« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
APPENDIX 1: TOPIC GUIDE FOR STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS
INTRODUCTION (5 mins)
- Thank you very much for agreeing to be interviewed
- Introduce self & Ipsos MORI
- We are conducting the research for the Environment and Rural Affairs Department of the Scottish Executive, to explore the opinions and priorities of the Scottish public and key stakeholders in relation to the implementation of the Water Framework Directive
- Purpose of interview/objectives:
- We know your organisation has already been involved in discussions about the implementation and we don't want repeat that. [acknowledge if they are NSF member]
- Primarily to capture your views as an informed member of the public, rather than a representative of your organisation.
- Capture your views on the big picture about priorities for improving, or maintaining standards in, the water environment?
- We won't name you or your organisation but can't promise confidentiality as small number of key stakeholders and someone might be able to identify you. But if you don't want quoted on a particular point or want to retract anything you wish you'd rather not have said, that's fine.
- Length (45-60 minutes)
- Permission to record
- Any questions before we start?
WARM-UP AND ROLE (5 mins)
- What is your role in your company/organisation?
- How much do you know about the Water Framework Directive? How well do you think it has been communicated? What do you think is not clear?
- How have you been involved in the various activities relating to the WFD and associated legislation? Your organisation? You, personally?
STRESS, NOW GOING TO ASK YOU TO RESPOND SIMPLY AS AN INFORMED MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC, RATHER THAN AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF YOUR ORGANISATION.
REACTIONS TO THE PUBLIC'S VIEWS (5 mins)
Here are some findings from a recent survey we did for the Scottish Executive (hand participant sheet with a few key findings on the issues relating to the future e.g. priorities; risks; will it be better or worse; likelihood of water shortages etc).
- Which of these results do you find most surprising? Why?
- And which did you find least surprising? Why?
Overall would you say that the general public's level of awareness and concern with the quality of the water environment is low low or about right? Why?
IF TOO LOW, What would be the ideal level of awareness? What do you think are the priorities for action in terms of informing the public about the various issues? PROBE: What issues? What type of actions?
And in particular, would you say that the general public's level of awareness and concern with issues related to water supply is too low or about right? Why?
IF TOO LOW, What would be the ideal level of awareness? What do you think are the priorities for action in terms of informing the public about the various issues? PROBE: What issues? What type of actions?
RESEARCH WITH THE PUBLIC (5 MINS)
We are about to conduct further research into the public's attitudes towards the water environment. This research will be in the form of focus groups so will allow for more in-depth information to be gathered.
Is there anything that you think would be particularly important to ask the public?
What do you think their priorities for the future will be?
In general, how should the general public contribute to future planning relating to the implementation of the Water Framework Directive?
What are the main barriers to this involvement? How could these be overcome?
BIG PICTURE (15 mins)
What's your view of the current state of the water environment in Scotland? PROBE: what's good? What's bad? How does it compare with the water environment in other parts of Europe?
What do you think are the biggest threats to the water environment in Scotland?
What improvements would you like to see made before 2015?
Ideally, what position would you like Scotland's water environment to be in by 2015? And what position do you think it actually will be in? Why?
PRIORITIES (20 mins)
Should we try and raise the quality of the water environment across the board or focus on specific areas? Why? What specific areas?
- PROBE specific geographical areas. (e.g. Loch Lomond, Solway Firth) Which ones? Why?
- PROBE particular types of geographical area (e.g. urban/rural, Central Belt/Highland) Which ones? Why?
- PROBE specific types of water body (e.g. coastal water, lochs, large rivers, wetlands, canals). Which ones? Why?
- PROBE in relation to specific activities (e.g. abstraction, damming, pollution, sewage). Which ones? Why? PROBE ON EACH SPECIFIC ACTIVITY
- PROBE in relation to particular threats (ensuring adequate supply, flood defences, water quality and domestic supply, water quality and impact on wildlife/fishing)
- PROBE pros/cons of numerous small improvements or few large-scale improvements.
What's less of a priority? Why?
Where do you think the biggest conflicts/clash of priorities will lie? PROBE: environmental, social, economic?
How should these conflicts be resolved? PROBE:
- in terms of how they are resolved (e.g. who should be involved?)
- in terms of what should be taken into account?
How should the needs of different users be prioritised PROBE: human v wildlife? Agriculture v industry v energy v domestic supply v leisure v tourism.
ANYTHING ELSE? (5 MINS)
Is there anything we have not covered which you think is important?
Do you have anything else at all you would like to add?
Explain next steps
THANK AND CLOSE
« Previous | Contents | Next »