RESEARCH 
METHODOLOGY 
 

119

 
I. Objectives of Study

• General Objective:

To study the socio-legal support system for protection of women victims of domestic
violence

• Specific Objectives:
1. To explore the nature of physical abuse, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and
economic abuse on the respondents and its implications on health and marital
relationship.

2. To investigate causative factors of domestic violence.

3. To understand and measure level of psychological distress among respondents.

4. To find out relationship between selected socio-demographic conditions and levels of

abuses and psychological distress.

5. To study awareness of victims regarding domestic violence Act and other socio-legal
services& procedures existing for protection of women from domestic violence and to
find out the help seeking behaviour of respondents.

6. To highlight services rendered by socio-legal system in protecting women victims of

domestic violence seeking help.

7. To evolve suggestions to improve the functioning of socio-legal support system in

protecting women victims of domestic violence.

120

 
II. Hypotheses

The following null hypotheses have been formulated for study

1. There is no significant difference in the level of a) Physical abuse b) Verbal abuse c) Sexual
abuse d) Economic abuse e) Dowry related abuse f) Total abuses/ domestic violence inflicted on
respondents by husband alone and both by husband & In-laws.

2. There is no significant difference in the level of a) Physical abuse b) Verbal abuse c) Sexual
abuse d) Economic abuse e) Dowry related abuse f) Total abuses/ domestic violence suffered by
respondents from four segments viz. Court, Police, Family Counselling Centre& Short Stay
Homes.

3. There is no significant difference in the level of a) Physical abuse b) Verbal abuse c) Sexual
abuse d) Economic abuse e) Dowry related abuse f) Total abuses/ domestic violence inflicted on
respondents abused by husband alone from four segments viz. Court, Police, Family Counselling
Centre& Short Stay Homes.

4. There is no significant difference in the level of a) Physical abuse b) Verbal abuse c) Sexual
abuse d) Economic abuse e) Dowry related abuse f) Total abuses/ domestic violence inflicted on
respondents abused by both husband& In-laws from four segments viz. Court, Police, Family
Counselling Centre& Short Stay Homes.

5. There is no significant difference in following experienced by respondents abused by husband

alone than respondents abused by both husband & In-laws.

a. Somatic Symptoms
b. Anxiety& insomnia
c. Social dysfunction
d. Severe depression
e. Psychological distress

6. There is no significant difference in following experienced by respondents from four segments

viz. Court, Police, Family Counselling Centre& Short Stay Homes.
121

 
 a. Somatic Symptoms
b. Anxiety& insomnia
c. Social dysfunction
d. Severe depression
e. Total Psychological distress

7. There is no significant difference in the level of a) Physical abuse b) Verbal abuse c) Sexual
abuse d) Economic abuse e) Dowry related abuse f) Total abuses/ domestic violence as level of
education of respondents varies.

8. There is no significant difference in the level of a) Physical abuse b) Verbal abuse c) Sexual
abuse d) Economic abuse e) Dowry related abuse f) Total abuses/ domestic violence experienced
by employed and unemployed women.

9. There is no significant difference in the level of a) Physical abuse b) Verbal abuse c) Sexual
abuse d) Economic abuse e) Dowry related abuse f) Total abuses/ domestic violence inflicted on
respondents as duration of marriage increases.

10. There is no significant difference in the level of a) Physical abuse b) Verbal abuse c) Sexual
abuse d) Economic abuse e) Dowry related abuse f) Total abuses/ domestic violence experienced
by respondents from rural and urban areas.

