A Cognitive Map of Sexual Violence Victims’ Decision-Making: Understanding the Preference for Social Media over Formal Legal Avenues—Insights from Media Consultants

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report (Previous Reviewer 1)

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Greatly improved but needs to be reviewed to remove typos and errors before publication. Some examples below. 

Typos:

Line 42: " initially initiated" remove "initially"

Line 95: (Mor,2009) add space. In suggest reviewing all in-text citations as the same error is repeated in the paper - see Line 133; Line 143

Line 97: "Additionally, one in five women is raped." Change "is" to "are"

Line 128: "to  The Ideal" Additional spacing to be removed

Line 292: missing sentence "sued for slander (Gu"?

Line 311: ".." Remove typo fullstop

Line 475-481: Bold feature to be removed

Line 486: "number 3,  the imp" remove extra space typo

Line 619: "4).A" space needed

Line

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

All fine bar some typos mentioned.

Author Response

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Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report (New Reviewer)

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This study is a significant contribution to the affordances of social media during personal/group challenges as an informal mechanism that lie as alternative to legal mechanisms. Noteworthy concepts such as "procedural justice" in exchange for "outcome justice" are also worth extra attention for further study into the topic. Furthermore, cognitive mapping is a clear approach, but it remains a bit too simple throughout and may need to be advanced through further research and analysis. 

One point to update: At the beginning of the paper when research subjects are described, diversity of participants is the key focus. However, it would be worthwhile to mention that the geographical location is Israel, to clarify the degree of diversity to the reader.  

Comments on the Quality of English Language

I have not spotted any specific problems. Proofreading by a native speaker would be advisable.

Author Response

Dear Esteemed Reviewers,

I genuinely appreciate your time and effort in reviewing my paper and providing valuable feedback.

After submitting our manuscript, we carefully reviewed and integrated the feedback from the reviewers. We have included the updated version of our manuscript with these additional changes.

Below is a summary of the main revisions made in response to the reviewer's comments. We have carefully addressed each of them and implemented the necessary changes in the paper.

You will find the updated version of our manuscript, with the changes highlighted in purple within the text.

Thank you again for your important contribution to the research and publication process.

Best regards,

Hila

All typographical errors have been corrected and highlighted in the document.

Typos: Line 42: " initially initiated" remove "initially" Line 95: (Mor,2009) add space. In suggest reviewing all in-text citations as the same error is repeated in the paper - see Line 133; Line 143 Line 97: "Additionally, one in five women is raped." Change "is" to "are" Line 128: "to  The Ideal" Additional spacing to be removed Line 292: missing sentence "sued for slander (Gu"? Line 311: ".." Remove typo fullstop Line 475-481: Bold feature to be removed Line 486: "number 3,  the imp" remove extra space typo Line 619: "4).A" space needed Line

Thank you very much. We acknowledge the importance of using the terms "procedural justice" and" outcome justice " in future studies and ensured that these terms were consistently used throughout our study.	Noteworthy concepts such as "procedural justice" in exchange for "outcome justice" are also worth extra attention for further study into the topic
We have incorporated a reference to the simplicity of the cognitive map and recommendations for future research . Lins 12-16 While the cognitive map provides a clear framework for understanding the decisions made by survivors of sexual violence, it simplifies complex emotional and psychological factors. Future research may enhance this map by incorporating a deeper analysis of survivors' internal conflicts and the interplay between emotional coping mechanisms and external pressures to disclose their experiences   38-40 Liens While the cognitive map effectively illustrates the decision-making junctions between social media and institutional channels, its current form may oversimplify the multi-layered considerations survivors face. Future iterations of this map could integrate additional factors, such as cultural and emotional variables, to enrich the understanding of survivor decision-making   Liens 782-785. This study is the cognitive map's relative simplicity. Though it clarifies mapping decision points, it may fail to fully account for the complexity of survivors’ psychological and emotional processes. Future research should aim to expand this map by incorporating diverse perspectives and variables such as individual trauma responses and societal pressures. This	cognitive mapping is a clear approach, but it remains a bit too simple throughout and may need to be advanced through further research and analysis.
In the limitations of the study, we emphasize that the geographical location, Israel, plays a key role in shaping the diversity of participants. Although this research provides a broad cultural and religious representation, we highlighted the location in other parts of the paper to ensure that readers understand how the geographical context impacts the diversity and findings liens8-9 The study was conducted in Israel liens 38-41 . It is important to note that the study was conducted in Israel, and the participants reflected the geographical and cultural diversity of the country, enhancing the breadth of perspectives examined.	At the beginning of the paper when research subjects are described, diversity of participants is the key focus. However, it would be worthwhile to mention that the geographical location is Israel, to clarify the degree of diversity to the reader.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

This manuscript is a resubmission of an earlier submission. The following is a list of the peer review reports and author responses from that submission.

