{"id":188,"date":"2021-03-29T15:32:13","date_gmt":"2021-03-29T15:32:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sexuallyharmfulbehaviourlab.wordpress.com\/?page_id=188"},"modified":"2026-08-24T17:25:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T21:25:42","slug":"research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/sexuallyharmfulbehaviourslab\/research\/","title":{"rendered":"Research Topics"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

Our research program<\/p>\n

Understanding sexually harmful behaviours<\/h2>\n

We study how sexually harmful behaviours develop, persist, and change\u2014and how evidence can improve prevention, assessment, policy, and practice.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

\n
\n

Research overview<\/p>\n

Studying sexual harm across people, relationships, and systems<\/h2>\n

Sexually harmful behaviours are shaped by interacting individual, interpersonal, family, technological, institutional, and social influences. Our research examines these influences across different behaviours and populations rather than assuming that findings from one group apply to everyone.<\/p>\n

We also respond to emerging issues, including technology-facilitated sexual offending, artificial intelligence, written sexual materials, sexting, and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

\n

How we conduct research<\/p>\n

Methods suited to consequential questions<\/h2>\n
\n
1<\/span><\/p>\n

Development and change over time<\/h3>\n

Longitudinal designs help us examine pathways, change, reassessment, and outcomes rather than relying only on cross-sectional snapshots.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n

2<\/span><\/p>\n

Multiple sources of evidence<\/h3>\n

We use quantitative and qualitative approaches, population-based data, family and sibling designs, administrative records, surveys, and meta-analysis.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n

3<\/span><\/p>\n

Real-world partnerships<\/h3>\n

Partnerships with academic, government, correctional, forensic mental health, community, and industry organizations support relevant questions and knowledge exchange.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

\n
\n

Research areas<\/p>\n

Explore our program<\/h2>\n

Select a topic for current research questions, projects, publications, and supporting grants.<\/p>\n

\n
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Online sexual offending<\/h3>\n

Technology-facilitated sexual offending, online solicitation, child sexual exploitation material, deterrence, and emerging digital environments.<\/p>\n

View research and publications \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/article>\n

\n

Risk assessment and change<\/h3>\n

Risk assessment tools, dynamic risk factors, change over time, measurement, calibration, progress monitoring, and fair application.<\/p>\n

View research and publications \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/article>\n

\n

Sexual behaviour within families<\/h3>\n

Incest, sexual behaviour between siblings, family processes, developmental context, cross-cultural research, and prevention.<\/p>\n

View research and publications \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/article>\n

\n

Sexting and non-consensual sharing<\/h3>\n

Sexting, unsolicited sexual materials, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, decision-making, prevention, and digital safety.<\/p>\n

View research and publications \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/article>\n

\n

Pathways and causal candidates<\/h3>\n

Individual, interpersonal, developmental, and situational factors that may contribute to\u2014or protect against\u2014sexually harmful behaviours.<\/p>\n

View research and publications \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our research program Understanding sexually harmful behaviours We study how sexually harmful behaviours develop, persist, and change\u2014and how evidence can improve prevention, assessment, policy, and practice. Research overview Studying sexual harm across people, relationships, and systems Sexually harmful behaviours are shaped by interacting individual, interpersonal, family, technological, institutional, and social influences. Our research examines these […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"yoast_head":"\nResearch Topics - Sexually Harmful Behaviours Lab<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Our research programUnderstanding sexually harmful behavioursWe study how sexually harmful behaviours develop, persist, and change\u2014and how evidence can\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/sexuallyharmfulbehaviourslab\/research\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/sexuallyharmfulbehaviourslab\/research\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/sexuallyharmfulbehaviourslab\/research\/\",\"name\":\"Research Topics - 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