Safety 7: Collect Quantitative Data

This page describes the quantitative data collection done in collaboration with the Safety 7. Using a protocol co-developed by the Safety 7, the youth researchers co-led online screener administration with youth, parents/guardians, and community members living in Wards 7 and 8 of Washington, D.C. These quantitative data give us a greater sense of community violence and broader trends in Washington, D.C. 

Online screener 

To ensure participant eligibility in the survey, we developed an online screener, which looked like a survey. After potential participants entered contact information and indicated their interest and availability (i.e., interview or focus group, scheduling preferences), they were asked about their experiences with community violence (e.g., survivor, witness, etc.), age, the wards they live and/or work in, and the neighborhood they live and/or work in.  

Given the purpose of our study, this information was necessary to make sure we did not collect data from: 

• An individual with no exposure to community violence 
• A person 13 years old or younger 
• A person who does not live or work in Ward 7 and 8 
• A person living in a neighborhood where we are not focusing our efforts 

A potential participant was either screened out and told they were not eligible, or they were eligible and could participate in our study. 

For those who could participate, they were asked follow-up questions. The purpose was to capture broader trends and general patterns among participants across Wards 7 and 8. At the end of our recruitment, we had 157 respondents. Participants were asked – although not required to answer – questions about their backgrounds and experiences with feelings of safety and trauma in their community. The community safety and trauma questions covered: 

• Experiences with different life events, including family disruption, exposure to violence at home or in the community, and experiences of discrimination. 
• Recent exposure to violence and victimization, including physical fights, sexual assault or coercion, bullying/cyberbullying, and threats or injuries with weapons. 
• Perceptions of safety and risk, including carrying a concealed weapon and avoidance behaviors. 
• Current mental health status, including depression, anxiety, and emotional distress. 
• Individual and family hardships, including employment challenges and financial insecurity related to basic needs (e.g., food, housing).  
• Perceptions of community strengths, including an open-ended question to identify resiliency in their community. 

This data provided us with rich insights into community trends. This information, combined with in-depth discussions through focus groups and interviews, contextualizes our findings and reveals nuanced experiences of community violence and safety in Wards 7 and 8.