College Students’ Misperceptions of Rape and Sexual Assault of Female Undergraduate College Students

Abstract

This study examined undergraduate college students’ perceptions on the subject of rape and sexual assault of female undergraduate college students. Through semi-structured interviews, participants were asked to describe their perceptions of three different types of sexual assault and rape scenarios that involved a female undergraduate college student victim and rate the three scenarios from the most common scenario to the least common. The results of this study are significant as they provide insight about the average types of perceptions that college students hold about sexual assault and rape of undergraduate female college students. The results of the study can be utilized in educating college students about inaccurate perceptions of sexual assault and rape.