This checklist accompanies this toolkit: Trauma-Informed Survey Toolkit (TIST).
Surveys are powerful tools for collecting data, shaping programs, informing policies, and improving services. But if designed or implemented without care, surveys can also replicate harm—particularly for individuals and communities who have experienced trauma. This toolkit provides practical guidance for practitioners and researchers who want to conduct surveys using trauma-informed principles, with a focus on work in refugee resettlement and related service contexts.
Purpose and Scope
The Trauma-Informed Survey Toolkit (TIST) supports participatory human-centered design and methodologically sound survey practices across all stages of the research process, aimed at improving both the user experience of survey participation and the quality of the data collected. Drawing on existing evidence from trauma studies, social work, survey research, and trauma-informed research principles, this toolkit:
• Explains what trauma is and how it can affect survey participation;
• Introduces trauma-informed practice principles;
• Provides guidance for designing and administering trauma-informed surveys;
• Offers reflective prompts and a checklist for applied survey work.
While trauma-informed approaches are increasingly discussed in direct service settings, few resources exist to guide their application to data collection. This toolkit aims to fill that gap—emphasizing the importance of both protecting participant well-being and ensuring high-quality data.
