The University of Texas at Arlington has awarded funding to research teams to launch new investigative projects. The Research Enhancement Program (REP), administered by UTA's Office of Vice President for Research and Innovation, offers seed funding to investigators to help them test new ideas and explore new directions that could lead to future innovations and more competitive proposals for external funding from federal agencies and nonprofit foundations.
In our research series, we highlight six of these grants.
Researchers: Morgan E. PettyJohn, School of Social Work; Rachel Voth Schrag, School of Social Work
Research focus: How technology is used to abuse and coercively control survivors of intimate partner violence
What's the idea?
The project studies technology-facilitated abuse, or how phones, apps, GPS tracking, social media and other digital tools are used to monitor, harass and control victims of intimate partner violence. Researchers will survey survivors receiving services through The Archway, Tarrant County's only state-designated family violence center, to better understand how often technology-related abuse occurs, what forms it takes and how it affects people seeking help. The team also hopes to identify warning signs that could help service providers recognize when survivors face greater risks of escalating violence.
Why it matters
Technology can allow abuse to continue long after a relationship ends. Shared accounts, location tracking, messaging apps and connected devices can make it difficult for survivors to establish safety or maintain privacy. Researchers say many victim service organizations still lack training and resources for responding to digital forms of abuse. The study could help improve understanding of how technology is being used in abusive relationships and how agencies can respond more effectively.
Real-world use
The findings could help domestic violence shelters, advocacy groups, law enforcement and social workers better identify technology-related abuse and improve safety planning for survivors and their children. It could also support computer engineers and cybersecurity experts in building digital environments that are less easily exploited by those seeking to do harm. Researchers also hope the work will support future training programs, risk assessment tools and policies focused on protecting victims from digital abuse.
Next steps
The research team plans to collect survey data from survivors receiving services through The Archway. Researchers will analyze patterns, risk factors and connections between digital abuse and other forms of intimate partner violence. The long-term goal is to pursue larger grants that would expand the research and improve support services for survivors.
In their words
"The rapidly evolving technology landscape is providing new avenues for exploitation, control and monitoring, and requires us to continually assess what changes are needed to best support survivors and address emerging threats. By working directly with survivors and advocates, this research can point to new avenues for intervention and support." — Rachel Voth Schrag
"This research is a culmination of interdisciplinary scholarship at UTA and field work through strong community partnerships with community-based violence organizations in DFW. Through provision of training and technical assistance to hundreds of victim service providers and survivors over the past two years, we have gained valuable insights that have informed the current research project. We are hopeful that what we learn through this work will improve the safety and well-being of survivors throughout Texas and beyond." — Morgan PettyJohn
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About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth. With a student body of over 42,700, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation's top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 300,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.