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Overall comments:

Very interesting work, though some issues with use of findings and a need for further analysis of key ideas/research areas to fully build these sections. See notes:

1. Reference to Me Too, the 2006 social movement established by Tarana Burke should not be referenced in hashtag form e.g. #MeToo. These are two very different contexts and movements that should be clearly differentiated in the larger work. Rework this at the start of work and in lines 142-144 in clear detail.

2. Use of Israel as the geopolitical location of the study: it becomes unclear at points whether the research and findings are global or specifically linked to Israel. Example: lines 60-64 detail Israeli law, yet the statistics referenced later in the work are largely global (see following lines 65-71 and ). If possible, bring in some Israeli stats and facts also to provide better balance. Relatedly, reference to the Walder and Zahav case in 427-426 needs to be contextualised for those outside of the Israeli zietgest.

3. Theory: Some stronger reference to anti-rape theory built during the feminist movement, particularly in relation to secondary victimisation or retraumatisiation as a result of inept social justice institutions, policing and rape myths (good verses bad victim, myths around fabrication rates etc).  See lines 81-89; lines 219-225 could see more theory around victim blaming; lines.

4. Findings section: relies somewhat too heavily on interviewee quotes to make the argument. More detail is needed from the researcher/writer on the topic, along with a more pronounced reference to the context (e.g. Israel) here. A further use of/reference to theory (e.g. anti-rape theory, rape myths, etc) could be applied here to grow the section.

Example lines 451-461 need more detail/analysis. Particularly, the implication laid out by interviewee number 1 in 456-461 which challenges the thesis entirely but could be used to highlight how the larger public still understands judicial/legal justice as the necessary route for victims?

End of Theme 2 section Lines 545-549 has two quotations concurrently and no analysis - edit to include some further detail. 

Lines 567-586: three quotes concurrently, need to edit or paraphrase and rely less on the quotes to explain their own significance to the argument/thesis.

5. Structure/wording: paragraph structure needs attention at lines 357-364.

Also move parts of section 3 (example lines 400-403) to 3.1 to make 3.1 more robust.

Remove repetitive mention of interviewee 3 being spokesperson of an association for victims of Ultra-Orthodox sexual violence (lines 418-419 then  lines 427-428).

Unnecessary capitalisation: line 428 Contends; line 447 Publications; Line 459 Internet; line 481 Especially

Line 553: end quotation.

Line 555: extra space " the   media"

Line 657: spelling "Social madia"

6. Quotations: line 380-382 not the best quote to use here, perhaps just paraphrase this? 

Author Response

See attached document

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Thank you for this opportunity to review the paper on an important topic of justice for sexual assault victims and social media. With revision it could make a contribution.  I suggest the following: the first sentence must be completely changed, there is no singular status of all women it does not advance and concern over sexual violence does not parallel this advancement nor does the paper talk about this. 
The introduction should more clearly state the contribution (eg in depth interview data about why women share private experience publicly) 

I am not persuaded by the cognitive map I’d just cut this and share the data and decision making. It’s a simplistic map and kind of makes the victims look simple. Also the decision is not cognitive but social- Alternately include more factors that are relevant (media profile, followings, age, personality type, profession of abuser etc)

Race should be considered especially with the historical role of white women accusing black men of crimes they didn’t do to gain social power in the us 

finally while me too was included amber heard trial and many other recent backlash events were not which paints a simple picture of advancement.  

basically needs overall more context and complexity overall a well written paper with a good lit review clearly linked to the findings which make a small but meaningful contribution to an important issue

 

Author Response

See attached document

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Authors ignored suggestions to do any analysis at all with comments that “this is not what the paper is about” ok then this is not about anything useful and is at best a guide for media companies wanting to profit from as, not scholarship. You can’t just take comments and put them in a 2/2 square and call it analysis especially on a topic of this importance. Please work on other topics in future which require less intelligence and sensitivity 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

This