McCarthy, Anna, Rudolph, Julia I. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4878-3537, Fry, Deborah, Monks, Claire P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2638-181X, Pacella, Rosana ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9742-1957 and Meinck, Franziska (2025) Surveying children and young people on sensitive topics: creating engaging, accessible, trauma-informed digital questionnaires. Child Protection and Practice. ISSN 2950-1938 (Online) (In Press)

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Abstract

Background: Research with children and young people requires bespoke measurement tools and methodologies, designed with the end-user in mind.
Objective: This paper describes the design of digital questionnaires for children and young people which are engaging, accessible, and trauma-informed. It is presented in the context of a larger study, which designed violence prevalence survey questionnaires for participants aged 11-25 years in the United Kingdom.
Participants and Setting: Data collection was conducted with child abuse and violence research professionals, adults and children with lived experience of violence in the UK, and children and young people in the target age-group in the UK.
Methods: Feedback on the design of the questionnaires was gathered via online Delphi surveys, focus groups, participatory research sessions, qualitative interviews, and individual consultations. Thematic analysis was conducted to review feedback on digital format features, trauma-informed design, and accessibility. The project followed an iterative and multi-stage process.
Findings: Digital formatting (including matrix questions, survey branching, and navigation buttons), trauma-informed design (including question introductions and opt-out response phrasing), and accessibility features (including audio recordings and readability) can be utilised to generate an engaging, accessible, and trauma-informed measurement tool.
Conclusions: Using an inclusive and child-focused approach to design has the potential to positively impact children’s ability and willingness to engage with surveys, ultimately improving the resulting data and our understanding of children’s experiences.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	measurement, survey design, violence against children
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > HA Statistics R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ101 Child Health. Child health services
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development > Centre for Vulnerable Children and Families Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > School of Human Sciences (HUM)
Last Modified:	18 Dec 2025 15:39
URI:	https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/52015

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