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Shortened Sexual Experiences Questionnaire–Department of Defense (SEQ-DoD)

The Shortened Sexual Experiences Questionnaire–Department of Defense (SEQ-DoD) is a 16 item measure of sexual harassment for use by military and civilian researchers. It has 4 sub-scales: Sexist Hostility, Sexual Hostility, Unwanted Sexual Attention and Sexual Coercion. It is a shortened version of the 23-item Sexual Experiences Questionnaire–Department of Defense (DOD).

Categories

Geographies Tested: United States of America

Populations Included: Female, Male

Age Range: Adults

Items:

Sexist Hostility (sexist behavior)
1. Treated you “differently” because of your sex?
2. Displayed, used, or distributed sexist or suggestive materials?
3. Made offensive sexist remarks?
4. Put you down or was condescending to you because of your sex?

Sexual Hostility (crude or offensive behavior)
5. Repeatedly told sexual stories or jokes that were offensive to you?
6. Made unwelcome attempts to draw you into a discussion of sexual matters?
7. Made offensive remarks about your appearance, body, or sexual activities?
8. Made gestures or used body language of a sexual nature which embarrassed or offended you?

Unwanted Sexual Attention
9. Made unwanted attempts to establish a romantic sexual relationship with you despite your efforts to discourage it?
10. Continued to ask you for dates, drinks, dinner, etc., even though you said “No”?
11. Touched you in a way that made you feel uncomfortable?
12. Made unwanted attempts to stroke, fondle, or kiss you?

Sexual Coercion
13. Made you feel like you were being bribed with a reward to engage in sexual behavior?
14. Made you feel threatened with some sort of retaliation for not being sexually cooperative?
15. Treated you badly for refusing to have sex?
16. Implied faster promotions or better treatment if you were sexually cooperative?

Response Options:
Never – 0
Once or twice – 1
Sometimes – 2
Often – 3
Very often - 4

Scoring Procedures

Proportions of endorsement were computed for each sub-scale from 1 to 5, with 5 representing high harassment and 1 representing no harassment.

Original Citation

Stark, S., Chernyshenko, O. S., Lancaster, A. R., Drasgow, F., & Fitzgerald, L. F. (2009). Toward standardized measurement of sexual sarassment: Shortening the SEQ-DoD using item response theory. Military Psychology, 14(1), 49-72. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327876mp1401_03


Psychometric Score

Ease of Use Score

Scoring breakdown

Formative Research

Qualitative Research

Existing Literature/Theoretical Framework

Field Expert Input

Cognitive Interviews / Pilot Testing

Reliability

Internal

Test-retest

Interrater

Validity

Content

Face

Criterion (gold-standard)

Construct

KEY

Ease of Use

Readability

Scoring Clarity

Length

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