Domestic Violence - Research Proposal Example

College of Affiliation

Research Proposal: Domestic Violence

Background to the Problem:

Domestic violence is an issue that is a serious issue that is facing the world. It refers to behaviors that result to an abuse of a person within the domestic set up. Domestic violence can happen to marriage partners, children within the family, parents or any relative. In the view of Pain (2014), domestic violence can occur in a number of ways. It can take the form of a physical abuse. This emanates when one of the partners uses physical violence against another. Physical abuse can always result into an assault, battery, or can even lead to a more serious offense of murder. Emotional abuse occurs when one of the partners is subjected to psychological trauma. These may include anxiety, stress, or even chronic depression.

According to World Health Organization, 35% of women have experienced domestic violence. This is sexual, physical or emotional violence. This is a large number of women; thus, such figures are raising concerns on the need of preventing an increase in domestic violence. In fact, from the statistics provided by World Health Organization, 38% of all reported murders where women were victims, occurred due to domestic violence. This is an indication that the problem is serious, thus, the need of a solution.

This research has been motivated by the notion that women are the ones who are the most vulnerable to domestic violence. The research aims at providing an understanding on the best method that can be used for purposes of reducing domestic violence.

Hypothesis and Research Questions:

Thesis: Domestic violence is a complex social phenomenon, and to effectively tackle it, there is a need of understanding the factors that ar5e responsible for causing this type of violence.

Research question:

• Is it right to understand the cause of domestic violence, for purposes of coming up with a good strategy that can be used to limit its occurrences?

From this research question, the variables identified are causes of domestic violence, and strategies of reducing the violence.

The dependent variable from this question is, “strategies of reducing domestic violence”. It is dependent because the responses of reducing this type of violence, is based on their cause. For instance, if the cause of domestic violence is an increase in child abuses, that makes these children to grow abusive when they are adult, the response that should be developed is to tackle these child abuses.

Nonetheless, it is important to note that domestic violence is a complex issue. This is because of the existence of a variety of factors that are responsible for causing the issue. It is not cause by one or two factors, but they are multiples. Therefore, the use of theoretical frameworks can also play a role in coming up with strategies and methods that can be used to solve the problem.

Literature Review

While analyzing this concept of domestic violence, Pain (2014) correlates it with the history of the person who is engaging in the violent acts. For instance, Pain (2014) denotes that there is a relationship between domestic violence and the exposure of the perpetrator to the violence, when he was a child. In the view of Pain (2014) people who are exposed to violence during their childhood, are more likely to commit or engage in domestic violence. While examining this concept of domestic violence, Pain (2014) relies on primary and secondary methods of data collection. Under primary method of data collection, Pain focuses on primary information that identifies and profiles the behavior of perpetrators of domestic violence. While focusing on the profiling of the perpetrators of domestic violence, Pain (2014) asserts that when they are children, they normally imitate or observe the behaviors of adults, and seek to copy them and this result to domestic violence. Pain (2014) goes on to assert that this is one of the factors that is responsible for increased terrorism in the world.

These assertions by Pain (2014) are in agreement with the social learning theory that has been developed by Bandura. According to this theoretical framework, people learn from one another certain behaviors. On most occasions, this learning behavior takes place through observation or imitation. Rosenthal & Zimmerman (2014) assert that children who have grown up in violent families, normally end up being violent abusers. This is basically because they have observed the violent behaviors of their parents, and imitated them. They view such behaviors as being normal, and they believe that it is one of the best ways of resolving conflicts.

Moreover Rosenthal & Zimmerman (2014) assert that this is an aspect of the social learning theory, and it can be used as one of the measures of identifying the causes of violence. This will in turn mean that policy formulators will have to address the causes of domestic violence from the family set up, by setting up policies that will limit children from experiencing domestic violence. While explaining this concept of domestic violence, Rosenthal & Zimmerman (2014) goes on to assert that masculine cultural values that are imparted on children, end up influencing their role in engaging on domestic violence. For instance, boys who grow up learning that women should not be respected, normally engage in violence against women, as an initiative of seeking to subdue them.

While examining this concept of domestic violence, Rosenthal & Zimmerman (2014) relied on primary data. Specifically, they relied on surveys and question airs for purposes of data collection. The two researchers also carried out a secondary research, and relied on journals and books to provide an answer to their research hypothesis. For instance, while using the surveys, Rosenthal & Zimmerman (2014) managed to collect data from about 3000 people. The information they got from these people was consistent, thus, they could rely on the data collected. The test of consistency is one of the most effective ways of testing the reliability of data collected.

On the other hand, Morgan & Jasinski (2017) are talking about the social disorganization theory. This is a theoretical framework that seeks to link domestic violence to the environmental, ecological and physical characteristics of the neighborhoods, where an individual lives. In the view of Morgan & Jasinki (2017), the residential location of an individual is more significant, than the personal characteristics of a person, when it comes to engaging in delinquent activities. For instance, Morgan & Jasinki (2017) claim that youths who are living in disadvantaged locations and communities are likely to approve the culture of delinquent activities, and this becomes entrenched in their behaviors, resulting to domestic abusers.

While carrying this study and coming up with the conclusion, Morgan & Jasinki (2017) relied on primary sources of data collection, such as court records, census records, etc. They observed cities such as Detroit and Durham as having a large number of criminal records, and concluded that it is because of the locations of these cities. However, this is an assertion that Childress, Gioia & Campbell (2017) do not agree with. While analyzing the causes of domestic violence in Kyrgyzstan, Childress, Gioia & Campbell (2017) assert that a number of reasons is attributed to such a phenomenon. One such reason is the masculine culture of Kyrgyzstan. Men are socialized to view women as inferior, and they tend to subdue them. This is through domestic violence. Furthermore, Childress et al., (2017) assert that domestic violence is common amongst the rich; thus, the assertions that location plays a role in its occurrence are false. This is a proof that Childress, Gioia & Campbell (2017) managed to get from more than 500 people they managed to interview, and the various primary sources of data they got from the government.

On the other hand, Bacchus et al., (2017) has carried out intensive research on the causes of domestic violence amongst the gay and bisexual couples. He asserts that culture, plays a role in determining the rates of domestic violence amongst couples. People who ascribe to the masculine cultures, normally tend to be violent to their partners. This is because of the view that they are weak, and should be subdued. This is a conclusion that came out after carrying out a survey on more than 600 partners, who have at one time lived in a domestic relationship that was abusive. Juodis et al., (2014) looks at the best approaches that can be used to solve the problem of domestic violence. While analyzing the case study cases on domestic violence, the two assert that the best approach is identify the major causes of violence, and thereafter come up with a strategy that addresses these causes of domestic violence. Without addressing those causes, and criminalizing domestic violence, then, fighting this type of violence is a lost cause.

How the Study Addresses Gaps

There are various gaps in the study of domestic violence. One of them is how theoretical frameworks can be used for purposes of preventing this type of violence. This study will seek to analyze some of the best ways that the theories of domestic violence can be used to address this problem.