Working with sensitive topics & populations

This is an active area of learning for me. I have some practical experience and in-progress coursework, but I know to proceed mindfully, with support and continued skill-building in these areas.

Learned knowledge

From a trauma-informed interview course I'm taking, I understand that it's essential to create an environment of safety & support, use non-judgmental language, show empathy, and be aware of potential triggers (to avoid retraumatization).

 

Through that course, I'm also learning about SAMHSA's 6 principles of trauma-informed approaches: Safety; Trustworthiness & Transparency; Peer Support; Collaboration & Mutuality; Empowerment, Voice, & Choice; and Cultural, Historical, & Gender Issues, as well as practical applications for research interviews.

Past volunteer research project:
Survey of LGBTQ+ incarcerated individuals

Background

In 2021-2022, I assisted as a volunteer on a research project for Black & Pink Massachusetts chapter, working on a survey of currently-incarcerated LGBTQ+ people in Massachusetts. This survey was part of the organization's advocacy & support for this population, to inform their programs and to be shared with policy-makers.

 

Summary

I was part of a team of researchers working on the survey together. I helped with:

  • Survey design:
    • Helped design a pre-survey to be included in the organization's newsletter, gathering questions the LGBTQ+ incarcerated population would like to include in the survey, to represent their experiences
    • Helped decide final research questions and question wording
  • Data entry: Survey was delivered in the organization's paper newsletter, so I helped transfer written responses to digital format for analysis.
  • Data analysis: Qualitative, thematic analysis of write-in questions

 

Skills learned

  • Sensitive topics: Introductory text in the survey that described the sensitive topics that would be included, and informing the participants that they could skip questions.
  • Sensitive populations: Awareness of risk of retaliation by prison staff for participant answers. Informing participants of this risk, providing them an opportunity to share concerns they had about retaliation, and informing participants that they could skip questions.

 

Currently working on building upon these skills, in Trauma-Informed Interviewing course. (Nov 2024)