ENOUGH%2520ABUSE%2520SURVEY%2520REPORT%2520%2528a%2529

NEW YORK PREVENT CHILD ABUSE SURVEY- TOMPKINS
COUNTY PART 1
A Study Conducted for the Prevent Child Abuse New York Campaign
By Nicole Keler
April 2013

Partnership for Child Sexual Abuse Prevention (NYPCSAP)
By Nicole Keler
April 2013
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Introduction: This study reports the results of a survey taken by residents in Tompkins County
about personal attitudes and beliefs about child sexual abuse. The study will be presented in a
report to New York Partnership for Child Sexual Abuse Prevention. The results will be used to
create effective policies for child sexual abuse.
Methods: The data in this report were collected by a phone survey of residents in Tompkins
County. The survey data were collected by Ted Palmer and Nicole Keler by splitting the phone
book alphabetically and selecting every 20th
resident to contact. The targeted population was
102,000 individuals that reside in Tompkins County. A total of 637 were called and 160 (.016%)
responses were collected.
Findings:
1. 68% of respondents said that, in general, their area of New York was going off the “wrong
track.” (n=157)
2. 68% of survey respondents said the greatest problem facing their family that elected officials
in state government should be working to solve “taxes or the budget deficit.” (n=159)
3. 76% of respondents said they knew either “a great deal” or “quite a bit” about child sexual
abuse. (n=159)
4. 88% of respondents said that child sexual abuse is “a very serious problem” or a “somewhat
serious problem” in the state of New York. (n=159)
5. 59% of respondents thought that child sexual abuse in his/her town is a “somewhat serious
problem” or “not a very serious problem.” (n=160)
6. 86% of respondents felt that child sexual abuse in their particular city has “stayed the same”
in the past five years or “did not know” the progression. (n=160)
7. 92% of survey respondents said that child sexual abuse is “definitely preventable” or
“somewhat preventable.” (n=160)
8. 65% of survey respondents thought that a child is most likely to be abused by “an adult
stranger” or “an adult non-family member.” (n=160)
9. 86% of survey respondents are “very confident” or “confident” they could identify
inappropriate behaviors in adults that would indicate they pose a risk of sexually abusing an
adolescent. (n=160)
10. 80% of residents said they were “very confident” or “somewhat confident” in being able to
identify physical or behavioral signs of an sexually abused child. (n=159)
11. 90% of respondents are “very confident” or “confident” that he/she would respond appropriately
if they suspected someone they knew of sexual child abuse. (n=160)
12. 65% of survey respondents said they would “contact the police” or “call the local protective
services” when asked how they would respond if they suspected someone in their family or an
acquaintance was sexually abusing an adolescent. (n=159)
13. 59% of survey respondents said they would “confront the adult” if they suspected someone they
knew or an acquaintance might be sexually abusing a child, but they were not sure. (n=158)

New York Prevent Child Abuse Survey-Tompkins County, April 2013, Page 1

INTRODUCTION
This study reports the results of a survey about residents in Tompkins County about their
attitudes and beliefs about child sexual abuse. The Enough Abuse Campaign aims to address
adult and community responsibility by promoting education and the establishment of child
sexual abuse programs. The purpose of this survey is to get a baseline for the resident’s of
Tompkins County attitudes and beliefs about child sexual abuse. The data collected from the
survey will be used to develop a comprehensive public education program and to create citizens
effort to mobilize to prevent child sexual abuse through awareness and training programs. The
survey is from a methodology report from Massachusetts in 2007.


METHODS
How Data Were Collected
Instrument Design: The New York Partnership for Child Sexual Abuse Prevention provided a
survey to collect data on the attitudes and beliefs on child sexual abuse of residents in Tompkins
County.
Data Collection Method: Phone surveys from the Tompkin’s County telephone book were
collected between February 16, 2013 and March 20, 2013. The most responses were gathered
between 4:30 and 6:30 PM. All phone surveys were accounted for whether the case answered,
did not answer, or hung up.
Number of Calls Number of Respondents Number of Hang Ups
637 160 477
Target Population and Sample: The target population was the 102,000 residents of Tompkins
County. The sample is the 637 individuals who were called to participate in the survey. The
sampling frame is the 160 (.016%) people who answered the survey questions.
Quality of Data
Representativeness: The following comparisons between the target and sample population show
in general, the sample population is not representative of the census target population data. The
sample population represents only .016% of the target population. The sample population is
usually over a 5% difference for each variable between target population and sample except for
sex and ancestry (see figures 2 and 5). The representative data below excludes the demographic
category of religion because there is no census data available.
Figure 1
Refers to age group of the target and sample population
Age Group
Target Population
n=102,000
Sample Population
n=637
Difference
24 and under 34% 0% +34%
25-44 26% 19% +7%
45-65 22% 81% -59%
66 and over 18% 0% +18%
Source: 2010 Tompkins County census data


