In-School Evaluation of Bystander: A Game-Based Intervention for Sexual Violence Prevention

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Bystander Behavioral Intentions
• Interventions: Behavioral: Bystander, a game-based bystander intervention program; Behavioral: Infection City, a game-based program about meningitis

• Registration Number: NCT02919098
• Lead Sponsor: University of Chicago

Brief Summary

The investigators have developed a game-based sexual violence prevention program that uses a bystander intervention approach. This program is called Bystander and was designed for use with high school students in grades 9-12. The goal of this research is to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of Bystander when implemented in a school setting. The research will capture data on knowledge about sexual violence and harassment, as well as attitudes, self-efficacy, perceived social norms and behavioral intentions around bystander behaviors. This research will consist of a baseline survey, program participation, a immediate post-program survey, and a 3-month follow up survey with youth participants. It will also involve qualitative in-depth interviews with school staff and administration about the program.

Detailed Description

Using the investigators' experience in game-based learning, digital media, behavior theory, and adolescent sexual and reproductive health, the investigators have developed a digital game-based sexual violence prevention program-Bystander-to be used with high school students to teach them about prosocial bystander behaviors and decrease acceptance of common rape myths. The goal of this research is to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of Bystander when implemented in a school setting.

This study will evaluate Bystander, a four-module intervention program. Each module is designed to last one school class period. It includes 20 minutes of individual gameplay through an interactive narrative featuring prosocial bystander behaviors and discussions dispelling rape myths. Each module also includes facilitated class discussion about the topics covered that day.

The research team will conduct a pre/post efficacy and feasibility study that will capture data through a pre-, immediate post-, and 3-month follow up survey on knowledge about sexual violence and harassment, as well as attitudes, self-efficacy, perceived social norms and behavioral intentions around bystander behaviors (all measured at pre-, immediate post- and follow-up time points). It will also capture demographic information and previous bystander behaviors at baseline. It will finally involve qualitative in-depth interviews with school staff and administration about the program.

Basic Information
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Recruitment & Eligibility
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Study & Design
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Trial Locations

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2016-09-28
• Study First Submitted QC: 2016-09-28
• Study First Posted: 2016-09-29
• Study Start: 2016-10
• Primary Completion: 2017-10
• Study Completion: 2017-10
• Status Verified: 2023-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-02-21
• Last Update Posted: 2023-02-23

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 601

Inclusion Criteria

• Age 13-19 years
• A student in grades 9-12 at one of three identified study site schools
• Able to speak and read English at a 7th grade level
• Provide informed consent and express willingness to complete the follow-up survey.

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Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Intervention	Bystander, a game-based bystander intervention program	Two schools (all students grades 9-12) will serve as the intervention group.Participants will complete a baseline survey that will take no longer than 30 minutes. Afterwards, a trained facilitator will delivery a game-based bystander intervention program aimed at teaching students the knowledge and skills to prevent or intervene in instances in sexual harassment and violence among peers. This will last for 4 class periods (approximately 45 minutes each period, 180 minutes total). Afterwards, participants will complete an immediate post-program survey lasting no more than 30 minutes. Three months later, students will fill out an a follow up survey lasting no more than 30 minutes. School staff and administrators will be interviewed to gather their insights on the program's feasibility and acceptability.
Delayed Control	Bystander, a game-based bystander intervention program	One school (all students grades 9-12) will serve as a delayed control group. Participants will complete a baseline survey that will take no longer than 30 minutes. Afterwards, a trained facilitator will delivery a game-based health program unrelated to sexual health, sexual violence, sexual harassment, and bystander behaviors. This will last for 4 class periods (approximately 45 minutes each period, 180 minutes total). Afterwards, participants will complete an immediate post-program survey lasting no more than 30 minutes. Three months later, students will fill out an a follow up survey lasting no more than 30 minutes. After completing the follow-up survey, this group will follow the same procedures to deliver the bystander program and capture data outlined for the intervention group.
Delayed Control	Infection City, a game-based program about meningitis	One school (all students grades 9-12) will serve as a delayed control group. Participants will complete a baseline survey that will take no longer than 30 minutes. Afterwards, a trained facilitator will delivery a game-based health program unrelated to sexual health, sexual violence, sexual harassment, and bystander behaviors. This will last for 4 class periods (approximately 45 minutes each period, 180 minutes total). Afterwards, participants will complete an immediate post-program survey lasting no more than 30 minutes. Three months later, students will fill out an a follow up survey lasting no more than 30 minutes. After completing the follow-up survey, this group will follow the same procedures to deliver the bystander program and capture data outlined for the intervention group.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
change in attitudes towards sexual violence and harassment	pre, immediate post, 3 month follow up	measured via validated 22-item Modified Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale by McMahon 2011
change in bystander behavioral intention	pre, immediate post, 3 month follow up	measured via validated 11-item Bystander Attitude Scale-Revised by McMahon et al 2014

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
change in perceived social norms for bystander behaviors	pre, immediate post, 3 month follow up	measured via validated Social Norms Scale from Gidycz et al 2011
change in knowledge of sexual harassment and violence	pre, immediate post, 3 month follow up	measured via Knowledge of Sexual Violence and Harassment index (Banyard et al 2005)
change in self-efficacy for bystander behaviors	pre, immediate post, 3 month follow up	measured via validated 10-item MVP Efficacy Scale by Ward 2001
change in decisional balance for bystander behaviors	pre, immediate post, 3 month follow up	measured via validated 10-item Bystander Decisional Balance Scale by Banyard 2004
change in normative beliefs around sexual violence	pre, immediate post, 3 month follow up	measured via validated 8-item Reaction to Offensive Language Scale--Comfort Subscale by Loh 2005

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Chicao; 🇺🇸 Chicago, Illinois, United States