DoD SAPRO conducts and reviews both independent and collaborative research to:
- Understand the problem of sexual assault
- Identify groups that are disproportionately affected
- Monitor trends over time
- Develop and evaluate effective prevention and response strategies
- Improve capacity and inform wide dissemination of effective strategies
- Identify appropriate audiences and messaging
- Clearly communicate findings for action
- Monitor implementation of comprehensive approaches in order to optimize prevention and response systems across the Department of Defense
Research Agenda
The FY21–25 DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Research Agenda defines key research priorities to synchronize and focus the Department’s research on topics and methods that have the potential to result in short-term and sustained improvements in sexual assault prevention and response in the Armed Forces. The DoD Research Agenda working group identified 10 research priorities after synthesizing multiple gap analyses and subject matter expert insights. The full Research Agenda for FY21 – 25 can be found here.
DoD Research
- OPA 2019 Service Academy Gender Relations Focus Groups – Overview Report
The 2019 Service Academy Gender Relations Focus Groups Overview Report is part of an assessment cycle at the Military Service Academies (MSAs), and was included in the APY18-19 Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies.
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2018 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Active Duty Members
This report presents the results of the 2018 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Active Duty Members. The survey is used to evaluate sexual harassment and sexual assault prevention and response programs and to assess the gender-relations environment in the active duty force. The survey has been conducted since 2002 as part of the quadrennial cycle of human relations surveys outlined in Title 10 U. S. Code Section 481.
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OPA 2018 Service Academy Gender Relations (SAGR) Survey – Overview Report
The 2018 Service Academy Gender Relations (SAGR) Survey is part of an assessment cycle at the Military Service Academies (MSAs). Surveys were conducted at all three MSAs as well as the U.S. Coast Guard Academy..
- OPA 2017 Military Service Gender Relations Focus Group Report
This report presents the results of the 2017 Military Service Gender Relations Focus Group as part of a two-year assessment cycle.
- OPA 2017 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Reserve Component Members Report
This report presents the results of the 2017 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Reserve Component Members (WGRR 2017). This is the fourth survey of gender-related issues in the Reserve components conducted by Office of People Analytics (OPA) as part of the quadrennial cycle of human relations surveys outlined in Title 10 U. S. Code Section 481.
- OPA 2016-2017 Military Investigation and Justice Experience Survey
The Military Investigation and Justice Experience Survey (MIJES) is an anonymous survey and the first DoD-wide survey effort designed to assess the investigative and legal processes experienced by survivors that have made a formal report of sexual assault and have gone through the military investigation process to case closure.
- OPA 2017 Service Academy Gender Relations Focus Groups - Overview Report
The 2017 Service Academy Gender Relations Focus Groups Overview Report is part of an assessment cycle at the Military Service Academies (MSAs), and was included in the APY16-17 Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies.
- OPA 2016 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Active Duty Members Overview Report
This report presents the results of the 2016 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Active Duty Members. The survey is used to evaluate sexual harassment and sexual assault prevention and response programs and to assess the gender-relations environment in the active duty force. The survey has been conducted since 2002 as part of the quadrennial cycle of human relations surveys outlined in Title 10 U. S. Code Section 481.
- OPA 2016 Military Investigation and Justice Experience Survey Overview Report
The Military Investigation and Justice Experience Survey (MIJES) is an anonymous survey and the first DoD-wide survey effort designed to assess the investigative and legal processes experienced by survivors that have made a formal report of sexual assault and have gone through the military investigation process to case closure. The 2016 MIJES does not employ statistical sampling or scientific weighting. Therefore, results from this survey and report cannot be generalized to the full population of military survivors rather only to respondents of the survey.
- OPA 2016 Service Academy Gender Relations (SAGR) Survey – Overview Report
The 2016 Service Academy Gender Relations (SAGR) Survey is part of an assessment cycle at the Military Service Academies (MSAs). Surveys were conducted at all three MSAs as well as the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
- DMDC 2015 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Reserve Component Members Report
This report presents the results of the 2015 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Reserve Component Members (WGRR 2015). This is the third survey of gender-related issues in the Reserve components conducted by Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) as part of the quadrennial cycle of human relations surveys outlined in Title 10 U. S. Code Section 481.
