Prevent First NC has partnered with researchers at The Center for Violence Prevention Research to help communities across your state find better ways to prevent violence and keep young people safe. We are inviting teens ages 13–17 across North Carolina to participate in the NC Survey of Youth Exposure to Violence. Below are answers to some frequently asked questions.
What is the survey about?
The survey asks questions about situations involving violence or abuse that you may have seen, heard about, or experienced in person or online.
What will you do with this information?
We will first share summaries of our findings with our partner organization, Prevent First NC. Then, we will write scientific articles for submission into scientific journals that will be read by researchers around the world. Because this is the first study of its kind in North Carolina, many organizations across the state will be interested to hear what we learn about the experiences of youth.
Can you give me my teen’s responses?
No. We cannot share your teen’s survey answers with anyone, including you.
How does it work?
This survey is for teens aged 13-17 years who live in North Carolina. If more than one teenager in this age range lives in your household, please have the teenager with the next upcoming birthday complete the survey. The survey is taken online, using a phone, tablet, or computer, and takes about 10-25 minutes. Teens should complete it in one sitting and somewhere they have quiet and privacy. To participate, have your teen visit:
[LINK to SURVEY]
Your teen will have to enter the code provided on the letter sent to your home.
What does my teen get for participating?
After completing the survey, your teen will receive a $10 electronic gift card from Tangocard.com. Tangocard.com lets you choose what kind of gift card you want, and they have over 3,000 options including Amazon, Target, Twitch, and more!
How will responses be kept private?
Responses are completely confidential. We do not ask about identifying information except for the separate survey in which we ask for your teen’s email address or phone number (their choice). This allows us to provide an electronic gift card. We do not store this information with the survey answers. That way, we cannot connect survey responses with participant names. After the survey is finished and data are analyzed, we delete all identifying information.
What kind of questions are being asked?
We ask about questions about experiences of all forms of violence, including violence in schools, at home, in the neighborhood, and online. Some example questions include:
In the past year, have you sent an AI chatbot a message that was sexual in nature, such as sexual talk, images, or requests?
In the past year: Did any kid, even a brother or sister, hit you?
In the past year, did someone (an adult, someone your age, or someone a little older/younger) try to make you do sexual things, even if it did not happen?
In the past year: Has someone threatened to share a sexual picture or video of you to make you do something?
In the past year, have you pushed, grabbed, kicked, or hit a boyfriend, girlfriend, or non-binary partner?
Have you ever tried to find information about consent or potentially harmful sexual behaviors?
Answers to these questions help us understand the experiences of NC teens.
What if my teen gets upset from the questions?
Our team has conducted dozens of surveys like this. Across all of our studies, some youth report that they felt upset completing the study. However, nearly all youth who report feeling upset also report that they would do the survey again and believe this research is important.
That said, your teen’s emotional wellbeing is top priority. On every page of the survey, your teen can click a link to “take a break” or stop the survey completely. In addition, we offer a list of resources at the end of the survey. Some resources include:
CHILDHELP HOTLINE
Provides support and resources for teens and young people who have experienced or witnessed abuse.
https://childhelphotline.org
RAINN’S NATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT HOTLINE
Provides support and resources for people who have experienced sexual abuse.
https://rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotline/
800.656.HOPE
LOVE IS RESPECT HOTLINE
Provides support and resources for teens and young people with questions about healthy relationships.
https://www.loveisrespect.org/get-relationship-help-24-7-365/
YOUR LIFE, YOUR VOICE
Connects troubled teens to trained counselors via phone, chat, text or email 24 hours a day.
1-800-448-3000
Text "Voice" to 20121
yourlifeyourvoice.org
Who do I contact with more questions?
Contact the study team NCSYEV@scienceofviolence.org