What young people experiencing family violence have to say about Burstingthebubble

1

What young people experiencing family violence

have to say about Burstingthebubble.com

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND INCEST RESOURCE CENTRE INC.

2

INTRODUCTION

Acknowledgments

Key findings of the online survey

About Burstingthebubble.com

Evaluation design

FINDINGS

What young people like about Burstingthebubble.com

How and why young people use the website

What young people dislike about Burstingthebubble.com

What young people learn about support services

Suggestions of how the website can be improved

About the survey respondents

Contents

The design, implementation and evaluation of

Burstingthebubble.com was made possible through the generous support of the

Victorian Government through the Community

Support Fund.

(1 of 2)Acknowledgments

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Acknowledgments (2 of 2)

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND INCEST RESOURCE CENTRE INC.

The Bursting the Bubble website was developed by the Domestic Violence and

Incest Resource Centre (DVIRC). The evaluation of

Burstingthebubble.com was undertaken by the Centre for Program Evaluation, of The

University of Melbourne.

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INTRODUCTION

Acknowledgments



Evaluation design

FINDINGS







Key Findings

“It gave me space and time to work through my

issues. It asked questions I’d been

denying needed to be answered.”

Contents

(1 of 3)

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Respondents have indicated that Burstingthebubble.com is an effective, helpful and well designed website;

Almost all respondents found the information they had accessed on Burstingthebubble.com to be useful;

Over half of the survey participants said that they would use information on the website in relation to abuse happening to them. One in five said that they would use the information in relation to abuse happening to someone at home;

Whereas two thirds of respondents knew ‘a little’ or ‘nothing’ about support services before visiting Burstingthebubble.com, 75% stated that they had learnt ‘a lot’ or a ‘fair amount’ about these services from visiting Burstingthebubble.com;

Almost all respondents said that they would recommend the site to someone they thought it might help.

Survey feedback reveals high levels of satisfaction with Burstingthebubble.com

Key Findings of the Online Survey (2 of 3)

Key Findings from the Online Survey:

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Respondents particularly noted that the website had provided: an environment that allowed teenagers to feel ‘welcome and

understood’; ‘real life’ stories that had made participants feel ‘less alone’; useful quizzes that ‘tell you what is wrong in your family’; practical information on ‘how to deal with a situation of abuse’.

Participants suggested Burstingthebubble.com would benefit from: more information on a range of topics including: coping with past

sexual abuse; leaving home; local support services; and personal rights when dealing with support services;

the availability of online support.

Participants felt that Burstingthebubble.com provides an environment in which young people are ‘welcome and understood’

Key Findings of the Online Survey (3 of 3)

Key Findings from the Online Survey:

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INTRODUCTION

Acknowledgments



Evaluation design

FINDINGS








Burstingthebubble.com is a website for teenagers

who live in homes where there is domestic violence,

or where they are subjected to physical,

sexual or emotional abuse.

Contents

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National research shows that almost a quarter of young people in Australia have experienced or witnessed an incident of physical domestic violence against a member of their family (Indermaur 2001). Research also shows that exposure to domestic violence can have devastating social and psychological consequences for teenagers, and can significantly impair school performance (Mullender et al 2002).

‘Burstingthebubble.com’ assists young people to identify whether abuse is occurring in their homes, provides them with ideas on how to increase their safety, and offers information about how services can help young people. The target audience for Burstingthebubble.com is young Australians aged 13 to 18. The website receives on average 100,000 hits per month (1,500 visits per month).

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To engage and communicate effectively with young people Burstingthebubble.com takes an innovative and interactive approach to health and safety promotion. Avoiding a didactic design, young people access information on the website by completing quizzes, reading authentic stories, using checklists and establishing action plans.

Burstingthebubble.com was developed by the Domestic Violence and Incest Resource Centre (DVIRC) in consultation with counsellors, teachers, child protection professionals, and teenagers in schools and youth refuges. The DVIRC is a statewide resource centre for information about domestic violence and sexual assault. For information about the DVIRC visit: http://www.dvirc.org.au/ . The Centre is funded by the Department of Human Services Victoria, Australia.

Burstingthebubble.com was launched by the Minister of Victorian Communities, John Thwaites, in October 2003.

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INTRODUCTION

Acknowledgments



Evaluation design

FINDINGS







Evaluation Design

The report draws on a purposive sample of 87 young

people who completed an online survey and identified themselves as experiencing

family violence, or seeking to help a family member or friend

experiencing domestic violence.

