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ANNEX B: TOPIC GUIDE - FOCUS GROUPS
Research introduction
- Moderator and research introduction, explain nature of research: Here to explore attitudes of drivers in Scotland to drinking alcohol and driving.
- Discussion guidelines:
- No right or wrong answers; only personal opinions matter - can and probably will disagree with each other, but politely!
- Views and feelings may change throughout the discussion - that's fine
- Emphasise that no one is here to judge anyone; what is important is they give honest views and opinions
- TNS an independent research agency, so please feel free to be very honest about thoughts
- All comments made are strictly confidential and will not be attributed to individuals ( MRS code of conduct)
- Turn off mobile phones
- Taped for internal analysis purposes only
- Session will last around an hour and 30 minutes
Respondent introductions
Who they are; where they live; occupation; main use of car; main social activity Probe Any changes in drinking patterns in recent years - where / when / how much
Drinking and driving
Group are asked to write down individually what they think of when they hear the words 'drinking and driving' - interested in their spontaneous thoughts.
The moderator then asks respondents to share thoughts with the group and writes up on a flipchart. Group explores feedback
- What is 'drinking and driving'. What do people understand by this. What signify in relation to amount consumed - any alcohol, or only over the limit. If the latter, how describe having one or two drinks and then driving.
- Explore the differences / distinctions spontaneously, and then in relation to:
- Legality. How much purely a legal issue / distinction
- Effect on driving ability / behaviour
- Attitudes towards each type of behaviour ie under or over the limit
- The participants. Who typically might indulge in each type of behaviour in terms of characteristics. Differences between the driver who has a couple of drinks and the drunk driver. Any stereotypes? How accurate / true to life.
- How much of an issue is drinking alcohol and driving nowadays?
- Have people's attitudes towards drinking and driving changed in the last couple of years? In what way? Amongst whom? Do more people have a drink and drive? Do fewer? Source of impressions
- Are drivers becoming more or less resistant in their attitudes towards drinking and driving? Is this reflected in their behaviour? Are some people becoming blasé about drinking and driving nowadays? Explore who and possible reasons
- Have your views on drink driving changed over time? How have they changed? What led to the change?
Motivations and attitudes towards drinking and driving
- Explore circumstances in which have a drink and then drive later on:
- Types of occasion / when / where / with whom
- Whether usually pre-planned or not
- Reasons for having a drink at all then / attractions / motivations
- Amount might have to drink / extent to which moderate or not
- Any social occasions, similar or otherwise, when have the car and might decide not to have an alcoholic drink. Explore types of occasion and circumstances which might make a difference - day, time, location, who with etc
- Generally, how feel about having a drink and then driving. Are there any issues or concerns about this. Explore
Risks, consequences and deterrents
Introduce bubble drawing showing a man and his partner on a night out. They have both had two glasses of wine with a meal. They have the car. What I'd like you to do is fill in the thought bubbles - first, what is he thinking? Next, what is his partner thinking? (Possible alternative version for young males based on 2 young men who have had 2 pints each)
- Describe the situation:
- What are they both thinking, and why
- What are the issues and the likely outcome
- Whether relate personally to this situation. How would you feel about it. What would you do
- Ever feel that there is an element of risk in driving after having a drink. Explore
- What are the possible risks / issues connected to drinking alcohol and driving?
(Ask to shout out possible risks and record on cards / flip chart) - What are the consequences /effects if caught drink driving?
- To what extent feel each of these are issues for self in approach to having a drink and then driving
- Rank in order of perceived severity / which would concern most
- How much would these risks dissuade from drinking alcohol and then driving? Whether ever weigh up before deciding to drive or not
- How many drinks consider safe to have and then drive later? 1 or 2, or more? What is the 'safe amount' based on / how do we judge what is the safe amount?
- How much is generally considered too much? What is this limit dependent on? Probe: Experience of driver, circumstances driving (road conditions, daylight, hazards), when had the drink, how far need to drive, how strong the drink, passenger?
- How common is it for people to drive when they are over the limit?
- What kinds of people do you think are most likely to do it?
- Why do you think they do it? What might be done to stop them doing it?
Proposition exercise
Moderator places propositions on table, asking respondents to sort them into 2 groups - those they agree with and those they disagree with.
- Explore reasons for sorting and positioning of various statements generally
- Discuss each individually in terms of personal relevance to own situation / behaviour / attitudes to having a drink and then driving
- What is the risk of getting stopped and breathalysed. Aware that police can breathalyse for any road traffic offence eg brake light out? How feel about that - any more or a risk to have a drink then drive or not?
Driving when over the limit
- Ever driven when probably shouldn't have in relation to legal limit?
- Describe circumstances. Had you expected to drive? Why did you decide to drive? How did you feel about it, at the time and later on?
- Have you ever felt pressurised to drive when you didn't want to?
- Have you ever been in a car with someone else who had been drinking and possibly over the limit? How did you feel about that? How did they come to be driving? Did you talk to them about it?
- Why wouldn't you drive after drinking (more than your personal limit)? What kinds of things affect the way you feel about it?
Final exercise
Invite respondents to close their eyes and imagine they have been stopped by the police after having a couple of drinks, but believing they were safe to drive. They have been breathalysed and the police have just told them that they have failed. Take a few minutes to think about themselves in this situation. How do they feel? What is going through their mind? What effect is this going to have on their life and lifestyle? What is worrying them most at this time? Who are they going to tell, and how will they react to this?
Summing up
- How feel about the evening's discussion. Anything affected own attitudes towards having a drink and driving? What, and in what way.
Thank and close
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