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.
- RAND Corporation: Countering Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment in the U.S. Military (February 2023)
This report describes the challenges that have slowed progress toward addressing sexual assault and sexual harassment and provides recommendations for the DoD to reverse that trend. Recommendations include accountability of commanders for the handling of sexual misconduct claims and an enhanced focus on prevention efforts. This report references prevalence data from 2006 through 2018.
- RAND Corporation: Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault in Military Settings (January 2023)
Sexual assault and sexual harassment have significant associations with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance use disorders among victims. The evidence base around the effects and treatment of sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military is limited. Deficiencies must be addressed to better inform the development of targeted policies across the care continuum. This report references data from the 2018 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Active Duty Members conducted by the Office of People Analytics.
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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. This study utilizes DoD and academic research from 1987 through 2019.
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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.
- August 17, 2018 Update
- August 31, 2018 Update
- September 14, 2018 Update
Previously released volumes of the Military Workplace Study include:
- 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
Additional information on the study can be found here:
- Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence, Stalking, and Sexual Violence Among Active Duty Women and Men and Wives of Active Duty Men— Comparisons with the U.S. General Population, 2016/2017
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:
- OPA 2016 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Active Duty Members Overview Report
- OPA 2016 Military Investigation and Justice Experience Survey Overview Report
- OPA 2016 Service Academy Gender Relations (SAGR) Survey – Overview Report
- DMDC 2015 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Reserve Component Members Report
- DMDC 2015 Focus Groups on Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Report
- DMDC 2015 Military Investigation and Justice Experience Survey Report
- DMDC 2015 QuickCompass of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Related Responders Report
- 2015 Service Academy Gender Relations (SAGR) Focus Groups Report (5.5 MB)
- 2015 Service Academy Gender Relations (SAGR) Focus Groups Report Executive Summary (410 KB)
- 2014 Service Academy Gender Relations Survey Report (17 MB)
- 2014 Service Academy Gender Relations Survey Report Executive Summary (600 KB)
- 2014 Survivor Experience Survey (1.24 MB)
- 2014 Department of Defense Report of Focus Groups on Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (407 KB)
- 2013 Statutory Enforcement Report - Sexual Assault in the Military
- 2013 Service Academy Gender Relations (SAGR) Focus Group Report (3.5 MB)
- 2012 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Active Duty Members (8.83 MB)
- 2012 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Active Duty Members Fact Sheet (25 KB)
- 2012 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Reserve Component Members (9.12 MB)
- 2012 QuickCompass of Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (138 KB)
- 2012 Service Academy Gender Relations Survey (9 MB)
- 2011 Service Academy Gender Relations (SAGR) Focus Groups Report (1 MB)
- 2010 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of the Active Duty Members (3 MB)
- 2010 Service Academy Gender Relations Survey (4 MB)