The Sexual Experiences Survey [SES] is considered the gold standard measurement of non-consensual sexual experiences. This article introduces a new victimization version [SES-V] by a multidisciplinary collaboration, the first revision since 2007. The 2024 SES-V is designed to measure the construct of sexual exploitation since the 14th birthday. Notable revisions are adoption of a freely given permission standard for non-consent, introduction of new tactics and acts including made to perform or to penetrate another person’s body, tactics-first wording order, and emphasis on gender inclusivity. The SES-V is modularized to allow whole or partial administration. Modules include Technology-facilitated, Non-contact, Illegal (largely penetrative), and Verbally-pressured sexual exploitation). Tables provide item text, multiple scoring approaches, module follow-up, specific incident description and demographics. Future plans include developing a scoring algorithm based on weighting our hypothesized dimensions of sexual exploitation severity: invasiveness, pressure, and norm violation combined with frequency. This article is the first in a special issue on the SES-V. Subsequent articles focus on the taxonomies and literature that informed each module. The issue concludes with two empirical papers demonstrating the feasibility and validity of the SES-V: (1) psychometric comparison with the 2007 SES-SFV; and (2) prevalence data from a census-matched adult community sample.
Citation:
Koss, M.P., Anderson, R.A., Peterson, Z., Littleton, H., Abbey, A., Kowalski R., Thompson, M., Canan, S. White, J.W. McCauley, H., Orchowski, L., Fedina, L., Lopez, E., & Allen, C. ( under review, Journal of Sex Research). The Revised Victimization Version of the Sexual Experiences Survey (SES-V): Process, Foundations, Evidence, and Items.
Koss, M. P., Gidycz, C. A., & Wisniewski, N. (1987). The scope of rape: Incidence and prevalence of sexual aggression and victimization in a national sample of higher education students. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55(2), 162. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0022-006X.55.2.162
Koss, M. P., & Gidycz, C. A. (1985). Sexual experiences survey: reliability and validity. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 422-423. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0022-006X.53.3.422
Koss, M. P., & Oros, C. J. (1982). Sexual Experiences Survey: A research instrument investigating sexual aggression and victimization. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 50, 455-457. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0022-006X.50.3.455
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Koss, M. P., Swartout, K. M., Lopez, E. C., Lamade, R. V., Anderson, E. J., Brennan, C. L., & Prentky, R. A. (2022). The scope of rape victimization and perpetration among national samples of college students across 30 years. Journal of interpersonal violence, 37(1-2), NP25-NP47.
