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Gabrielle Hunt, PhD Candidate; Professor Daryl Higgins, Institute of Child Protection Studies
Porticus via Stichting Benevolentia Foundation
In the important work of supporting children and families with complex personal and socio-economic issues, policy-makers and practitioners need to find and run the programs that are most likely to work. An evidence gap map of studies of interventions up to 2019 had been previously developed to address child abuse and maltreatment and violence in institutional settings.
A newly updated Evidence and Gap Map (EGM) collated rigorous experimental research on what works to prevent and respond to institutional child maltreatment. The map shows where there are studies of what works and where there are not. Although the body of evidence is growing, there are still significant gaps.
This project provided new insights into the usefulness of the measures used in experimental research on institutional child maltreatment.
This project collated the measures used in the studies that informed the EGM, and assessed how improvement in outcomes is conceptualised. Evidence on the reliability and validity of the measures was reviewed. Many studies focussed on 'proxy' measures, such as children's knowledge, but these measures may not accurately predict better safety.
Using sound, reliable, and valid measures allows us to be more confident in our efforts to protect children and young people.
This work culminated in a 'Technical Report,' a toolbox that can be used to review the effectiveness of available measures that have been used to assess prevention and intervention activities. The Technical Report will also be useful for funding bodies who are seeking to enhance further knowledge on gaps and strengths in safeguarding practices in institutions.
An Executive Summary is also available which provides an overview of the key findings from the project with broad examples of the measures used in experimental research.
Hunt, G. (2024). What is a good measure?
Hunt, G. (2023). Measures Used in Experimental Research on Institutional Child Maltreatment: Executive Summary. Australian Catholic University.
Hunt, G. (2023). Toolbox of Measures Used in Experimental Research on Institutional Child Maltreatment: Technical Report. Australian Catholic University.
27 March 2024, webinar presentation (2024). What is a good measure? Hunt, G.
October 2023 - Jan 2024
For further information contact Gabrielle.Hunt@acu.edu.au
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