Contents

(1 of 4)

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Evaluation Design

The evaluation of Burstingthebubble.com was carried out collaboratively by the Centre for Program Evaluation (CPE), of The University of Melbourne, and the DVIRC. The CPE is a major evaluation and teaching unit which undertakes commissioned program evaluations on a consultancy basis across a wide range of policy, program and product areas. The evaluation took place between June 2003 and December 2004.

Following extensive consultations between the DVIRC and CPE three key objectives were identified for the Burstingthebubble.com evaluation. These were to:

1. Learn what young people who experience family violence think about the Burstingthebubble.com website. This component of the evaluation was to incorporate a specific focus on the effectiveness of the website content in meeting the needs of young people living with family violence;

2. Discover if young people found Burstingthebubble.com to be a user friendly and engaging website. This aspect of the evaluation was to focus on the design of the website including: ease of navigation; appropriateness of graphics; readability of information; usability of quizzes and checklists; suggestions for improvement;

3. Clarify if young people feel that websites are a useful medium for communicating information on issues of health, safety and wellbeing. With this final component of the evaluation the DVIRC and Victorian Government sought to explore assumptions regarding the efficacy of using websites to provide information to young people.

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Evaluation Design

Online Survey Component of the Evaluation

This visual report provides feedback from an online questionnaire designed to gather data for the first of these three key evaluation objectives. The data displayed in the report is drawn from a purposive sample of 87 young people who completed the online survey and identified themselves as experiencing family violence at home or as seeking to help a friend or family member experiencing family violence.

The Burstingthebubble.com survey included 21 questions, of which 15 were close ended. Survey questions focused on such matters as:

• Things liked or disliked about the website;• The degree to which the information on the website was useful;• The ways in which young people found the information useful;• Suggestions regarding information that was needed but not provided on the website;• The extent to which the website had improved the young person’s knowledge of support services;• The extent to which the website motivated young people to contact support services.

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Evaluation Design

The Burstingthebubble.com online survey was developed by the CPE and DVIRC and piloted online in mid 2003. Data was collected over a 12 month period between October 2003 and October 2004. A link provided on the Burstingthebubble website and a popup box were used to invite users to complete the survey. To view the online survey click the following URL: http://www.burstingthebubble.com/feedback.shtml.

The evaluators acknowledge that there are a number of limitations associated with the use of online surveys including (but not limited to) population representativeness and difficulties ensuring targeted respondents are those who actually complete surveys (Granello and Wheaton 2003). Nevertheless, for the purposes of this evaluation the Burstingthebubble online survey has proved to be an invaluable and highly successful way of gaining feedback from an isolated and ‘hard to reach’ group.

Focus Group Research Component

Readers are advised that the results from twelve focus groups undertaken in Victorian Government secondary schools for evaluation objectives (2) and (3) are reported in the booklet ‘Young peoples’ views on designing effective websites: Learnings from Burstingthebubble.com’. To obtain a copy of the booklet contact the DVIRC on: 03 9486 9866.

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“I liked the fact that the quizzes analyze a

situation.”

“It was very informative. Told me

what I needed to know.”

What Young People Like About Burstingthebubble.com

Contents

INTRODUCTION

Acknowledgments



Evaluation design

FINDINGS







(1 of 9)

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The clear message from the online survey has been that respondents believe Burstingthebubble.com is a valuable, engaging, and well designed website. The key themes in participant responses were regarding:

The quality and ‘usefulness’ of the information on the website; The appropriateness of using quizzes, checklists and stories; The sensitive and effective targeting of young people; The supportive and ‘counselling’ nature of the website; The attractive and user-friendly website design.

This section of the report also presents results on how young people rated navigating the website and the extent to which young people would recommend Burstingthebubble.com to someone else.

Comments such as “It’s a great site” are typical of the responses provided by surveyparticipants

What Young People Like About Burstingthebubble.com (2 of 9)

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Theme 1# : The quality and usefulness of the information on the website.

“There is lots of info about what abuse is,

who it happens to and how you can get help.”

“It gives the options that a person has when it

comes to them leaving home.”

“The information seemed to be up-to-date and it provided good links to other

websites.”

“I liked everything really. I’ve never been on a site

before which can really help me out.”

“It’s got great resources for abused kids.”

“It was very informative. Told me what I needed

to know.”

(3 of 9)

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Theme 2# : The appropriateness of using quizzes, checklists and stories.

“Using true stories help this issue become more realistic to teens.”

“The SOS quiz and the checklists are good

because they tell you what is wrong in your family.”

“The true stories help you to understand what people went through and how they felt.”

“I liked the fact that the quizzes analyze a situation.”

What Young People Like About Burstingthebubble.com (4 of 9)

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Theme 3# : The sensitive and effective targeting of young people.

“Gets things across in a way

teenagers understand.”

