This course is split over 2 days.

Day 1 (Introduction to Equity-Based Trauma Informed Research - 23 Sept) has been designed to give social researchers a firm understanding of what trauma-informed research means, what it looks like in practice, and how it should align with inclusive research practice.

Day 2 (Applying Equity-Based Trauma-Informed Research in Practice - 30 Sept) is designed to give people practical ideas, tips and tools to support equitable and trauma-informed research design. Using real life case studies, we’ll take you through the different design steps, from initial scoping to ethics and methodological development and on to reporting and dissemination.

Overview

We will begin with an introduction to the concept of trauma itself. We'll discuss the prevalence of trauma in society, including vicarious trauma and the impact this can have on researchers. We then introduce the principles of trauma-informed practice (developed in healthcare) and how this aligns with inclusive research design, particularly considering how experiences of discrimination and oppression can lead to trauma.

At the end of the first day, we will begin to focus on the How. We will provide advice, guidance and case study examples on how to design and carry out trauma informed research.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of Day 1, participants will be able to:

• Understand the varied causes of trauma and its impact on individuals, communities and societies
• Understand the importance of aligning trauma-informed research with inclusive research design
• Understand the potential impact of exposure to trauma on researchers and how this can be managed
• Explore the principles of trauma-informed practice and how to apply these throughout the research process

Topics

• The causes and impact of trauma
• The wider context of trauma and how it can be experienced by groups, communities and societies.
• The connection between trauma and discrimination and the importance of addressing both during the research process.
• The concept of vicarious trauma, how it manifests and what can help protect researchers.
• The principles of trauma-informed practice, how it developed, what it looks like.

Who Should Attend?

Any social researcher looking to design and deliver inclusive and trauma informed research. It is particularly relevant for research who may come into contact with minoritised, marginalised, disadvantaged people, and people who have experienced trauma. Given how pervasive trauma is (for us as researchers too), any research with human participants carries the potential to come into contact with trauma. 

Course tutors

Dr Holly Taylor-Dunn is an experienced social researcher who has worked with, and researched with, survivors of trauma for 25 years. She began her career working with survivors of abuse, before moving to academia where she led research projects for charities, police forces and government departments. More recently, Holly led evaluations in a social research agency, before taking over as Head of Evaluation. Holly is currently working as a freelance consultant and is passionate about using her professional and lived experience of trauma to help others design safe and inclusive research.

Skye Curtis works as an independent EDI consultant as well as a community engagement lead. She has worked in policy research and evaluation, including senior roles at MEL Research and Citizens Advice. She has a particular passion for equitable, inclusive and human centred research practice. She believes it’s important to spend as much time considering how research feels for people, as considering the research outcomes. She’s provided training and advise on equitable, inclusive and anti-racist social research practice, including leading the design and delivery of Citizen Advice’s approach to equity in research and leading MEL’s approach to trauma informed and inclusive research design as standard.

  This course contributes 6 hours to the MRS CPD programme

n.b. This course runs over two separate full days which must be booked individually. Day 2 can be booked here Applying Equity-Based Trauma-Informed Research in Practice.

Day 2 - 30 September - 9.30 am to 4.00 pm