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CHAPTER SEVEN THE VIEWS OF DATA PROVIDERS: THE
CONSULTATION PROCESS
INTRODUCTION
7.1 During the interviews and group discussions,
respondents were shown the leaflet about the consultation
process (see Appendix) and asked for their views. Although
respondents had not been aware that the consultation was
taking place, attitudes were very positive. Stage 3
respondents had very few comments on the consultation
process as a whole or on the approach used, other than to
express approval.
Attitude to the consultation process
7.2 Although respondents had not been aware that the
consultation was taking place, reactions were
overwhelmingly positive towards the fact that it was
happening. Respondents appreciated having the chance to
have a say in the matter:
"The fact that you are all standing up and being
counted and you have a little bit of a say…being
included." (Female, Age 35-49, Interview No.22)
7.3 Although respondents acknowledged that the primary
focus of the research was to aid in developing a framework
for classifying ethnicity, they were aware that the effects
of such a framework could be far-reaching. For example, it
was felt to have a wider role in assisting in the
monitoring of discrimination and the promotion of
acceptance of different ethnic groups. People thought that
changing categories and terminology within the Census form
would have an effect on the terminology used elsewhere,
whether in everyday language or in other forms. Some
respondents felt it was a measure of society's progress
that a consultation was taking place.
"I think it's good because there are more cultures
and it's not the same [white] Scottish people. …There
are people who are born in different ethnic
backgrounds. … I'm actually surprised by a lot of
people who are ignorant when it comes to ethnicity. …
Some people use terminology that they think is
OK but it's [actually] quite
offensive to someone of a different ethnicity."
(Female, Age 23, Interview No.33)
"I think it's very good because I think it's nice to get
the feelings of people from ethnic backgrounds, how they
feel, because maybe things are putting in these forms and
data collection which may look… offensive, but if you can
change the way they are presented, we might get a more
positive response… so I think it's nice to talk to all
people and take their views [on words] which are offensive,
words like colour, white, black, [in order to find out]
which is the better way to get the detail you're looking
for without making them angry, so I think it's a very
positive move." (Male, Age 52, Interview No.30)
7.4 It was felt that reclassifying the ethnicity
framework in the Census would allow higher-quality data,
and that this data could then be shared with other bodies
such as the
NHS and private companies.
7.5 Respondents considered that another effect of a
revised Census classification might be to change how they
thought about themselves and their own ethnicity, feeling
that it would help them to clarify their thoughts.
"Very good, I think it is very good… I would like
to define myself more rather than just saying
generally, oh Chinese, but that is really different, in
that it really defines you." (Female, Age 25, Interview
No.16)
7.6 No negative views were expressed about the
consultation process, but some respondents did express
reservations. One person was not sure how the Scottish
Executive would manage to carry out what seemed to be a
complicated project, and another was unsure how revising
the ethnicity framework would help monitor discrimination
in itself, reasoning that people would still have to report
discrimination to the Scottish Executive.
Views on the approach
7.7 Respondents enjoyed the process of data collection.
Those in both depth interviews and discussion groups felt
that the process allowed them time to consider their
feelings about ethnicity and to discuss it at length and in
depth. The private nature of in-depth interviews was
appreciated - one respondent said that she would not have
reacted well to being approached in a public place and
asked about her ethnicity. Respondents hoped that the
interviews would give the Scottish Executive a new
perspective in considering the issue of ethnicity and
ethnicity frameworks. They also approved of the opportunity
to write or submit suggestions and views online as part of
the wider consultation process. One respondent felt that
the research did not allow sufficient numbers of people to
be interviewed.
Suggestions for the consultation process
itself
7.8 Very few suggestions were received. Those that
respondents did give were as follows:
- Make the reasons that it is important to know
people's ethnicity clear while the consultation process
is being carried out.
- Look at the very broad categories - Asian, Black
and White - and see how they can be subdivided, as they
are such broad categories.
- Jewish respondents felt that the religious element
to ethnicity had the potential to confuse people's
thinking about the issue and to make data gathering
difficult. A separate consultation exploring the issue
of religion in a similarly sensitive way was therefore
suggested.
- Make sure the people consulted come from a broad
spectrum of society: respondents emphasised the need to
get a good youth perspective, a diverse white
perspective, and the perspectives of as many different
ethnicities as possible.
"I think it is quite important to get a good idea
of how people who are maybe taking part in their first
census in 2011 would feel about it, because I do think
attitudes will change an awful lot between now and
then. And should know how people sort of that age now
would feel about themselves and because you don't
really want to be filling in a census form and feel you
are just filling in one of the minority boxes, you
know." (Female, Age 18-24, Interview No.24)
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