Appendix B: Research Methodology

Focus Groups

As part of the assessment process, the Victim Services Task Force conducted a number of focus groups to collect information about the needs and experiences of victims. These groups were not developed to be statistically representative samples of victims in Travis County. Rather, they were conducted with individuals who were willing and able to participate and speak to the needs of victims.

The first focus group conducted was with individuals representing agencies that serve victims. Some 186 individuals were invited to attend and 43 (23%) attended. This was a two-hour meeting held at the Travis County Counseling and Education Services building. The group was asked to respond to seven questions (see Appendix C). The group was then asked to rank the responses provided by all respondents for three of the 7 questions. The results of the focus group are found throughout this report.

The Task Force also conducted a series of focus groups in specific issue areas and with certain populations. Those issue areas and populations included:

• Persons with Disabilities – survivors, advocates, and service providers
• Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) supervisors
• Austin Police Department and Travis County Sheriff’s Office detectives working on child abuse cases
• Survivors of sexual assault
• Victims and survivors of intoxication vehicular homicide
• Spanish speaking and immigrant victims
• Austin Police Department Victim Services Counselors
• Domestic violence transitional housing residents
• Elderly victims and service providers

Groups were comprised of individuals who were willing to attend and share information. The size of the groups ranged from 3 – 12 people. Each group was facilitated by a professional familiar with the issues facing victims and recorded by, in most cases, two scribes. Each group was tape recorded so that the notes could be checked for accuracy after the meeting ended. Participants signed a consent form that indicated that they were willing participants and would maintain the confidentiality of the others. All groups were asked the same basic questions with slight variations to make them appropriate to the assembled group. For a copy of the questions asked, see Appendix C.

Provider Inventory

The purposes of this inventory were 1) to collect information about what services are currently provided in Travis County and 2) to gather opinions regarding the state of victim services. Travis County Health and Human Services (HHS) and Veterans Service administered the survey through an online survey program called Zoomerang. Paper surveys were available to those who could not access it online. Paper copies were completed and returned to HHS staff that entered the information into the survey program. For a copy of the survey please see Appendix D.

HHS surveyed 172 agencies; 38 (22%) responded. Staff erred on the side of sending surveys to more agencies rather than less. Many of the agencies that received the survey were not specifically victim services providers – they may serve victims but that is not their primary business. Due to the low response rate, much of the information collected in the inventory was not incorporated into the assessment.

Literature Reviews and Statistics

Members of the Victim Services Task Force and staff from HHS conducted literature reviews and researched statistics on various topics related to victims’ services. The results of the literature reviews, as well as statistics from the local, state, and national level were used extensively throughout the report to describe victims’ services, assess the extent of need, provide information on best and promising practices, and inform recommendations on next steps.