11. There is no significant difference in the following experienced by respondents as level of

education varies.
a. Somatic Symptoms
b. Anxiety& insomnia
c. Social dysfunction
d. Severe depression
e. Psychological distress

12. There is no significant difference in the following experienced by employed and unemployed
women.
a. Somatic Symptoms
b. Anxiety& insomnia

122

 
 c. Social dysfunction
d. Severe depression
e. Psychological distress

13. There is no significant difference in the following experienced by respondents as duration of

marriage increases.
a. Somatic Symptoms
b. Anxiety& insomnia
c. Social dysfunction
d. Severe depression
e. Psychological distress

14. There is no significant difference in the following experienced by respondents from rural and
urban areas.
a. Somatic Symptoms
b. Anxiety& insomnia
c. Social dysfunction
d. Severe depression
e. Psychological distress

III. Definition of concepts

Domestic Violence

Conceptual Definition: - According to the most commonly used definitions, it may comprise
“physical, emotional, sexual and economic abuse occurring in an adult relationship between
intimate or formerly intimate partners with a pattern of controlling behaviour by the abusing
partner”.

Operational Definition: - Domestic violence in this study can be physical abuse, verbal
abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and financial abuse within the household she shares

123

 
 with her husband; whether it is rented, officially provided, or owned by the husband or his
relatives.

Explanation. - For the purpose of this study,-

1) “Physical Abuse" means any act or conducts which is of such a nature as to cause bodily
pain, harm or danger to life, limb, or health or impair the health or development of the
aggrieved person and includes assault, criminal intimidation and criminal force.
2) “Verbal and Emotional Abuse” includes-
a) Insults, ridicule, humiliation, name calling and insults or ridicule specially with regard to
not having a child or a male child ; and
b) Repeated threats to cause mental pain to any person in whom the aggrieved person is
interested.
3) “Sexual Abuse” includes any conduct of a sexual nature that abuses, humiliates, degrades or
otherwise violates the dignity of woman.
4) “ Economic Abuse” includes-
a) Deprivation of all or any economic or financial resources needed for the aggrieved
person, household necessities for aggrieved person and her children, if any, dowry,
property, jointly or separately owned by the aggrieved person, payment of rental related
to this shared household and maintenance.
b) Disposal of household effects, any alienation of assets whether movable or immovable,
valuables, shares, securities, bonds and the like or other property in which the aggrieved
person has an interest or is entitled to use by virtue of the domestic relationship or which
may be reasonably required by the aggrieved person or her children or her stridhan or any
other property jointly or separately held by the aggrieved person.
c) Prohibition or restriction to continued access to resources or facilities which the
aggrieved person is entitled to use or enjoy by virtue of the domestic relationship
including access to the sharehold.

124

 
 Abuse:

Conceptual Definition: - According to Oxford dictionary it is incorrect or improper use of

power to bad effect or for a bad purpose.

Operational Definition: - In this study abuse refers to domination and control of wife by
spouse or in-laws in the married life, escalating from threats and verbal abuse to physical
violence and even murder.

Psychological Distress

Conceptual Definition: - According to Oxford dictionary it can be defined as a mental state

of severe stress which comprises of severe pain, sorrow, anguish, anxiety etc.

Operational Definition: -In the study, psychological distress is the poor state of mental
health, inability to cope with emotions and inability to do daily functions due to severe stress
imposed on women from domestic violence.

Victim

Conceptual Definition:- A victim of a crime, or crime victim, is in criminology and criminal

law, the identifiable person who has been harmed individually and directly by the perpetrator
or defendant, rather than merely society as a whole

Operational Definition: - Victim in this study is the woman who is married and has been
subjected to domestic violence by her husband alone or husband and in-laws together.

Woman

Conceptual Definition: - An adult human female.

Operational Definition: -A legally married wife between the age-group of 18-55yrs.

Socio-Legal Support System

Conceptual Definition:-Socio-Legal Support System is the social and legal system existing
for the support and protection.

125

 
 Operational Definition: - In this study Socio-Legal Support System comprises of social
system and legal system existing for the protection of women from domestic violence.

Explanation II

Legal system

1. It comprises of constitutional provisions as well as substantive and procedural laws

existing for protection of women from domestic violence. In this study the act –“The
Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005” with effect from 26th
October 2006 is taken as legal provision.
2. Judicial orders of District court/ Magistrate Court in Cochin Corporation area given
under this act.
3. Services of Advocates to the respondents under this act
4. Role and services of Protection Officer of Ernakulam.
5. Services rendered by Police

Social System

It includes support rendered by social institutions like natal family and neighbours and
institutions under Social Welfare viz. family counseling cemtres and short stay homes.

