4. RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES
It is my personal philosophy that people are suffering, though some may claim that this is an assumption. Also, some may argue that I also make the assumptions that 1) violence is learned, and 2) VAW is a product of power imbalances inherent in a male patriarchal society where gender is socially constructed.
Type of Research and Research Objective
Type of research was exploratory, using both qualitative and quantitative methods, including content analysis. The intention behind this investigation was to explore meditation, a successful method of rehabilitation, to see what professionals in the DV field and in prison meditation in the US have to say about using it to transform batterers into nonviolent individuals. Through examining current beliefs about batterers and meditation in the field of DV and with prison meditation teachers, I aimed to explore the limitations and barriers to meditation, both perceived and, if they have used meditation, experiential. I also used this opportunity to see if they knew of any BIP that uses meditation, etc., so that further research can be done. Ultimately, if meditation is proven to be successful at transforming batterers as well as prisoners, it may be beneficial in many other settings, such as in DDRR soldier camps and schools in violent communities. The hope behind this research is that it offers a solution to ending violence worldwide and creating true peace.
The goal of the research was to target both individuals working in the DV field and prison meditation teachers. Two similar questionnaires were designed to extract pertinent information from each target group. Questions aimed at the DV group inquired about their personal and professional experience with meditation, while the prison meditation teachers were asked to describe their programs. Questions applicable to both group were designed to gauge the effectiveness of meditation as transformation with batterers, to see if they knew of any existing programs that used this method, to investigate what else, if anything, they think would be needed for batterer rehabilitation, and if they knew of any obstacles that would hinder the effectiveness of meditation as a method for rehabilitation.
Sampling was non-random purposive. Target subjects were staff members of BIP and/or DV agencies, or individuals working with batterers, victims, or both, as well as meditation teachers and members of organizations working with prison meditation, all in the US. One respondent was a psychologist involved in an alternative prison project in Costa Rica, while another prison meditation teacher responded from the UK.
Contact with Subjects, and Data Collection
Subjects' contact information was found on the Internet. Contact with the subjects was made and questionnaires sent out via electronic mail. I aimed for at least 10 questionnaires from each of the groups: prison meditation teachers, individuals working with DV victims, and individuals working with batterers.
44 meditation e-mail contacts were found on the list, “Contemplative Prison Projects in the U.S.”143 Other contacts were arranged as meditation networks sent my questionnaire to other meditation teachers, (which is how I had one respondent from the UK). 50 total questionnaires were sent out to meditation teachers. Although I received replies from 17 contacts, only 14 questionnaires were returned.
Both BIPs and other DV agencies were mainly found in the “California Family Violence Referral Directory.”144 I then looked up the agencies on the Internet to find a corresponding e-mail address. Since it was more difficult to encounter BIPs, I searched for additional contact information for BIPs and individuals who work with batterers on the Internet. I sent out 85 questionnaires to DV agencies, 70 to BIPs and individuals who work with batterers in states other than California, and an additional 8 to other agencies, such as national/state DV agencies. An additional 10 were sent out to law enforcement agencies that work either along with DV agencies or have some experience using meditation with prisoners, though no questionnaires were returned. Out of the total 225 questionnaires sent out, 60 came back Transient Delivery Failure, although I did receive some replies from respondents who were said to have had delivery failure. A total of 43 questionnaires were returned. 11 were from individuals who work with batterers or both victims and batterers, while18 were from people who work solely with victims, for a total of 29 questionnaires from individuals working in the field of DV. Additionally, 13 were returned from meditation teachers who work with inmates. Also, 1 questionnaire was returned from a Costa Rican psychologist who works with prisoners, for a total of 14. I began emailing questionnaires in May, and they were sent back to me over a period of two months. After replies had come to a standstill, I began the process of organizing and analyzing the data.
Relying on my analytical and interpretive skills, I evaluated the qualitative data with content analysis. I organized questionnaires by group and classified data according to similar responses (within the DV group), or any themes found, which could then be quantified. I analyzed the qualitative data by tallying group responses, at times applying a statistical procedure to convert the quantitative data to percentages or fractions.
I investigated the correlation between certain variables and constructs, such as personal experience with meditation (for the DV group), and attitudes towards the effectiveness of meditation as a form of rehabilitation and thoughts regarding if meditation should be incorporated into BIPs. I also review all respondents' beliefs about the possibility of rehabilitating batterers with their thoughts on the effectiveness of meditation as a form of rehabilitation. Although sex disaggregation was applied to certain questions, it is only noted in the findings on one occasion, as variation of results was insignificant.
Design of Research Materials
All questionnaires were in English except for one which I designed in Spanish for the Costa Rican prison psychologist. I designed questionnaires with both quantitative and qualitative aspects. My goal was to get the maximum amount of pertinent information about respondents' beliefs about batterers and meditation and their personal and professional experiences with meditation, with the least amount of questions. The forms I designed were simple and straightforward with YES/NO/UNSURE answers with check boxes and text boxes for any comments. A Likert scale was used for the question, “Do you think that meditation would be an effective way to transform batterers?,” as I wanted to gauge sentiments.
Research Constraints/Limitations
In retrospect, I would have liked to have used a Likert scale for the question, “Do you think meditation should become an integral part of batterers' intervention programs?,” to more accurately distinguish between the many UNSURE responses given. Also, although I designed both questionnaires at the same time, the meditation teacher's questionnaire mysteriously did not allow comments after certain questions. Unfortunately, this limited the qualitative data from that entire group of respondents. Some participants wrote additional commentaries in areas other than the unresponsive text boxes.
All data has been saved on my computer, memory stick, and email accounts. I printed all questionnaire responses and, where possible, quantified them. I tallied and recorded all questionnaires, noting any qualitative data. I arranged data comparatively by groups, to distinguish experiences and beliefs of individuals who work with victims from those who work with batterers, and the DV group in general from prison meditation teachers. Each respondent is given a key-code so that they can be identified individually and by group. Full qualitative and quantitative responses can be found in the appendix.
My goal was to analyze all data and literature objectively and impartially, and not manipulate the findings to affirm my beliefs. Additionally, it was important that my research would not harm or threaten any participants, and subsequently I refrained from inquiring about personal experience with DV or abuse or confidential information. Moreover, participants were allowed to remain anonymous if they wished. Furthermore, I honestly stated that my intention was to examine an alternative model for batterers intervention programs which includes meditation as a guiding practice, and assured participants that any information they gave me would be for research purposes only.