Summary
The last two years of crises demonstrate why researchers and designers must anticipate and plan for trauma as it emerges in our work (and our lives). But how do you move your practice and your organization in a trauma-informed direction? This panel will draw upon our experiences researching sensitive topics and working with marginalized communities to discuss implementing trauma-informed practices in research and design engagements. We will explore the different ways we’ve used trauma-informed concepts to work with, and protect the mental and emotional safety of, the communities we serve. Panelists will also discuss self and team care and ways we’ve advocated for trauma-informed approaches in organizations like Code for America and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Key Insights
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Trauma is pervasive across all sectors and impacts both researchers and participants.
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Language used in research processes can cause harm and should be carefully chosen.
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Researchers must prioritize participant agency and choice to prevent harm.
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Compensation for research participation should be culturally sensitive and tailored to individual needs.
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The emotional well-being of researchers is as critical as that of participants; self-care practices are necessary.
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Successful trauma-informed research requires collaboration with affected communities for better insights.
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Recognizing organizational culture is key to implementing trauma-informed practices effectively.
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Daily practices of self-reflection and team support are essential for maintaining trauma awareness in research.
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Effective communication with leadership about trauma-informed methods is vital for organizational change.
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Building trust with participants before and after research is critical for ethical engagement.
Notable Quotes
"There's probably no better indication of trauma in our research than the overwhelming numbers we see."
"Questions can be weapons; the language we use can harm participants before they even start."
"To be trauma informed means recognizing the past experiences of those you're working with."
"It's not just about doing research; it's about how to be truly informed in the process you use."
"If you create surveys that have an 'other' category, it still implies deviation from the norm."
"Harm will happen in research; all we can do is strive to reduce it wherever possible."
"Participatory research enables communities to share their own stories and insights."
"We need to address how trauma manifests differently due to identity and positionality."
"Self-care is important, but it shouldn't be the sole responsibility of individual researchers; organizations need to support this."
"Small steps are necessary to enable large-scale change in research methodologies."
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