Measuring sexual harassment: Theoretical and psychometric advances
Abstract
This article describes a program of research designed to yield a conceptually grounded, psychometrically sound instrument for assessing the incidence and prevalence of sexual harassment in the workplace. Following the specification of a theoretical framework that is consistent with both legal guidelines and psychological research, we review the development and evaluation of a three-dimensional model of sexual harassment (gender harassment, unwanted sexual attention, and sexual coercion). Based on this model, we describe the development of a revised version of the Sexual Experiences Questionnaire (SEQ; Fitzgerald et al., 1988). Following extensive pilot work, the instrument was field tested in a large regulated utility. Data from 448 employed women (professional, technical, clerical and blue collar workers) support the reliability of the scales, and confirmatory factor analysis in this new sample confirms the stability and generalizability of the theoretical model. Following a brief review of validity data recently reported in the literature, implications for further measurement improvements are discussed.
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No single model encapsulates all specific manifestations of online sexual harassment.
“there is no single model that encapsulates all of its specific manifestations (Barak, 2005; Fitzgerald et al., 1995; Henry & Powell, 2018).”
From Online Sexual Harassment Perpetration Among Peer Adolescents: A Cross-National and Cross-Gender Study (2025) · cites this paper as Fitzgerald et al., 1995
Online sexual harassment is a multidimensional phenomenon encompassing several interrelated forms of aggression.
“the literature conclusively states that online sexual harassment is a multidimensional phenomenon that encompasses several interrelated forms of aggression”
From Online Sexual Harassment Perpetration Among Peer Adolescents: A Cross-National and Cross-Gender Study (2025) · cites this paper as Fitzgerald et al., 1995
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“…the literature conclusively states that online sexual harassment is a multidimensional phenomenon that encompasses several interrelated forms of aggression, there is no single model that encapsulates all of its specific manifestations (Barak, 2005; Fitzgerald et al., 1995; Henry & Powell, 2018).”
- Authors
- Fitzgerald, L. F., Gelfand, M. J., & Drasgow, F.
- Affiliations
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
- Venue
- Basic and Applied Social Psychology
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 1995-12
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 425-445
- ISSN
- 0197-3533 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-4834
- OpenAlex
- W2046268351
- Cited by
- 912
- References
- 16
- Citations by year
- 2026: 53 · 2025: 58 · 2024: 63 · 2023: 66 · 2022: 61 · 2021: 59 · 2020: 68 · 2019: 59 · 2018: 45 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 20
- FWCI
- 11.53
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Basic and Applied Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Workplace Violence and Bullying
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
- Keywords
- sexual harassment, workplace harassment, gender-based harassment, unwanted sexual attention, sexual coercion, instrument development, psychometric validation, women's employment, harassment prevalence
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