03/05/2026
By Karen Mullins
The School of Criminology and Justice Studies is proud to announce a Dissertation Defense by Xichen Wang, entitled: "On the Measurement of Human Trafficking."
Date: Thursday, March 26.
Time: 10 a.m. - Noon
Location: Via Zoom
Committee:
• Sheldon X. Zhang, Ph.D, Committee Chair, Professor, University of Massachusetts Lowell
• Claire Lee, Ph.D, Associate Professor, University of Massachusetts Lowell
• Jason Rydberg, Ph.D, Associate Professor, University of Massachusetts Lowell
• David Okech, Ph.D. Professor, University of Georgia
Abstract
Human trafficking is a global problem, and effective responses depend on reliable estimates of its scope. Current prevalence estimates differ widely because trafficking is measured inconsistently across studies and settings. Overlapping legal definitions, socio cultural variation, and limited empirical validation of instruments make results hard to compare. This dissertation strengthens trafficking measurement by validating a survey instrument developed by the Prevalence Reduction Innovation Forum (PRIF), an international effort to harmonize indicators across diverse contexts. It (1) systematically reviews tools used in prevalence estimation research, (2) tests the PRIF survey’s psychometric properties using exploratory factor analysis and item response theory with data from adult domestic workers in Morocco, Tunisia, and Tanzania to assess cross country consistency, and (3) examines whether PRIF indicators can be applied to child labor trafficking using survey data from child domestic workers in Côte d'Ivoire.
Results show the PRIF instrument is generally valid and reliable, performs consistently across the adult country samples, and is usable with both adult and child populations. Trafficking victimization is multidimensional, comprising three core dimensions: predatory recruitment, control/manipulation, and violence/abuse. The strongest indicators include being made to engage in commercial sex, being compelled to work day and night without adequate compensation, and experiencing physical violence. A few limitations remain: some items function differently across countries, and item difficulty parameters are not directly comparable across samples, limiting cross population estimates of severity and prevalence. The study also finds adult–child differences—movement restrictions and debt bondage are informative for adults but less effective for children—supporting continued refinement and context sensitive application. The PRIF indicators have significantly advanced the development of international standard measures on human trafficking and will invite further efforts for their improvement.