CM2S052 - Understanding VAWDASV 01 Sep 2022 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: CM2S052
Module Title: Understanding VAWDASV
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Policing and Criminology
Faculty Sub Group: Criminology
Module Leader: Helen Martin, Lulu Zacharia
Module Team: Daniel Welch, Kirsty Richards, Lulu Zacharia, Lulu Zacharia
First Intended Intake: SEP 2022 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 5
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes:
HECOS Code Weighting:

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2022
Valid To 31 Aug 2028

Module Aims

1. To equip students with an understanding of the continuum of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence (VAWDASV).
2. To explore theoretical understandings of VAWDASV.
3. To introduce students to responses to VAWDASV within policy and practice (both inside and outside of the criminal justice system).
4. To explore who does what to whom: investigating who the victim/survivors of VAWDASV are and who the perpetrators are.
5. To develop students’ research skills specifically relating
to both the ethics and practicalities of conducting applied research with vulnerable groups.

Content Summary

This module will equip students with an understanding of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence (VAWDASV) drawing upon theory, policy and practice. It will introduce what VAWDASV is, who is affected by it and will outline the theoretical understandings of VAWDASV.

The module will encourage students to think critically about the measurement and reporting of both domestic and sexual violence. Via the examination of official statistics and an exploration of a range of other sources of data the module will demonstrate how a better understanding of the prevalence and effects of VAWDASV can be achieved. It will explore how the law, policy and practice respond to VAWDASV. This will include examination of how the criminal justice system attempts to address VAWDASV investigating what cases reach the courts, how they are dealt with and what sentences are enforced. In specific reference to how the criminal justice system tackles VAWDASV survivors of domestic and sexual abuse will be invited as guest speakers to talk about their experiences and what justice means to them. In addition, the legislative and policy context regarding how domestic abuse is addressed by the law and how survivors are supported will be covered.

This module will also draw upon the experiences and perspectives of professionals working in the field of VAWDASV highlighting the work that is undertaken outside of criminal justice agencies to address this complex social problem.
Professionals will be invited to present ways in which VAWDASV is addressed via preventative and support work as well as how perpetrator behaviours are challenged via interventions, discussing how effective these are. The module will also include content about researching VAWDASV equipping students with practical skills enabling them to take part in research in this field. This research training will cover both quantitative and qualitative methods, ethics, trauma informed approaches, working with external organisations and gatekeepers, addressing vicarious trauma and working with vulnerable individuals.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 12
Practical classes and workshops 32
External visits 16
Independent Study 80
Directed Study 20
Problem / challenge based learning 40
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the various forms of VAWDASV, its prevalence across countries and how it is theorized
LO2 Demonstrate critical awareness of how VAWDASV is measured and of the ways in which VAWDASV is addressed within policy and practice both inside and outside of the criminal justice system (incorporating preventative and responsive measures).

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Onsite Oral Assessment Practical / Clinical Viva (Onsite) 1 Students are required to take part in a miniature Viva where they will be asked to reflect upon their learning from the module and make recommendations for how to adequately address VAWDASV within policy and practice. 15 N/A 70 No 40
Synchronous Onsite Assessment Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Onsite) 1 Students are required to take part in a multiple- choice exam to test the knowledge acquired from the module. 45 N/A 30 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Practical / Clinical Viva (Onsite) 1 ✔ ✔
Classroom Test - Time Constrained (Onsite) 1 ✔ ✔

Reading List

Harne, L. and Radford, J. (2008) Tackling Domestic Violence: Theories, Policies and Practice. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Hester, M. (2013) ‘Who does what to whom? Gender and domestic violence perpetrators in English police records’, European Journal of Criminology, 10(5), pp. 623–637.

Monckton-Smith, J. (2021) In Control: Dangerous Relationships and How They End in Murder. London: Bloomsbury.

Stark, E. (2007) Coercive Control: How Men Entrap Women in Personal Life. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Walby, S., Olive, P., Towers, J., Francis, B. J., Strid, S., Krizsan, A., Lombardo, E., May-Chahal, C., Franzway, S., Sugarman, D., Aganwal, B. and Armstrong, J. (2015) Stopping rape: towards a comprehensive policy. Bristol: Policy Press.

World Health Organisation (2016) Ethical and Safety recommendations for intervention research on violence against women building on lessons from the WHO publication: Putting women first: ethical and safety recommendations for research on domestic violence against women. Geneva: World Health Organisation.