29 Effective Domestic Violence Survey Questions: Types & Uses

Survivor Experience & Needs Assessment Survey Questions

Why and When to Use This Survey

When crises hit, survivors have immediate and longer-term needs—think housing, medical care, legal protection, and support services. But no two stories are identical, and knowing what’s most urgent for whom is key. Needs assessment surveys are the Swiss Army knife for shelters, crisis lines, healthcare systems, and researchers who want an honest inventory.

These questions help shelters tailor beds, kitchens, and counseling to suit the crowd coming through the door. Healthcare professionals use them to discover barriers survivors face in getting help. For NGOs and advocates, these tools expose the cracks—the gaps in services everyone keeps tripping over.

Key uses include:

• Discovering systemic obstacles by directly asking survivors

• Identifying what services are missing in a network or region

• Improving the timeliness and fit of crisis interventions

It's hard to meet needs you’ve never heard about, so a respectful, trauma-informed needs assessment gives every survivor’s story a chance to guide positive change.

Sample Questions

1. Which of the following services have you needed most urgently in the past six months? (Check all that apply)

2. On a scale of 1–5, how safe did you feel while accessing emergency shelter?

3. What barriers stopped you from seeking medical care after abuse? (Open-ended)

4. How helpful was the legal advocacy you received? (Very helpful → Not at all)

5. What additional resources would have improved your situation? (Open-ended)

Each sample question nudges survivors to reflect and contribute ideas—making them the experts in their own recovery and safety.

A study developed the Reproductive Health Needs of Domestic Violated Women Scale (RHNVWS), a reliable and valid tool for assessing reproductive health needs among women experiencing domestic violence. (reproductive-health-journal.biomedcentral.com)

Safety Planning & Risk Assessment Survey Questions

Why and When to Use This Survey

Danger doesn’t punch a time clock, which is why safety planning and risk assessment questions need to respond to what’s happening right now. These are the trusty tools of advocates, healthcare providers, police, and even friends who want to check in after a crisis or escalate a safety plan.

They’re often used at first contact—when someone calls a hotline or meets an outreach nurse. Sometimes they’re used regularly, to make sure safety plans are up to date as risks shift. Real-time data can be a lifesaver (literally).

Risk assessment surveys help:

• Identify imminent threats that require urgent intervention

• Update personal safety plans if someone’s situation changes

• Empower survivors to think ahead about emergency contacts and safe spaces

No amount of data replaces gut instinct, but strategic questions make it easier to spot dangerous trends and prevent tragedies.

Sample Questions

1. Has your partner threatened to kill you, children, or themselves within the last month? (Yes/No)

2. Does your partner have access to firearms or other weapons? (Yes/No)

3. Have incidents of violence become more frequent or severe lately? (Yes/No)

4. Are there safe places you can stay if you need to leave quickly? (Yes/No/Unsure)

5. Do you have a trusted person who knows your safety plan code word? (Yes/No)

These direct questions—though sometimes intense—open up space for honest reflection, action, and hope for safer tomorrows.

Attitudes, Beliefs & Social Norms Survey Questions

Why and When to Use This Survey

No matter how good your laws, community attitudes and beliefs can make—or break—a domestic violence initiative. Sometimes, the biggest fight isn’t in the courts, but over the dinner table or on the group chat. These survey questions offer a window into the invisible rules guiding what’s “normal.”

Social norms surveys are gold for public awareness campaigns, school or youth group programs, and advocates trying to spark cultural change. Understanding attitudes helps frame outreach in ways that stick.

These surveys are vital for:

• Measuring whether harmful beliefs are fading or persisting

• Shaping media campaigns to target stubborn myths

• Tracking social progress (or backlash) over time

Knowing what people really think lets you craft messages and interventions that actually connect, rather than bounce off community walls.

Sample Questions

1. “Domestic violence is a private family matter.” Do you agree or disagree? (Likert scale)

2. How acceptable is it for a partner to monitor the other’s phone or social media? (Completely acceptable → Not acceptable)

3. In your opinion, what percentage of domestic violence reports are false? (0–100%)

4. If you suspected a friend was being abused, how likely are you to intervene? (Very likely → Very unlikely)

5. Children who witness domestic violence are unharmed as long as they aren’t hit themselves. Agree/Disagree?

With each attitudinal question, you peel back the layers on society’s real feelings, setting the stage for growth and healing.

A study in rural Uganda found that individuals' personal beliefs and perceived norms about intimate partner violence are significantly influenced by contextual details, such as the intentionality behind a partner's actions. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Perpetrator Behavior & Accountability Survey Questions

Why and When to Use This Survey

Stopping the cycle takes more than helping survivors—it means focusing on perpetrator accountability. Surveys aimed at those who’ve caused harm bring their actions into focus and help courts, probation officers, and treatment providers monitor progress.