126

 
 Socio-Legal Support System in
protecting women victims of domestic
violence

SOCIAL SYSTEM
LEGAL
SYSTEM

BASIC SOCIAL SOCIAL WELFARE DISTRICT /

SYSTEM/ INSTITUTIONS FOR MAGISTRATE COURT
INSTITUTION PROTECTION 0F WOMEN
OFFICE OF
FROM DOMESTIC
PROTECTION
VIOLENCE
OFFICER
NATAL
FAMILY POLICE STATIONS

NEIGHBOURS OFFICES OF
FAMILY SHORT- LAWYERS
COUNSELLING STAY
CENTRES HOMES 

PROTECTION
OF

WOMAN
VICTIM OF
DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE

127

 
IV. Research Design

Descriptive Research Design was used to analyse quantitative data. Special care was
taken to make qualitative assessment of the issue by including case studies, group
discussion, observation and document analysis.

V. Sampling Design

A. Population

The population of the present study comprises of women victims of domestic violence. The
reported cases of domestic violence from courts, police stations, family counseling centres and
short stay homes for last one year were included in the study. The four segments viz. courts,
police stations, family counseling centres and short stay homes were selected owing to the fact
that these were institutions which were imparting direct services to protect women victims of
domestic violence and the present study was to understand the services rendered by socio-legal
support system. The total reported cases at vanitha police cell and vanitha police stations at
Cochin corporation area for last one year was approximately 620. The number of reported cases
of domestic violence reported at office of protection officer and office of Lawyers from the
implementation of domestic violence act was 176. The total cases at Family Counseling Centres
were 150. The total number of inmates at short stay homes in Cochin corporation area was 70.

B. Method of Sample Selection

It is necessary to have a list of Institutions/ organizations from which to sample as a mandatory

requirement for carrying out randomized sampling. Usually the respondents selected from
Institutions/ Organizations becomes the sampling unit in most of the studies. Consequently,
disproportionate stratified sampling method was decided upon selection of sample. Besides
quantitative analysis of the study, efforts was also made to conduct qualitative research study
with stakeholders of socio-legal support system and four case studies of women victims of
domestic violence from the four segments.

128

 
C. Source of Population and Sampling Frame

At the outset of the study, the key functionaries like Protection Officer, Inspector of Police,
Lawyers, Counsellors, Officials of Social Welfare Department, Academicians and Social
Activists were approached to gather information on various sources of getting respondents.
Information pertaining to reported cases for last one year at Vanitha Police cell and Vanitha
Police stations were gathered from the respective offices and in personal consultation with Circle
Inspector and Sub- Inspector of Vanitha Cell at Cochin. The details of Court cases were obtained
from office of Protection Officer and Lawyers of Cochin. The researcher being a social worker,
helped in gaining easy access to counseling centres and short stay homes. The cases recorded at
family counseling centres for last one year were obtained and reference of case records was also
made sitting at centre. The inmates of short stay homes who were victims of domestic violence
were also enlisted and their case files also were verified.

As disproportionate sampling technique was considered as the ideal method of sampling,

Institutions were made as the basic sampling source for the study. Accordingly a list of reported
cases at a) Vanitha police cell and stations/ b) Office of Protection Officer and office of
advocates were domestic violence cases are registered/ c) family Counselling Centres/ d) Short
Stay Homes existing in Cochin Corporation area constituted the sampling frame for the study.
Apart from the survey, qualitative research was done by in-depth interviews with key personnel
Counsellors (2), Social Workers (2), Protection officer (1), Lawyers (2), Police (2). Case studies
of women victims of domestic violence identified from four segments are also presented in this
study.

D. The Inclusion Criterion and Exclusion Criterion from the Sample

a) The Inclusion Criterion

ƒ Married women victims of domestic violence between the age group of

18-55 yrs.

ƒ Cases filed under: “The protection of Women from Domestic Violence

Act, 2005” was selected from office of Protection Officer and lawyers.

