Survey in a paper is distorted (8)
I believe the answer is:
appraise
'survey' is the definition.
('appraise' can be a synonym of 'survey')
'a paper is distorted' is the wordplay.
'distorted' is an anagram indicator.
'paper'+'is'='paperis'
'paperis' with letters rearranged gives 'ppraise'.
'a'+'ppraise'='APPRAISE'
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for appraise that I've seen before include "Estimate or assess the value of" , "Make assessment of value or quality" , "Assess, set a price on" , "Appears I have to assess the value of" , "Assess the value/quality of (something)" .)