted from Reilly, Lott, & Gallogly, 1986). In this section you will find descriptions of several behaviors. Each brief description is followed by several questions regarding your perceptions of and experience with the behavior.

Section G: Are there any other incidents that have occurred in the residence complex that you would classify as sexual harassment or sexually inappropriate that have not been addressed in the previous two sections? If so, please describe.

Section H: Have you ever experienced or been aware of physical abuse of a non-sexual nature occurring between men and women in the residence complex? If yes, please tell us about the incident or incidents.

Section I: Now we’d like you to think about the questions that have been asked and the types of behavior that have been addressed in this survey. We would like you to describe in your own words a particular incident of sexually inappropriate behavior that you feel has affected you the most or that you remember best. Please describe this incident as fully as possible (e.g., what occurred, why it occurred, how you felt, how you responded, the consequences of your response, how it affected your life and you personally, how it affected your relationships, etc.).