5 APPENDIX 1: QUESTIONNAIRE
Moving on to a different topic…
INTRODUCTION: INTERVIEWER READ OUT.
The next section of the questionnaire is on Scots.
Scots uses words, phrases and expressions that are different from standard English and it also varies across different parts of Scotland. Scots spoken in the North East, for example, the Doric, is very different from the Scots used in the South West of Scotland, or the East of Scotland or Lallans, the Scots used in Lowland and Central Scotland.
I am going to play you a recording of some examples of Scots that you might hear today.
PLAY RECORDING
SHOW SCREEN
Q1. Firstly I am going to read out some statements that other people have made about using Scots. Please tell me how much you agree or disagree with each one, using this scale.
Agree strongly
Agree slightly
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree slightly
Disagree strongly
(Don't know)
ROTATE ORDER OF STATEMENTS
I don't really think of Scots as a language, it's more just a way of speaking
I probably do use Scots when speaking but am not really aware of it
When people use Scots it doesn't sound nice - it's slang
If I heard Scots spoken more, I would be more likely to speak it myself
SHOW SCREEN
Q2. How much do you yourself speak Scots, if at all? Please choose your answer from the following scale.
A lot
Fairly often
Occasionally
Rarely
Never
(Don't know)
IF SPEAK SCOTS (CODES 1 TO 4) ASK Q3a, IF NEVER SKIP TO Q3c
SHOW SCREEN
Q3a. Where do you tend to speak in Scots? PROBE: Where else?
At home with family
When socialising with friends
When out and about, shopping, at the bank, at the GP surgery, library, etc.
At work
Elsewhere (specify)
Q3b. And where do you tend to speak it most?
ONE ANSWER ONLY
LIST AS PER Q3a
IF SPEAK RARELY OR NEVER AT Q2 ASK Q3c, OTHERS SKIP TO Q4
Q3c Why do you [INSERT RESPONSE 'RARELY' OR 'NEVER' FROM Q2] speak in Scots?
PROBE FULLY: Why do you not use it (more)?
OPEN
ASK ALL
SHOWSCREEN
Q4. And how often, if at all, do you …
ROTATE ORDER OF STATEMENTS
use Scots when writing?
read news, literature, stories, etc. in the Scots language?
Please choose your answer from the following scale for each.
A lot
Fairly often
Occasionally
Rarely
Never
(Don't know)
SHOWSCREEN
Q5. Thinking more generally how important is it to you personally that Scots is used in Scotland these days?
Very important
Fairly important
Not very important
Not at all important
(Don't know)
Q6. And why do you say that it is [INSERT "IMPORTANT / NOT IMPORTANT" DEPENDING ON RESPONSE AT Q5] that Scots is used in Scotland these days?
PROBE FULLY
OPEN
SHOWSCREEN
Q7. I am going to read out some more statements made by other people about Scots. Please tell me how much you agree or disagree with each, choosing your answer from this scale.
Agree strongly
Agree slightly
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree slightly
Disagree strongly
(Don't know)
ROTATE ORDER OF STATEMENTS, EXCEPT e) WHICH SHOULD BE FIXED AS LAST
- Scots is a valuable part of our culture and identity
- Scots is not relevant to the modern Scotland of today
- Scots plays an important part in our history and heritage
- Scots is an important aspect of our identity in my part of Scotland
- Scots is spoken a lot in the area of Scotland where I live
IF AGREE AT Q7e ASK Q8, IF DISAGREE SKIP TO Q9.
SHOW SCREEN
Q8. How would you rate your understanding of Scots spoken in your area of Scotland?
Very good
Fairly good
Neither good nor poor
Fairly poor
Very poor
(Don't know)
ASK ALL
SHOW SCREEN
Q9. How important is it to you that Scots is used nowadays in …
ROTATE ORDER OF STATEMENTS
Scottish culture, including arts, literature, drama, music, etc.
Scottish civic and political life
Scottish business
Scottish law
Scottish broadcasting i.e. on television, radio, internet
OBTAIN ONE ANSWER FOR EACH ASPECT
Please choose your answer from the following scale.
Very important
Fairly important
Not very important
Not at all important
(Don't know)
SHOW SCREEN
Q10. Thinking about how much the Scots language is currently used in these areas, do you think there is enough, not enough or too much use of Scots in …
ASK FOR EACH OF a) to e). OBTAIN ONE ANSWER FOR EACH.
ROTATE ORDER OF STATEMENTS
- Scottish culture, including arts, literature, drama, music, etc.
- Scottish civic and political life
- Scottish business
- Scottish law
- Scottish broadcasting i.e. on the television, radio, internet
Too much
Enough
Not enough
(Don't know)
SHOW SCREEN
Q11. Thinking now about education how much do you agree or disagree with the following statements.
ROTATE ORDER OF STATEMENTS
Learning the Scots language has educational benefits for children at school in Scotland
Learning the Scots language can contribute to a sense of national cultural identity
The Scots language should not be taught in schools in Scotland
Agree strongly
Agree slightly
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree slightly
Disagree strongly
(Don't know)
SHOWSCREEN
Q12. Do you think children in Scotland should be encouraged to speak Scots?
Yes, definitely
Yes, probably
No
(Don't know)
Q13 Why do you say that children [INSERT should/should not ACCORDING TO RESPONSE AT Q12] be encouraged to speak Scots?
PROBE FULLY
OPEN