Evidence for the effectiveness of domestic abuse perpetrator programmes (DAPPs) is increasing. However, key components of these programmes (group delivery style/content, the partner safety worker role and implementation) and theoretical ideas of how change occurs, are underdeveloped. The REPROVIDE study was a mixed-methods design, combining a randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness of DAPPs with an embedded qualitative sub-study. There were 488 recruited trial participants (310 male perpetrators, 177 female victim/survivors). The qualitative sub-study interviewed: 31 men (22 who received the intervention); 37 women (29 who received the intervention); and 17 professionals, and the analytical approach was thematic. Theoretical thinking was further informed by the quantitative data, case study data, group observations and regular meetings with our third sector delivery partners in 5 sites in England and Wales, where the study took place. Our theory of change for DAPPs shifted significantly over time from a focus on the group work with perpetrators to a much greater appreciation of the partner safety work element and the integrated whole. Our analysis highlights the contrasting perspectives on change processes and the much less visible work of partner safety workers.
About the speakers
Helen Cramer is a medical anthropologist by background with expertise in qualitative and ethnographic approaches. Helen is based in the Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School. She has worked on multiple topics including cardiovascular health, mental health, complementary and alternative medicines as well as several projects on domestic violence and abuse. She has been one of the leads of the REPROVIDE study evaluating the effectiveness and cost of domestic abuse perpetrator programmes alongside Karen Morgan and Gene Feder.
Karen Morgan’s background is as a sociologist/criminologist. She is currently based in the Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School. As well as over 20 years’ research experience mostly in gender-based violence, she also has experience from the voluntary sector of supporting survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. Along with Dr Helen Cramer and Professor Gene Feder, she has been co-leading REPROVIDE, an NIHR-funded study gathering evidence as to the effectiveness of group programmes for male perpetrators.
If you would like to attend this free online event, please follow the link below to book a place.
https://forms.office.com/e/ydXvfN3vAt
This is Seminar 5 of the 2025/26 Centre for Gender and Violence Research Seminar Series. Please see the 2026 Events page for further events in this series.