Offender surveys aren’t about finger-pointing; they’re about honesty and growth. Used wisely, they:

• Assess whether intervention or counseling programs actually work

• Track patterns and triggers for abusive behaviors

• Support individuals in making lasting, positive change

Gathering this information is delicate, but vital for breaking old patterns and making communities safer.

Sample Questions

1. In the past month, have you intentionally damaged your partner’s belongings? (Yes/No)

2. How often have you used insults or humiliation to control your partner? (Never → Very often)

3. Have you attended all mandated counseling sessions? (Yes/No/Partially)

4. What triggers most often precede your abusive behavior? (Open-ended)

5. Since starting the program, how confident are you in using non-violent conflict resolution? (1–5 scale)

By using accountability questions, programs support honest self-reflection and celebrate steps toward non-violence.

Service Utilization & Satisfaction Survey Questions

Why and When to Use This Survey

The best services are built on candid feedback from those who use them. Service utilization and satisfaction surveys ask survivors and community members the nitty-gritty: Are shelters easy to find? Are crisis line staff helpful? Where did things go sideways?

They’re essential for continuous improvement—the bread and butter of non-profits, crisis lines, health clinics, and funders who want to invest where it counts. Key reasons to use these questions:

• Identify hidden barriers or access gaps in lifesaving services

• Find out which efforts are working and which need a makeover

• Justify funding (or a total rethink) with concrete, survivor-driven data

Celebrating wins and fixing headaches usually starts with listening—and these questions make sure feedback doesn’t go in one ear and out the other.

Sample Questions

1. How easy was it to locate information about our shelter services? (Very easy → Very difficult)

2. Did staff treat you with respect and sensitivity? (Always → Never)

3. Were your cultural or language needs met? (Yes/No/Partially)

4. How likely are you to recommend our services to others in similar situations? (0–10 NPS)

5. What one change would most improve our services? (Open-ended)

Every feedback question is a compass pointing to what matters most for people seeking safety.

Workplace & Organizational Policy Compliance Survey Questions

Why and When to Use This Survey

Work isn’t just where we show up to get paid—it should also be a place of safety for everyone. Organizational climate surveys check whether workplaces are walking the talk when it comes to supporting employees affected by domestic violence.

HR departments, unions, and even academic researchers deploy these questions to gauge if policies like leave, confidentiality, and awareness training actually make it off the page. They help organizations:

• Assess if staff understand and trust domestic violence policies

• Uncover training gaps and offer targeted refreshers

• Safeguard employee well-being, both on and off the clock

Workplace questions ensure that no one slips through the cracks just because they clocked in.

Sample Questions

1. Are you aware of the organization’s domestic violence leave policy? (Yes/No)

2. Do you feel safe disclosing domestic violence concerns to HR? (Yes/No/Unsure)

3. Have you received training on recognizing signs of domestic violence among colleagues? (Yes/No)

4. How confident are you that the organization would protect your confidentiality if you disclosed abuse? (1–5 scale)

5. Has the workplace ever provided information on local domestic violence resources? (Yes/No)

Policy compliance questions clarify whether organizations are meeting their promises—or need a little nudge in the right direction.

Dos and Don’ts: Best Practices for Domestic Violence Surveys

Drafting a domestic violence survey isn’t just about clever wording; it’s about weaving safety, compassion, and effectiveness into every question. The stakes are high, so don’t skip this checklist!

Do:

• Obtain informed consent and offer immediate resources at survey end

• Use trauma-informed, non-judgmental language and avoid victim-blaming phrasing

• Allow anonymous or confidential participation; encrypt data

• Pilot-test questions with survivors and experts for clarity and sensitivity

• Comply with legal mandates (like mandatory reporting) and ethics reviews

• Offer participant emotional support (list hotlines, have a counselor on call)

Don’t:

• Force participants to answer every question—always include “Prefer not to say”

• Conduct surveys when the abuser may be present or monitoring devices

• Neglect cultural considerations—translate and adapt questions thoughtfully

• Store identifying information any longer than absolutely necessary

Properly following these survey best practices means you’ll get honest, useful answers—while keeping everyone safe, respected, and empowered.

Conclusion & Next Steps

Domestic violence surveys are powerful tools to guide evidence-based, survivor-centered responses. They shape better programs, smarter policies, and safer communities. Take time to use best practices, seek feedback, and apply what you learn. Each data point is a step toward hope. Keep asking, keep listening, and keep building a future free from violence.