129

 
 ƒ Reported cases for last one year from Court, Police stations, Family
Counselling Centres and Short Stay Homes.

ƒ Stakeholders from socio-legal support system

b) The Exclusion Criterion

ƒ Women victims of domestic violence who were cohabiting with partners

without marriage (They can also file complaint under PWDVA as per the
act).

ƒ Unreported cases of domestic violence.

ƒ Cases of domestic violence reported at Family Court.

ƒ Women victims with severe neurological and psychiatric disorders.

E. Sample Unit & Sample Size

In this study ethical consideration of “Principle of Confidentiality” was a major challenge and
limitation for the researcher to carry out the study. From the reported cases, only those who were
willing to share their experiences became the respondents of the study. The advantage of being a
social worker enabled to overcome this barrier by creating rapport with the respondents and
providing counseling for them. In all the four segments, interview was a sort of intervention. It
was catharsis for the victims of violence and hence they were willing to share their experiences
at interview. An equal distribution of 60 reported cases were selected from each segment. Hence
total sample size constituted to 240 respondents for the quantitative analysis. Apart from this
indepth interviews were conducted with 21 key functionaries in the socio-legal support system
also, to enlist their opinions and perception. 4 case studies of victims are also presented in the
study.

F. Sampling Procedure

There was no need to select socio-legal institutions/ organizations for the study as they were the
only organizations were domestic violence cases were reported at Cochin Corporation area and
all those organizations were selected. The detailed procedures for selection from each segment
are as follows

130

 
 a) Selection of Respondents from Court: - The list of cases filed under domestic
violence act was taken from office of protection officer and lawyers. From the
total cases, 60 women who were willing to share their experiences became the
respondents of study. Special care was taken to categorise the reported cases into
equal proportion of 30 cases abused only by husband and 30 cases abused by both
husband and in-laws. There were two Courts in Cochin Corporation area were
domestic violence cases can be filed under domestic violence act viz. District
Court/ Sessions Court, Ernakulam and Munsiff Court, Thoppumpady.

b) Selection of Respondents from Police Stations: - Domestic violence cases were

mainly reported at Vanitha Police Cell, High Court junction; and Vanitha Police
Station, Kacheripady under the jurisdiction of Cochin Corporation area. Both the
police stations were selected for the study. From the total cases 60 respondents
were chosen for the study and it was categorized into equal proportion of 30 cases
abused only by husband and 30 cases abused by both husband and in-laws.

c) Selection of respondents from Family Counselling Centre: - There were two

counseling centres which were functioning well at Cochin corporation area.
Among the two, only one centre had cases of domestic violence. From that centre
60 respondents who were willing to co-operate with the researcher was selected.
Care was taken to divide the reported cases into equal proportion of 30 cases
abused only by husband and 30 cases abused by both husband and in-laws

d) Selection of respondents from short stay homes: - There were two short stay
homes at Cochin corporation area and both were selected for the study. From the
total inmates, 60 victims of domestic violence were chosen for the study on the
basis of 30 women abused only by husband and 30 women abused by both
husband and in-laws.

Apart from the survey, qualitative research was done by in-depth interviews with Counsellors
(5), Social Workers (5), Protection officer (1), Lawyers (5), Police (5) and case studies of 4
women victims of domestic violence selected from the four segments.

The table below shows the distribution of respondents based on the four segments and two types
and offers a quick glance of sampling procedure for the readers of thesis.
131

 
 TYPE OF NO OF RESPONDENTS FROM SEGMENTS
RESPONDENTS COURT POLICE FCC SHORT TOTAL
STAY
ABUSED BY 30 30 30 30 120
HUSBAND ALONE
ABUSED BY BOTH 30 30 30 30 120
HUSBAND&IN-LAWS
Total 60 60 60 60 240
PERCENTAGE (100) (100) (100) (100) (100)

