Reply #25: The people conducting the study say it's due to improved data collecting methodology. [View All]

[Gwendolyn]

"Due to criticism from experts in the subject, the survey's methodology was adjusted in 2007 to capture more accurately the incidence of gender-based violence. The authors say in the report that the higher numbers may reflect the new, more accurate methodology rather than an actual increase. Two major shifts were to describe types of sexual assault to those being interviewed, and to replace "computer-assisted telephone interviews conducted from two telephone centers" nationwide with interviews "by field representatives either by telephone or in person."

I'd rather talk to a human being as well. The numbers are not reflective so much of increased crime, just more accurate reporting.