- DMDC 2015 Focus Groups on Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Report
This report presents findings from the 2015 Focus Groups on Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (2015 FGSAPR) study, and was generated in response to guidance from a Secretary of Defense Directive (Secretary of Defense, 2014).
- DMDC 2015 Military Investigation and Justice Experience Survey Report
The Military Investigation and Justice Experience Survey (MIJES) is an anonymous survey and the first DoD-wide survey effort designed to assess the investigative and legal processes experienced by survivors that have made a formal report of sexual assault and have gone through the military investigation process to case closure. The 2015 MIJES does not employ statistical sampling or scientific weighting. Therefore, results from this survey and report cannot be generalized to the full population of military survivors rather only to respondents of the survey.
- DMDC 2015 QuickCompass of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Related Responders Report
The 2015 QuickCompass of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Coordinators (2015 QSAPRC) is designed to assess effectiveness of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) programs within the Services and Reserve components in areas including resources, procedures, programs, and outreach. Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs) administer programs at the installation level and are the subjects of the 2015 QSARC. This survey is in part a replication of a survey of SARCs performed in 2009 at the request of the Defense Task Force on Sexual Assault in the Military Services (DTFSAMS) that examined similar prevention and response programs at that time.
- 2015 Service Academy Gender Relations (SAGR) Focus Groups Report (5.5 MB)
The 2015 Service Academy Gender Relations Focus Group (SAGR) Report is part of an assessment cycle at the Military Service Academies (MSAs). Focus groups were conducted at all three MSAs as well as the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
- 2015 Service Academy Gender Relations (SAGR) Focus Groups Report Executive Summary (410 KB)
This report is the executive summary of the 2015 SAGR Survey conducted by the DMDC.
- 2014 Service Academy Gender Relations Survey Report (17 MB)
The Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies (MSA) for Academic Program Year 2013-2014 includes results from the 2014 Service Academy Gender Relations (SAGR) Survey conducted by the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC). The survey results include incidence rates of unwanted sexual contact, sexual harassment and sexist behavior, and stalking-related behaviors; a discussion of students’ perceptions of Academy culture with respect to sexual assault and sexual harassment; perceptions of program effectiveness in reducing or preventing sexual assault and sexual harassment; and the availability and effectiveness of sexual assault and sexual harassment training.
- 2014 Service Academy Gender Relations Survey Report Executive Summary (600 KB)
This report is the executive summary of the 2014 SAGR Survey conducted by the DMDC.
- 2014 Survivor Experience Survey (1.24 MB)
The Survivor Experience Survey (SES) is the first DoD-wide survey effort designed to assess the use and effectiveness of the sexual assault services and resources that military survivors of sexual assault receive. This report for the 2014 SES is based on preliminary findings from Quarter 4 of Fiscal Year 2014.
- 2014 Department of Defense Report of Focus Groups on Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (407 KB)
This report presents findings from the 2014 Focus Groups on Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (2014 FGSAPR) study, and was generated in response to guidance from a Secretary of Defense Directive (Secretary of Defense, 2014).
- 2013 Service Academy Gender Relations (SAGR) Focus Group Report (3.5 MB)
The 2013 Service Academy Gender Relations Focus Group (SAGR) Report is part of an assessment cycle at the Military Service Academies (MSAs). Focus groups were conducted at all three MSAs as well as the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Separate sessions were conducted for male and female students in each of the four class years and a single mixed-gender session of upper classmen was conducted at each academy.
- 2012 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Active Duty Members (8.83 MB)
This report presents the results on issues related to sexual assault from the 2012 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Active Duty Members (WGRA 2012). This is the fourth survey of gender-related issues of the active duty Services conducted by Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) since 2002 as part of the quadrennial cycle of human relations surveys outlined in Title 10 U. S. Code Section 481.
- 2012 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Active Duty Members Fact Sheet (25 KB)
The Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Active Duty Members is used to evaluate sexual harassment and sexual assault prevention and response programs and to assess the gender-relations environment in the active duty force.