Figure 2
Refers to the gender of the target and sample population
Sex Target Population
n= 102,000
Sample Population
n=637
Difference
Male 49% 46% +3%
Female 51% 54% -3%
Source: 2010 Tompkins County census data.
Figure 3
Refers to the level of education received by the target and sample population
Education Target Population
n= 102,000
Sample Population
n=637
Difference
Less than High School 7% 0% +7%
High School graduate 21% 11% +10%
Some College (less than 2
years)
14% 10% +4%
Two Year Associate Degree 8% 3% -5%
Some College (more than 2
years)
n/a 28% n/a
College graduate 21% 41% +20%
Post Graduate Degree or
Certificate
29% 8% +21%
Figure 4
Refers to the income level of the target and sample population
Income Target Population
n= 102,000
Sample Population
n=637
Difference
Less than $10,000 8% 0% +8%
Between $10,000 and $25,000 15% 1% 14%
Between $25,000 and $35,000 9% 10% -1%
Between $35,000 and $50,000 12% 40% -28%
Between $50,000 and $75,000 17% 27% -10%
Between $75,000 and
$150,000
26% 16% +10%
More than $150,000 13% 6% +7%
Source: 2010 Tompkins County census data


Figure 5
Refers to the ancestry of the target and sample population
Ancestry Target Population
n= 102,000
Sample Population
n=637
Difference
European 85% 80% +5%
Asian American 7% 1% +6%
African-American 4% 3% 1%
Hispanic 3% 4% -1%
Mixed Race n/a 4% n/a
Something Else 1% 7% -6%
Comments: The data used for the target population is based off of the 2010 census data for race.
Accuracy: Respondents may have been compelled to give false answers about the topic of child
sexual abuse. Residents may have found this as an “uncomfortable” or “sensitive” topic and may
have compromised their answers in order to continue the survey. Misinterpretation of the “extent
of knowledge” subjects may have also could lead to an error in data. The definition of child
sexual abuse is not clarified till the later questions which could have lead to incorrect responses.
It seemed that some residents were concerned about the broadness of some of the questions
which may lead result in error in the data. When asked about the seriousness of child sexual
abuse, the responses were not sure whether the question was asking whether the topic is an
important issue or whether it was highly prevalent. The respondents personal experience with the
topic of child sexual abuse also may have led to unequal responses because their extent of the
subject is greater than people who are assuming how they would act in the situations asked.


FINDINGS
1. 68% of respondents said that, in general, their area of New York was going off the
“wrong track.”
Source: Data collected for the Prevent Child Abuse New York Campaign by Nicole Keler and
Edward Palmer, Community Link Project, Syracuse University, 2013.
Comments: Data may have error because respondents were confused with the vagueness of the
question. Out of 160 respondents, three refused to answer.
31%
69%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Right Track Wrong Track
Percent
Feeling
Respondent's Feelings of General Direction of New York
n=157


2. 64% of survey respondents felt that “taxes and the budget deficit” or “the environment”
was the greatest problem facing their family that government officials should be working
to solve.
Comments: Most respondents who answered “Environment” defined their answer as Hydro-
fracking. Out of 160 respondents, one refused to answer.
1%
1%
3%
4%
5%
7%
16%
26%
38%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%
Child Abuse or Child Welfare Issues
Affordable Housing
All Other
Don't Know
Crime or Drugs
Education and Schools
Health Care or Health Insurance Costs
The Enviornment
Taxes or the Budget Deficit
Percent
Problem
Greatest Problems Facing Resident's and Familes
n=159


3. 76% of respondents said they knew either “a great deal” or “quite a bit” about child
sexual abuse.
Comments: Out of 160 respondents, one respondent answered “don’t know” and one respondent
refused to answer.
38%
40%
21%
1%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
A Great Deal Quite A Bit Not Very Much Nothing At All
PercentofRespondents
Extent of Knowledge
Respondent's Knowledge of Child Sexual Abuse
n=157


60%
28%
1% 0%
10%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
A Very Serious
Problem
A Somewhat
Serious Problem
A Not Very
Serious Problem
Not A Problem
At All
Don't Know
Respondents Attitude
Respondent's Attitude of Child Sexual Abuse in New York
n=159
4. 88% of respondents said that child sexual abuse is “a very serious problem” or a
“somewhat serious problem” in the state of New York.
Comments: Respondents expressed confusion about this question because they were not sure
whether the survey was addressing the topic of child sexual abuse in general, or the amount of
occurrence. Out of 160 respondents, one respondent refused to answer.


