This article focuses on rape prevalence research and examines the rela
tionship between measurement methods and level of rape detection. Afte
r a brief overview of empirical data, the relative threat to the valid
ity of prevalence estimates posed by fabrication versus nondisclosure
is weighed. Then various methodological choices and their relationship
to the magnitude of prevalence estimates are examined. Addressed are
the definitions underlying the studies, the questions used to elicit r
eports of rape, the context in which rape questioning occurred, the co
nfidentiality of the responses, the method of data collection, and the
sample integrity. The conclusions include 10 recommendations for the
design of future studies of rape prevalence.