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AMOSSHE Insight

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AMOSSHE Insight: sexual misconduct disclosures

This project, undertaken by the University of Liverpool and partners, researches students’ expectations of their universities regarding their response to reports and disclosures of sexual misconduct by or against students.

Project leaders: Nicola Tune (Researcher) and Kate Little (Project Officer, Student Administration and Support Division), University of Liverpool.

University of LiverpoolTotal award from AMOSSHE: £5,000.

Find out more about the project:

Background

The higher education sector is currently focused on the issue of sexual misconduct by or against students, following the October 2016 publication of a UK government-commissioned report on harassment, hate crime and violence against women, authored by a Universities UK taskforce. The guidelines issued by the taskforce encourage universities to revise and change their approach to dealing with reports, disclosures and allegations of sexual misconduct, particularly in cases where the allegation is not referred to the police.

This project responds to a lack of empirical research into students’ expectations from their university regarding their response to reports or disclosures of sexual misconduct. The research outcomes of this project offer recommendations on responding to reports of sexual misconduct, based on the perspectives of students at five universities in north west England:

  • University of Liverpool (lead institution)
  • University of Chester
  • Edge Hill University
  • Liverpool John Moores University
  • Manchester Metropolitan University

The project also aimed to involve each institution’s students’ union, through representation on the project steering group.

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Aims and objectives

This project aimed to provide the sector with empirical research findings into students’ expectations from their universities regarding their response to reports and disclosures of sexual misconduct, based on a collaboration between several universities and their students’ unions in north west England.

The project objectives include:

  • Exploring students’ preferred routes for reporting alleged sexual misconduct and identifying good practice in this area.
  • Understanding students’ immediate expectations upon reporting disclosure to the university.
  • Understanding students’ expectations of ongoing support from their university.
  • Understanding students’ perceptions of risk-mitigation activities in relation to alleged perpetrators.
  • Understanding students’ expectations around sanctions for different types of offence.

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Here's the project summary
(PDF 5 MB)

AMOSSHE Insight summary (opens in a new window)

Here's the complete project report, including the executive summary
(PDF 1.8 MB)

AMOSSHE Insight report (opens in a new window)

Methodology

The project methodology involved three phases of research:

  • The project team aimed to undertake 15 focus groups with students based in the five partner universities, in order to gather perspectives from students based in different types of institution, with mixed-sex, female-only and male-only focus groups at each institution. A paid postgraduate student led the focus groups. The project team arranged training for this student with student support staff to ensure that the focus groups were conducted sensitively and in the same fashion across the different universities.
  • The outcomes of the focus groups were transcribed and analysed, and the themes identified contributed to the design of a survey to gather quantitative data to test the interim findings. This survey was circulated to students, and analysed.
  • The focus group and survey data was supplemented with 15 one-to-one interviews with students who have a particular interest in this area of work: elected student officers, chairs of relevant societies, or campaigners. During these interviews the project team ensured that minority voices were captured, particularly those of LGBT students, by working collaboratively with students’ unions to recruit these students. Transcription and analysis of the interview data fed into the final project report.

The project was overseen by a steering group comprising each institution’s Head of Student Services (or nominee) and one student representative from each institution. This steering group met to oversee the project’s progress, discuss findings and approve the final report. Appropriate expert insight was sought when formulating recommendations, utilising the academic expertise present within the participating institutions.

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Outputs

The project outputs include:

  • A final report of the findings from all three phases of research, with recommendations for universities to adopt in response to disclosures of sexual misconduct, including guidance on:
    • Reporting / disclosure routes.
    • Immediate support for alleged victims / survivors.
    • Ongoing support for alleged victims / survivors.
    • Risk-mitigation activity around alleged perpetrators.
    • Proposed sanctions for perpetrators.
  • One article published in a peer-reviewed journal.
  • Presentations at AMOSSHE conferences on interim and final findings.
  • Presentations at Universities UK conferences and/or any events on sexual misconduct.

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AMOSSHE, The Student Services Organisation is a UK non-profit professional association. Company registration number 4778650.
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