8%
43%
16%
4%
29%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
A Very Serious
Problem
A Somewhat
Serious
Problem
A Not Very
Serious
Problem
Not A Problem
At All
Don't Know
Respondents Attidues
Respondent's Attitude of Child Sexual Abuse in Home Town
n=160
5. 59% of respondents thought that child sexual abuse in his/her town is a “somewhat
serious problem” or “not a very serious problem.”
Comments: Many respondents said they “didn’t know” the extent of a problem child sexual
abuse was in their particular town.


10%
5%
48%
38%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
Gotten Better Gotten Worse Stayed the Same Don't Know
Respondents Attitude
Change in Frequency of Child Sexual Abuse in Past Five Years
n=160
6. 86% of respondents felt that child sexual abuse in their particular city has “stayed the
same” in the past five years or “did not know” the progression.
Comments: Respondents explained that the response of “stayed the same” as not hearing about
any incidences.


7. 92% of survey respondents said that child sexual abuse is “definitely preventable” or
“somewhat preventable.”
Comments: Out of 160 respondents, two respondents answered “don’t know.”
67%
28%
3% 2%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Definitely
Preventable
Somewhat
Preventable
Somewhat Not
Preventable
Definitely Not
Preventable
Prevention Attitude
Respondent's Attitudes of Preventability of Child Sexual Abuse
n=158


8. 65% of survey respondents thought that a child is most likely to be abused by “an adult
stranger” or “an adult non-family member.”
Comments: Out of 160 respondents, one respondent answered “don’t know.”
1%
2%
5%
26%
26%
40%
0% 5% 10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%
An Older Child or Teenager
Someone Else
A Family Friend or Neighbor
An Adult Non-Family member
An Adult Family Member
An Adult Stranger
Percent of Respondents
LikleyAbuser Respodent's Opinion on Who is Most Likley to Abuse a Child
n=159


9. 86% of survey respondents are “very confident” or “confident” they could identify
inappropriate behaviors in adults that would indicate they pose a risk of sexually abusing
an adolescent.
48%
38%
13%
1%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Very Confident Somewhat
Confident
Not Very Confident Not Confident At
All
Confidence Level
Respondent's Confidence of Identifing Adults Who Pose a Risk of
Sexually Abusing a Child
n=160


10. 80% of residents said they were “very confident” or “somewhat confident” in being able
to identify physical or behavioral signs of an sexually abused child
Comments: Out of 160 respondents, two respondents answered “don’t know,” and one
respondent refused to answer.
38%
43%
18%
1%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
Very Confident Somewhat
Confident
Not Very
Confident
Not Confident At
All
PercentageofRespondents
Confidence Level
Respondent's Confidence of Identifing Physical or Behavioral
Signs in a Child of Abuse
n=157


11. 90% of respondents are “very confident” or “confident” that he/she would respond
appropriately if they suspected someone they knew of sexual child abuse.
52%
39%
6% 3%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Very
Confident
Somewhat
Confident
Not Very
Confident
Not Confident
At All
PercentageofRespondents
Confidence Level
Reponden'ts Confidence in Appropriate Action Agianst
Child Sexual Abuse
n=159


0%
0%
0%
0%
1%
1%
3%
14%
31%
51%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Refer them to an agency
Refer them to a help line number
Do nothing about it
Other
Confront the child or ask them about it
Refer them to a counselor or therapist
Tell the child's parents or family
Call the local child protective services
Confront the adult or ask them about it
Call the police
Response
Response to Someone They Know Sexually Abusing a Child
n=159
12. 65% of survey respondents said they would “contact the police” or “call the local protective
services” when asked how they would respond if they suspected someone in their family or
an acquaintance was sexually abusing an adolescent.


13. 59% of survey respondents said they would “confront the adult” if they suspected someone
they knew or an acquaintance might be sexually abusing a child, but they were not sure.
Comments: Out of 160 respondents, three respondents answered “don’t know,” and two
respondents refused to answer.
0%
1%
1%
1%
3%
3%
8%
9%
14%
61%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Refer them to a help line number
Refer them to an agency
Do nothing about it
Refer them to a counselor or therapist
Call the local child protective services
Other
Confront the child or ask them about it
Tell the child's parents or family
Call the police
Confront the adult or ask them about it
Response
Response To Someone They Know Might Be Sexually Abusing a Child
n=155


APPENDICES
Table of Contents
Appendix I Survey
Appendix II Data Frequencies
Appendix III Codebook & Spreadsheet

New York Prevent Child Abuse Survey-Tompkins County, April 2013, Appendix I-1
Appendix I
Blank Survey

