Subtypes of denial and minimization in sexual offenders using exploratory factor analysis

Abstract

For my honours thesis, I collected 261 sentencing decisions involving sexual assault. I coded the cases using a coding form that I created which includes approximately 60 variables, such as type and count of convictions, the nature of the index offense, victim and offender characteristics, sentencing type and length, as well as data on denial and minimization. Denial and minimization data were coded as the type of language used by the offender. Factor analysis will be used to analyze various subtypes of minimization and denial in relation to other variables in the coding form.

Faculty Mentor: Karen Buro

Department: Psychology (Honours)