“Appropriate for teens. I dunno it just feels

comfortable.”

“It relates to teenagers really well, making

them feel understood and welcome.”

“The language used is at a level we can understand. So it

makes it an easy read while still being very

informative.”

(5 of 9)

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Theme 4# : The supportive and ‘counselling’ nature of the website.

“It’s useful how they have the stories about other kids getting

abused by there parents and watching there mothers get

pushed around. I relate to some of the things they are saying and now

I know I’m not the only one.”

“What I liked about this website is that people express their

feelings and I don't feel alone. There are people with me.”

“It helped me a lot mentally. And it made me realize that some things that have gone on, are not right. It helped me to understand things that I’ve always been afraid to mention or say to friends and

family. Thank you.”

“It gave me space and time to work through my issues in

my way. It asked the questions I'd been denying needed to be answered.”

(6 of 9)

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Theme 5# : The attractive and user-friendly website design.

“I like the cartoon characters and bubbles. It’s got great

headings and I like the background.”

“This website is very simple to use and it was easy to find the

information I needed.”

“The coloring is great.”

“Nice design.

Young and fresh.”

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68% of survey respondents reported that navigating Burstingthebubble.com was ‘very easy’

3.1

28.1

68.8

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Not always easy- %

Fairly easy - %

Very easy - %

Ease of navigating Burstingthebubble.com:

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98.5% of respondents indicated they would recommend the site to someone that theythought it might help

1.5

98.5

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

No - %

Yes - %

Would survey participants recommend Burstingthebubble.com to others?

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INTRODUCTION

Acknowledgments



Evaluation design

FINDINGS







How and Why Young People Use Burstingthebubble.com

35.5

15.8

48.7

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Other - %

Information for a friend - %

Information about things happening at

home - %

Contents

(1 of 6)

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Just under half the survey participants indicated they were looking for information regarding ‘things happening at home’ (48.7%)

35.5

15.8

48.7

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Other - %

Information for a friend - %

Information about thingshappening at home - %

Types of information survey participants were looking for:

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‘Other’ types of information survey participants were looking for included:

“I just wanted to have a look around in case I need it in the

years ahead.”

“Getting out of home. Information about alternative housing for under

17s.”

“Someone to talk to about my problem.”

“Information for a school pamphlet on how people are affected (by

abuse) and what organization to contact.”

“Being sexually abused as a young child by a family member who has

since died.”

“Information about dealing with teen groups.”

How and Why Young People Use Burstingthebubble.com (3 of 6)

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61.6% of participants felt they had found ‘all’ or ‘most’ of the information they were looking for

4.6

6.2

27.7

38.5

23.1

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Unsure -%

None of the information Ineeded -%

Some of the information Ineeded -%

Most of the information Ineeded -%

All of the information Ineeded -%

The degree to which respondents found the information they were looking for:

(4 of 6)

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81.3 % of respondents found all or most of the information they had accessed on Burstingthebubble.com useful

1.6

6.3

10.9

34.4

46.9

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Unsure -%

I did not find the information useful -%

I found some of the information useful -%

I found most of the information useful -%

I found the information v ery useful -%

The degree to which the information on the website was useful:

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52% of survey respondents indicated that they would use information on the website in relation to abuse happening to them. 20% said they would use the information in relation to abuse happening to someone at home

15

13

20

52

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Other - %

Ideas about abuse happeningto a friend - %

Ideas about abuse happeningto someone at home - %

Ideas about abuse happeningto me - %

How participants plan to use the information:

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INTRODUCTION

Acknowledgments



Evaluation design

FINDINGS



What users dislike about Burstingthebubble.com




“I would like to know more about how the

law can protect victims of domestic violence.”

“Nothing! The Website was really cool.”

What People Dislike About Burstingthebubble.com

Contents

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‘There wasn’t anything I didn’t like!’ or similar statements were offered by most respondents in reply to an open survey question asking what users ‘didn't like’ about Burstingthebubble.com. Of the small number of participants who indicated ‘dislikes’ the key themes were regarding:

Providing more information on the website Problems with ‘alert’ icons associated with the SOS quiz

(http://www.burstingthebubble.com/sos/shtml) The desire to have access to an online counsellor.

