METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES IN THE USE OF SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES TO ASSESS THE HEALTH-EFFECTS OF TORTURE

It has become increasingly important to identify torture survivors amo ng subgroups of the American population and to assess the continuing h ealth effects of torture experience. To determine whether survey quest ionnaires can be effectively used to make such assessments, we reviewe d the recent literature on refugee health, on the measurement and trea tment of trauma, and in the related areas of survey methodology and co gnitive psychology. We conclude that, if properly conducted, the surve y approach represents an effective method, and we propose specific rec ommendations concerning procedures that may be used in surveys of tort ure survivors to maximize study validity.