RESEARCH TO INFORM PREVENTION, INTERVENTION & POLICY

INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE RESEARCH LABORATORY

The Interpersonal Violence Research Laboratory uses evidence-based research to prevent interpersonal violence and support survivors.

What We Do

Research in the Interpersonal Violence Research Laboratory (IVRL) uses community-based participatory action research to answer two questions:

  1. How do we prevent sexual and related forms of violence?

  2. How do we most effectively support survivors in the aftermath of violent victimization? Much of our work focuses on minoritized populations, specifically Native American/Indigenous youth and families as well as LGBTQ+ youth.

In the IVRL, we highly value community leadership in developing and evaluating (including the use of decolonized research approaches) strengths-focused, culturally grounded initiatives to prevent and respond to sexual and related forms of violence.

The work in the IVRL is currently funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute of Health, National Institute of Justice, National Science Foundation and Office on Violence Against Women.

Purple Ribbons

A purple ribbon symbolizes awareness and support for domestic violence prevention. It represents solidarity with survivors, remembrance of those lost to domestic violence, and a commitment to fostering safe, respectful relationships. The purple ribbon is widely used during Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October and in advocacy efforts to raise awareness and encourage action against abuse.

Our mission is to conduct community-led research that helps reduce — if not eliminate — sexual and related forms of violence from communities, and to promote recovery among survivors of interpersonal violence victimization.

Group Photo of IVRL Team

Our Team

Dr. Katie M. Edwards directs the IVRL. Dr. Edwards is a professor of educational psychology. Over the past 10 years, Dr. Edwards has published over 200 peer-reviewed journal articles and accumulated over $23 million in research funding to support the work of the IVRL.

Members of the IVRL also include postdoctoral scholars, graduate and undergraduate students, and community-based staff across the U.S.