2. Methodology
2. Methodology
This study was designed to develop a nuanced, contextsensitive understanding of GBVO in Syria. Recognizing the
sensitive and politicized nature of the topic, the research
adopted an applied, exploratory mixed-methods approach
grounded in principles of feminist and ethical inquiry
(Ellsberg and Heise, 2013; Hesse-Biber, 2023). The aim was
not merely to document incidents but to uncover the lived
realities of affected women, the institutional responses
and the sociocultural narratives that sustain digital harm.
The methodology was built on three interdependent
phases: a comprehensive desk review, in-depth qualitative fieldwork, and a rigorous multi-method analysis, all
framed within a gender-transformative, rights-based, and
conflict-sensitive lens.
2.1 Study design overview
The research is positioned within the tradition of applied
social research, where inquiry is directed toward generating
actionable knowledge for program and policy intervention
(Creswell and Poth, 2018). The design is qualitatively driven
and exploratory, intended to map a complex phenomenon
in a fragile context where quantitative data is scarce and
risky to collect. It is structured around three analytical
pillars that guide both data collection and interpretation:
1.
A diagnostic mapping of GBVO’s forms, prevalence,
and digital geography within Syria.
2.
An analytical investigation of the drivers, enabling
narratives, and institutional responses surrounding
online violence.
3. A formative assessment of impacts and pathways
for change, leading to survivor- and expert-informed
recommendations.
This tripartite structure ensures the study serves both
scholarly and practical purposes, providing DW Akademie
and a wide range of international stakeholders with a robust
evidence base for its initiatives while contributing to the
academic literature on technology-facilitated gender-based
violence in conflict settings (Henry and Powell, 2018).
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