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).
Geographies Tested: United States of America
Populations Included: Female, Male
Age Range: Adults
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
Proportions of endorsement were computed for each sub-scale from 1 to 5, with 5 representing high harassment and 1 representing no harassment.
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
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