Moving forward in batterer program evaluation: posing a qualitative, woman-centered approach

This paper advocates for research to provide richer insight into women's pe rceptions of batterer programs. We summarize batterer program evaluation re search that has predominantly focused on program format, treatment completi on, abusive behaviors and attitudes post-program, and has superficially exa mined female partners' views on program effectiveness. The purpose of this review is to highlight the research questions that have been addressed, the inconclusive nature of the findings, and the subsequent need for further e xploration of pertinent concerns. We discuss some of the conceptual and met hodological issues that may have contributed to these gaps in knowledge. Fi nally, we propose a complementary woman-centered and qualitative approach f or evaluating the effectiveness of male batterer progams. This approach emp hasizes women's needs, opinions, and experiences. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.