G. Source of Information

ƒ Primary Source: Primary source is first hand information collected from

a) Respondents
b) Functionaries of socio-legal support system
ƒ Secondary Source: Secondary source comprises of
• FIR- First Information Reports
• Case records of Family Counselling centres and short stay homes.
• Case studies of cases already resolved
• Other sources-Books, journals, magazines, previous research works, published and
unpublished articles, news paper releases, seminar reports, notices & brochures.
• Web references
H. Observational Design

A) Description of the Research Instruments

The tools used for the study are as follows:

1. Interview Schedule

2. General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) by Goldberg & Hillier (1979)

3. Interview Guide for functionaries.

132

 
Interview schedule was prepared by the researcher to elicit information from the respondents of
the study. It is the result of strenuous reference and in depth study of various theories, previous
studies and research tools in the area of domestic violence. Since there was no standardized tool
or scale in Indian context to measure domestic violence, the researcher launched a new tool for
assessment of levels of abuses of domestic violence based on the scoring pattern. The conflict
tactics scale (Straus, 1979, 1990a) has influenced in devising some section of the tool.

Interview schedule for the present study comprised of 22 sections. Each section is briefed below.

Section A: - Section A deals with the socio-economic profile, details of natal family and in-laws
family.

Section B explores physical abuse on the respondents by only husband as well as both husband
and in-laws. A set of 8 indicators each are included in finding out the level of physical abuse
from both groups.

Section C uses 10 indicators to make an assessment of verbal abuse on the respondents

separately for those abused only by husband as well as both husband and in-laws.

Section D deals with emotional abuse and is assessed with a set of 13 indicators in the case of
respondents abused only by husband and a set of 11 indicators in case of those abused by both.

Section E explores the levels of sexual abuse by a set of 4 indicators in the case of those abused
only by husband and 3 indicators for those abused by both.

Section F deals with economic abuse and is measured by a set of 12 indicators for both the
groups. Dowry related abuse is a sub-section of economic abuse and is measured by 3 indicators
in the case of both groups.

Section G tries to understand the implications of domestic violence on health and marital
relationship.

Section H tries to investigate the causative factors of violence with reference to emotional
factors.

Section I explores the economic factors leading to domestic violence.

133

 
Section J deals with habits and employment that causes conflicts in the family.

Section K explores the sexual factors that cause domestic violence.

Section L explores the social factors that cause violence in the family.

Section M deals with deficits and diseases that causes domestic violence in the family.

Section O studies the causes of violence as identified by respondents.

Section P deals with awareness of victims regarding domestic violence act and other socio-legal
services.

Section Q explores the help seeking behavior of respondents.

Section R tries to explore the services rendered by family and neighbours.

Section S deals with services rendered by police.

Section T deals with services rendered by lawyers.

Section U explores the services rendered by protection officer.

Section V studies the help rendered by Judiciary.

Section W deals with help rendered by family counseling centre and short stay homes.

Section X focuses on suggestions put forward by respondents.

General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) by Goldberg & Hillier (1979) is a scaled version of the
original GHQ (Goldberg 1972). It is a self –administered screening questionnaire which can be
used to (1) Establish frequency of psychiatric illness in a population (2) Identify individuals with
mental problems and reduced well-being (quality of life) (3) Measure changes in such situations
over time. There is no theoretical assumption made about the nature of diagnostic hierarchy
within class of psychiatric illness.

The scaled version of GHQ consists of 28 items. There are four scales consisting of 7 items each.
These scales include (a) Somatic symptoms (b) Anxiety and Insomnia (c) Social Dysfunction (d)
Severe depression. The four sub scales are by no means independent of one another, although

134

 
correlation between the scales is lower than those between the sub scales and the total score. The
responses are recorded on a 4-point scale and are scored as 0,0,1,1. Thus the total score ranged
between “no” distress (0) to high distress (28). Those who have obtained below 5 are treated as
free from psychological distress, between 6 and 15 as having moderate distress and 16 and above
are treated as having high distress.