- 2012 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Reserve Component Members (9.12 MB)
This report presents the results of the 2012 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Reserve Component Members (WGRR 2012). This is the third survey of gender-related issues in the Reserve components conducted by Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) as part of the quadrennial cycle of human relations surveys outlined in Title 10 U. S. Code Section 481.
- 2012 QuickCompass of Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (138 KB)
The 2012 QuickCompass of Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (2012 QSARC) is designed to assess effectiveness of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) programs within the Services and Reserve components in areas including resources, procedures, programs, and outreach. Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs) administer programs at the installation level and are the subjects of the 2012 QSARC. This survey is in part a replication of a survey of SARCs performed in 2009 at the request of the Defense Task Force on Sexual Assault in the Military Services (DTFSAMS) that examined similar prevention and response programs at that time.
- 2012 Service Academy Gender Relations Survey (9 MB)
This report presents the results of the 2012 Service Academy Gender Relations Survey.
- 2011 Service Academy Gender Relations (SAGR) Focus Groups Report (1 MB)
The 2011 Service Academy Gender Relations Focus Group study is part of an assessment cycle at the Military Service Academies (MSAs) that consists of alternating surveys and focus groups. Focus groups were conducted at all three MSAs as well as the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Separate sessions were conducted for male and female students in each of the four class years and a single mixed-gender session of upper classmen was conducted at each academy.
- 2010 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of the Active Duty Members (3 MB)
This report presents the results on issues related to sexual assault from the 2010 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Active Duty Members (WGRA 2010). This is the third survey of gender-related issues of the active duty Services conducted by Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) since 2002 as part of the quadrennial cycle of human relations surveys outlined in Title 10 U. S. Code Section 481. Measures used in WGRA 2010 represent the DoD standard across Services and survey years, thus allowing comparability in evaluating prevalence of behaviors and effectiveness of response and prevention programs.
- 2010 Service Academy Gender Relations Survey (4 MB)
This report presents the results of the 2010 Service Academy Gender Relations Survey.
- RAND Corporation: Healthy Relationship Approaches to Sexual Assault Prevention: Programs and Strategies for Use Within the U.S. Military (May 2021)
The healthy relationship approach to sexual assault prevention is an innovative concept that aims to teach individuals the skills they need to create mutual and respectful relationships that leave no room for sexual assault. This guide aims to provide prevention teams and leaders with an overview of a healthy relationship approach to sexual assault prevention.
- RAND Corporation: Military Workplace Study
These reports provide active duty Armed Services and Coast Guard statistics from the RAND Corporation's Military Workplace Study. Nearly 560,000 Active Duty Service and Coast Guard members were invited to participate in a sexual assault and sexual harassment survey fielded in August and September 2014. The total number of Coast Guard Active Duty members invited to participate was 14,000. See the most recent volume linked below.
- Volume 5 Updates
DoD provided regular updates to Congress on progress towards releasing Volume 5 of the RMWS:
August 17, 2018 Update
August 31, 2018 Update
September 14, 2018 Update -
Previously Released Volumes:
RAND Military Workplace Study - All Armed Forces Active Duty (1.47 MB) - Volume 2 - May 1, 2015 RAND Military Workplace Study (RMWS) - All Armed Forces Active Duty (237 KB) - Top Line Estimates - Dec 4, 2014 RAND Military Workplace Study (RMWS) - Coast Guard Active Duty (165 KB) - Top Line Estimates - Dec 4, 2014
Find more information regarding the study click here:
The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) is an ongoing, national survey that assesses experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual violence (SV), and stalking among adult women and men in the United States. In addition to the general population sample, the Department of Defense (DoD) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) partnered in 2016-2017 to collect data from three military samples: active duty women, active duty men, and wives of active duty men.
Previous Released Report:
2013 Statutory Enforcement Report - Sexual Assault in the Military
The United States Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) released its statutory enforcement report, "Sexual Assault in the Military," in September 2013. The Commission releases a statutory report annually on a topic of great significance for civil rights in America. The purpose of this report was to examine how the Department of Defense and its Armed Services - the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force - respond to Service members who are victims of, or accused of perpetrating, sexual assault.