New York Prevent Child Abuse Survey-Tompkins County, April 2013, Appendix II- 1

Appendix II
Data Frequencies
n=1 57
n= 157
n= 159
n= 159
60%
40%n=160


n= 160
n= 160
n= 158
n= 159
n= 160
61%


n= 157
n= 159
n= 155
n= 159


n= 141
n= 160
n= 156
n= 160
n= 160
n= 116
77= 44


n= 32
n= 158
n= 158
n= 156
77= 128


n= 158
n= 160
n= 157
n= 139
n= 160

New York Prevent Child Abuse Survey-Tompkins County, April 2013, Appendix III-1

Appendix III
Codebook
COLUMN FIELD NAME DEFINITION CODE
A ID Respondent’s anonymous identification
number
Code is identical to
identification number
B DATE The day’s date Identical to date
C SEX Gender 1= Male
2=Female
99= No response
D DIRECTION Feelings of whether personal area of
New York is going in the right or
wrong direction
1= Right direction
2= Wrong direction
99= No response
E PROBLEM What is the greatest problem facing
you and your family that government
officials should be working to solve
1= Taxes or the Budget
Deficit
2= Education and Schools
3=Crime or Drugs
4= Affordable Housing
5=Child Abuse or Child
Welfare
6=Health Care or Insurance
Costs
7=Environment
8=All other
88= Don’t know/unsure
99= No response
F KNOWLEDGE How much would you say you know
about child sexual abuse
1= A great deal
2=Quite a bit
3=Not very much
4=Nothing at all
99= No response
G ABUSENY How much would you say child sexual
abuse is a problem in New York
1=A very serious problem
2=A somewhat serious
problem
3=Not a very serious
problem
4=Not a problem at all
99= No response


H ABUSECITY How much would you say child sexual
abuse is a problem in your city or town
1=A very serious problem
2=A somewhat serious
problem
3=Not a very serious
problem
4=Not a problem at all
9= No response
I
PROGRESSION
Do you think the problem of child
sexual abuse in your town has gotten
better, worse, or stayed the same in the
past five years
1= Gotten better
2=Gotten worse
3=Stayed the same
9= No response
J PREVENTABLE Do you think that child sexual abuse is
a preventable problem
1=Definitely preventable
2=Somewhat preventable
3=Somewhat not
preventable
4=Definitely not
preventable
99= No response
K ABUSER Who would you say is a child most
likely to get abuse by
1=An adult stranger
2=Adult family member
3=Adult non-family
member (teacher, coach,
clergy, ex.)
4=Family friend or
neighbor
5=Older child or teenager
6=Someone else
99= No response
L BEHAVIOR How confident are you that you can
identify inappropriate behaviors of an
adult that might indicate they pose a
risk of sexual abuse to an adolescent
1=Very confident
2=Somewhat confident
3=Not very confident
4=not confident at all
99= No response
M PHYSICAL How confident are you that you can
identify physical and/or behavior signs
in an adolescent that might indicate
they have been sexually abused
1= Very confident
4=Not confident at all
99= No response


N ACTION How confident are you that you would
know how to respond appropriately if
you suspected that someone in your
family or knew of was sexually
abusing an adolescent
1= Very confident
4=Not confident at all
99= No response
O SUSPECT What would you do if you suspected
someone in your family or an
acquaintance was sexually abusing an
adolescent
1= Confront/ ask adult
2=Confront/ ask child
3=Tell child’s
parents/family
4=Call the police
5=Call local child
protective services
6=Refer them to an agency
7=Refer them to a
counselor
8=Refer them to a help line
number
9=Do nothing about it
10=other
99= Refused
P EFFECT What would you do if you suspected
someone in your family or an
acquaintance MIGHT BE sexually
abusing an adolescent
1= Confront/ ask adult
2=Confront/ ask child
3=Tell child’s
parents/family
4=Call the police
5=Call local child
protective services
6=Refer them to an agency
7=Refer them to a
counselor
8=Refer them to a help line
number
9=Do nothing about it
10=other
99= Refused
AD BIRTH In what year were you born


AE ANCESTOR What best describes your ancestors 1=African American
2=Asian American
3=Hispanic
4=European
5=Mixed race
6=Something else
99= Refused
AF REGION What county do you live in 1=Tompkins
AG EDUC What was the last grade of school you
completed
1=Less than high school
2=High school graduate
3=Some college (less than
2 yrs)
4=Two year associate
degree
5=Some college (more than
2 yrs)
6= College graduate
7=Post graduate degree
99= Refused
AH RELIGION If you are religious, what religion are
you
1=Catholic
2=Protestant
3=Jewish
4=None
5=Something else
99= Refused
AI INCOME What best describes your annual
household income
1=Less than $10,000
2=Between $10,000 &
$25,000
3=Between $25,000 &
$35,000
4=Between $35,000 &
$50,000
5=Between $50,000 &
$75,000
6=Between $75,000 &
$150,000
7=More than $150,000
99= Refused


Spreadsheet
Comments: The spreadsheet includes 160 responses, only 37 are shown here.

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