A clear majority of respondents indicated that they “didn’t not like anything” about the website

What People Dislike About Burstingthebubble.com (2 of 2)

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INTRODUCTION

Acknowledgments



Evaluation design

FINDINGS







What Young People Learn About Support Services

3.2

3.2

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34.9

39.7

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Unsure -%

I still know nothing -%

I now know a little -%

I now know a fair amount -%

I now know a lot -%

Contents

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65% of survey respondents indicated that they knew ‘a little’ or ‘nothing’ about support services before visiting Burstingthebubble.com

1.6

12.5

53.1

20.3

12.5

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Unsure -%

I knew nothing -%

I knew a little -%

I knew a fair amount -%

I knew a lot -%

Knowledge of support services before visiting the website:

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75% of participants felt that they knew ‘a lot’ or ‘a fair amount’ about support services after visiting Burstingthebubble.com

3.2

3.2

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34.9

39.7

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Unsure -%

I still know nothing -%

I now know a little -%

I now know a fair amount -%

I now know a lot -%

Knowledge of support services after visiting the website:

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37% of participants indicated they would ‘certainly’ or ‘most likely’ contact a support service. An equal number indicated they ‘were unsure but might’ contact a service

9.8

14.8

37.7

16.4

21.3

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Unsure -%

I am unlikely to contact -%

I am not sure but I might -%

I will most likely contact -%

I will certainly contact -%

Likelihood that the respondent will now contact a support service:

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INTRODUCTION

Acknowledgments



Evaluation design

FINDINGS







“There should be online support. A person you

can talk to.”

“Maybe more cultures should be

represented.”

Suggestions of how the Website can be Improved

Contents

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Support for children

“I’d like to know is there any helplines for kids aged 9-15

years?”

Contact details relating to sexual abuse

“Any incest contacts.” “Rape related contacts.”

Financial assistance

“How to get a youth allowance through

Centrelink.”

Support groups and counsellors

“Support groups and anonymous ones.” “Women's centres near where I live.”

“How counsellors work.”


Survey participants want more information about:

Information on legal matters

“I want to know more about how the law can protect victims of

domestic violence.”

Living away from home

“I’ve been told to leave home. I need to know what my choices are

or any further steps I can take when I do end up leaving.”

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More stories

“I would like to hear more stories. Maybe some that don’t work out

totally.”

More pictures

“It’s really good but maybe make it stand out more with more

pictures.”

Online support

“I think it would help to have online support. Not all the time but a person to talk to and get advice from would help.”

Cultural representation

“Maybe also show people from different cultures and

backgrounds so we all can have someone to relate to.”

Define the site’s purpose

“Say if this is just a site or a place where teenage victims can actually

go.” Allow young people to contribute to the site

“How do I give my experiences and stories so I can help others?”


Other suggestions offered by respondents include:

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About the Survey Respondents

INTRODUCTION

Acknowledgments



Evaluation design

FINDINGS







93.8

6.2

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Female % Male %

Contents

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Most survey respondents accessed the website from home (45%) or school (36%)

1.4

2.8

2.8

1.4

4.2

36.1

5.6

45.8

0 10 20 30 40 50

Other %

Internet café %

Work %

Community centre %

Library %

School %

Relative/friend's house %

Home %

Where young people were when they accessed the website

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Just over half the respondents (52%) discovered Burstingthebubble.com by using an Internet search engine

15

13

20

52

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Magazine/ DVIRC booklet - %

School - %

Other website - %

Internet search engine - %

How survey participants found out about Burstingthebubble.com

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Most participants were 13-17 years of age. This is also the core group targeted by Burstingthebubble.com

0

5

10

15

20

25

30Age of survey participants

(4 of 7)

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Six in ten people who completed the survey were studying at secondary school (60%)

4.8

1.6

12.7

9.5

1.6

60.3

9.5

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Look after children/family %

Work Part Time %

Work Full Time %

Unemployed %

TAFE or University %

Secondary school %

Primary school %

Current activities undertaken by survey participants

(5 of 7)

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Survey participants were almost exclusively female (93%)

93.8

6.2

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Female % Male %

Gender of respondents

(6 of 7)

44

16.1

4.8

6.5

8.1

4.8

21

38.7

0 10 20 30 40 50

Not in Australia %

Northern Territory %

Western Australia %

New South Wales %

South Australia %

Queensland %

Victoria %


38.7% of participants were from Victoria and 21% were from Queensland. Smaller but significant numbers of respondents were from outside of Australia (16%)

Locality of the survey participants

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References

Granell, D. and Wheaton, J. 2003. Using the Web-Based Surveys to Conduct Couselling Research, Cybercounselling and Cyberlearning: An Encore, (ERIC).

Indermaur, D. 2001. Young Australians and Domestic Violence. Australian Institute of Criminology Series: Trends & Issues 195.

Mullender, A., Hague, G., Imam, U., Kelly, L, Malos, E., Regan, L. 2002. Children's Perspectives on Domestic Violence. London: Sage.

Documents

What young people experiencing family violence have to say about Burstingthebubble