2003 IMTA Proceedings - International Military Testing Association

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are intended to assess participant’s perceptions of climate in the military. A higher score on the
climate variable indicates a perception that the organization is tolerant of sexual harassment.
Frequency. Participants were asked to reflect on the One Situation with Greatest Effect to
answer questions related to the frequency, and other aspects specific to the individual’s
experience with the unwanted behavior(s). Frequency was determined by the participant’s
response to a single item that asked how often the offensive behavior occurred. Using a 5-point
response scale respondents were given the following options: “once”, “occasionally”,
“frequently”, “almost every day”, and “more than once a day”. A higher score indicates the
presence of more frequent harassment.
One Situation with the Greatest Effect. All 19 items from the Department of Defense
Sexual Experiences Questionnaire (DoD SEQ) were used to measure the frequency of unwanted
sex/gender related talk and/or behavior as it pertained to the one situation of sexual harassment
that the target perceived to have had the greatest effect on them 5 . The response scale for the
situation specific version of the SEQ was modified to contain a dichotomous scoring option of
“did this” or “did not do this” instead of a 5-point response scale ranging from “never” to “very
often” utilized in the DoD SEQ. Respondents were asked to indicate how often the unwanted
verbal and/or physical behavior(s) had occurred by using the dichotomous response scale. The
response options were divided into subgroups based on the types of behaviors indicated in each
item.
Sexist Behavior was identified by the endorsement of one or more of four response
options which referenced unwanted behaviors that included “referring to people of your gender
in insulting or offensive terms”, “treated you “differently” because of your gender”, “made
offensive sexist remarks”, and “put you down or was condescending to you because of your
gender”.
Unwanted Sexual Attention goes beyond experiencing verbal discourse relative to sexual
topics and includes behaviors such as unwanted touching and unreciprocated “attempts to
establish a romantic sexual relationship”. Respondents were identified as having experienced
Unwanted Sexual Attention if they endorsed at least one of six response options relevant to these
types of behavior. These response options include “made unwanted attempts to establish a
romantic sexual relationship with you despite your efforts to discourage it”, continued to asked
you for dates, drinks, dinner, etc., even though you said No”, “touched you in a way that made
you feel uncomfortable”, “made unwanted attempts to stroke, fondle or kiss you”, “attempted to
have sex with you without your consent or against your will, but was not successful”, and “had
sex with you without your consent or against your will”.
5 Survey measurement of sexual harassment is defined by the U.S. Department of Defense as the presence of
behaviors indicative of sexual harassment (Crude/Offensive Behavior, Sexual Coercion, and Unwanted Sexual
Attention; Sexist Behavior and Sexual Assault are not counted in the DoD survey measure
of sexual harassment) and the labeling of those behaviors as sexual harassment (Survey Method for Counting
Incidents of Sexual Harassment, 2002). The WGR 2002 did not include a labeling item specific to the “One
Situation with the Greatest Effect,” rather, labeling was tied to all incidents of behaviors indicative of harassment.
As such the use of the phrase “sexual harassment” or “harassment” in this document reflects only one of the two
qualifiers of the phenomenon. Further, use of these terms is in no way meant to reflect the legal definition of sexual
harassment. This wording is utilized for consistency and comparison with the literature on reporting sexual
harassment.
45 th Annual Conference of the International Military Testing Association
Pensacola, Florida, 3-6 November 2003