Giving Compass' Take:

• Giulia Todres blogs on NPC about strategies for conducting sensitive yet impactful surveys that unearth vital information on vulnerable groups' experiences.

• Why is important not to avoid sensitive survey topics? Why is important to conduct such surveys sincerely and tactfully? What can you do to promote these strategies for conducting sensitive surveys?

• Learn more about the benefits of meaningful survey results in giving.

Many charities who work with vulnerable people are often naturally reluctant to ask them difficult or sensitive survey questions as part of their impact measurement. However, research and practice in the field of loneliness tells us that these kinds of questions are not only critical in helping us to build a true picture of people’s experiences, but without them, we risk leaving some of the most vulnerable groups’ views and experiences out of our research.

When asking people personal, sensitive questions, it is important to first build trust and ensure that they feel safe and comfortable. Charities are often uniquely placed to provide a warm, welcoming space for people to form secure bonds and doing so is essential for discussing difficult topics.

It’s not just the service users who need to feel comfortable when conducting these potentially tricky conversations. The anxieties of staff can affect how people feel about completing these surveys. But, as with charities we’ve worked with and as other research suggests, most people are happy to answer questions about loneliness, even when they are negatively worded, and it’s important that frontline staff know this.

Finally, on their own surveys can seem impersonal; building the themes they cover into broader conversations can be very helpful for supporting service users and for allowing them to express their true feelings. Many of the organisations funded by the Building Connections Fund are doing amazing work connecting people and reducing the stigma around loneliness, and having these conversations is often part and parcel of this.

Read the full article about conducting sensitive surveys by Giulia Todres at NPC.