B) Reliability and Validity of the Instruments

Interview Schedule

Interview Schedule was prepared by referring to various review of literature. Pre-test was
conducted with 15 respondents by indepth interviews. Every question was asked and ascertained
whether respondents understood the meaning. The problems in asking questions were noted and
irrelevant and unwanted questions are eliminated. Questions which was difficult to answer was
rephrased and wherever possible responses was pre-coded. The final draft schedule was given to
5 subject experts for content validity to ensure that research instrument have adequately and
precisely covered the topics under study. The final research instrument was evolved with the
incorporation of their suggestions. Thus tool was prepared with utmost care.

GHQ-28

The reversed version of GHQ-28 items is as well proposed as a scale to assess the extent of
psychological distress among the subjects. The reliability and validity of GHQ of all versions
have been established by several authors (Goldberg, 1972 and Jones, 1978). The instrument was
also administered to Indian population (Shiv Gautam, 1985; Shamsundar, 1986).

The psychological distress scale has been extensively used by many investigators in Western and
Indian setting (Zimmermann-Tanselli, 1991). The author suggests a cut off score of 4/5, which
has a sensitivity of 88%.

C) Process of Data Collection

The data collection commenced from November 2007 to May 2008. It lasted for six months. The
data was first collected from reported cases at court through offices of protection officer and
lawyers followed by police station, then family counseling centre and finally short stay homes.

135

 
The interview was a sort of intervention and it was coupled with counseling for the respondents.
Data collection was time consuming, since it was interviews with respondents. Each interview
took more than 1 hr and hence to a maximum of five respondents were interviewed a day.

D) Statistical Design

The data collected were edited, coded, entered into the computer and analysed subsequently
using SPSS. Data obtained from 240 women is presented as distribution of respondents from
four segments in the form of tables. The classification is also based on criteria 1) Respondents
abused only by husband 2) Respondents abused by both husband and in-laws.

Mainly four groups of respondents viz. Court cases (60), Police cases (60), FCC cases (60), SSH
cases (60) are included in this study. From each segment, 2 groups of respondents are further
categorized based on those respondents abused only by husband and those abused by both
husband and in-laws were selected for the study and were subjected to analysis. The differences
in levels of abuses from four segments and the differences in levels of abuses experienced by 2
groups viz. those abused only by husband and those abused by both were analysed. Similarly
psychological distress level of respondents from 4 segments and 2 groups also were analysed.
The other variables namely duration of marital life, occupation of women, education of women
and place of living of women were related with levels of abuses and psychological distress.

Both descriptive and inferential analyses have been performed on the data. The descriptive
analysis is concerned with presenting the frequency distribution and development of certain
indices and measures from raw data.

Inferential analysis is concerned with various test of significance for testing hypotheses in order
to determine with what validity data can be said to indicate some conclusion or generalization. It
is mainly based on inferential analysis that the task of interpretation (i.e. the task of drawing
inferences and conclusion) is performed. The major tests of significance used in the present
study are ANOVA,‘t’-test and F-test. Scheffe procedure which is the most powerful post hoc or
multiple range test was used to identify the group that showed significant differences in the F-
test. ‘t’- test was used to find out significant differences between means of two groups and
ANOVA was used to find out significant differences between means of more than two groups.

136

 
The major results of the present study and discussion of these findings will be elaborated in next
4 chapters

• Chapter IV- Result and discussion on socio- economic profile of the respondents; nature
and frequency of domestic violence, health implications of domestic violence and a
profile of causative factors of domestic violence. The characteristics of the overall sample
have been described in chapter IV.

• Chapter V- Result and discussion on levels of different types of abuses under domestic
violence suffered by the respondents; levels of psychological distress among the women
victims of domestic violence and analyses of levels of abuses and psychological distress
on selected variables among respondents.

• Chapter VI- Result and discussion on awareness of victims on the socio-legal services
available for protection of women from domestic violence and help seeking behavior of
respondents, services rendered by socio-legal support system and suggestions put forward
by respondents. Part 2 deals with the qualitative study of the socio-legal services
available for the protection of women victims of domestic violence.

• Chapter-VII presents the summary of findings and suggestions evolved in the light of the
study will be presented in various heads.

137