Interdisciplinary Research Assignment 4

1. Domestic violence is a vicious cycle, and a widespread problem in the United

States. It not only affects the victim, but it also affects those who witness it.
Depression, redirected violence, and physical pain are among the many effects
victims of domestic endure. Domestic violence is a well known problem in
heterosexual households, but is it also as prevalent in homosexual ones? If so,
how can communities become more equipped to handle domestic violence in
homosexual households as they do in heterosexual ones?
2. To justify an interdisciplinary approach, five criteria must be followed: define
complexity, produce insight by two or more disciplines, justify that no single
discipline has explained or resolved the issue, the problem is at the interfaces of
discipline, the problem is an unmet need or unresolved issue, and an
interdisciplinary approach is able to be justified. The question at hand, how can
communities become more equipped to handle domestic violence in homosexual
households as they do in heterosexual ones, is applicable to each of these criteria.
Firstly, the problem is complex. On its own, domestic violence is a complex issue
that requires understanding from many disciplines. However, by narrowing this
issue to that of homosexual households, this adds complexity. The statement
alone calls upon a minimum of three disciplines; sociology, psychology, and
political science and/or public affairs. Sociology because there are many social
implications and prejudices in regards to the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transsexual) community, psychology due to the effects of domestic violence upon
its victims, and political science/public affairs because of the community aspect of
the statement. Domestic violence is far too complex of a topic to not have been
solved by one discipline. The effects themselves require the understanding of not
only medical skills due to subsequent injuries, but psychology to understand
emotional injury and community programs and law enforcement to protect the
victims. Each of the disciplines studied in regards to domestic violence converge
because of their common interest. These interfaces are used to help explain the
problem at hand, whether or not communities have the ability to handle domestic
violence in homosexual households. In following the criteria for justifying an
interdisciplinary approach, the final step is to define whether the problem is an
unresolved societal need or issue. Domestic violence has always been, and will
always be an unresolved societal issue. Domestic violence in homosexual
households is a fairly new society issue, but is still unresolved. Through research
and analysis, Group 18 will not be able to solve the issue of DV, but will be able
to suggest alternatives towards better aiding victims in their community.
3. Research Map

a. What is the purpose of the research?

i. To analyze and solve gaps in community abilities to aide victims

of domestic violence in homosexual relationships.

b. What disciplines are potentially relevant?

 i. Behavioral and Social Sciences

ii. Health

iii. Humanities

iv. Public Affairs

c. What are the assumptions of each discipline?

i. BSS: “Human behavior is socially constructed, with raitionality

and autonomy plaing modest roles at best. People are motivated
primarily by the deisre for social status.” (Repko 91)

1. Social prejudices impact how victims feel, and their choice

to obtain help from the community.

ii. Health: “Assume that hypothetico-deductive approach based on

the prinicipal of falsifcation is superior to description of pattern
and inductive reasoning.” (Repko 90)

1. Victims of domestic violence will obtain medical attention

to injuries, and report abusers.

iii. Humanities: “Assumes that those whom tradiational history had

ignored played an important but unappreciated role in historical
change.” (Repko 92)

1. Previous accomplishments in homosexual rights, and anti-

domestic violence groups pave the way for a better future.

iv. Public Affairs: “Assumes that political science can become a

science capable of preduction and explanation. (Somit &
Tanenhaus, 1967, pp. 177-178)” (Repko 91)

1. Local governments and community centers are safe haven

for victims.

d. What are the perspectives of each discipline on the problem?

i. BSS: Looks at the lack of community resources for homosexual

victims of domestic violence from a psychological, sociological,
and anthropological standpoint. Interpreting the impact of
sociological and pyschological factors on the victim’s decision to
get help. Also analyzes how pyschological and social factors that
 may impact the way law enforcement or community center
workers to react to homosexual victims of DV.

ii. Health: Views domestic violence through the victims subsequent

injuries. By reporting these injuries, the prevalence of domestic
violence in the homosexual community can be illustrated. This
gathered data, through health surverys, can be used to show
morbidity and mortality rates due to domestic violence, in
homosexual and heterosexual relationship, thus showing the true
danger of DV.

iii. Humanities: Sees the problem from a cultural perspective, and will
help determine the social/cutural relevance of domestic violence in
homosexual relationships, as well as help to solve the lack of
community support.

iv. Public Affairs: Views domestic violence from a legal, and

community based point of view. Through conducting research
within the community, solutions to the lack of community services
can be made.

e. What non-disciplinary sources or interpretations could cause pitfalls for

your research?
i. One particular non-disciplinary source or interpretation that could
cause a pitfall for Group 18’s research is that the community
resources for victims of domestic violence are available to anyone
who is a victim of domestic violence regardless of sexual
preference. This interpretation is that, the resources are there but
the victims refuse to use them because they do not cater to their
“special needs”, their sexual preference.