Evaluation of the Adaptation Scotland Programme

Appendix 1: Evaluation of the Adaptation Scotland Programme: Interview Guides and Information Sheets - C.1: Text from information sheet for organisations receiving Adaptation Scotland Programme support

Adaptation Scotland Evaluation

The Scottish Government has asked Ipsos Scotland (an independent research organisation) to carry out an evaluation of the Adaptation Scotland Programme. The Programme provides advice and support to help Scotland be prepared for, and resilient to, the effects of climate change.

The aim of the evaluation is to provide an independent assessment of how, and how well, the programme’s activities are contributing to expected outcomes. We hope you can share your experiences.

Evaluation findings will be used to inform ongoing programme delivery, and potential re-procurement and re-design of the programme.

Why have I been invited to take part?

Ipsos will be speaking to a range of public sector organisations, businesses, community groups, and national organisations across Scotland. Ipsos will also speak to people involved in delivering and overseeing the Programme.

You've been invited to take part in the evaluation because your organisation has received Adaptation Scotland support.

What does taking part involve?

• Taking part involves an interview with a researcher from Ipsos, lasting up to 60 minutes and taking place at a convenient time for you.
• The interview will be by phone or video call depending on your preference. We may be able to speak to some people face to face.
• The researcher will ask you about your experiences of engaging with the Adaptation Scotland programme, what you feel has worked well and what you think could be improved. They will ask what impact, if any, the Programme has had on your organisation.
• The interview will be relaxed and informal and you don't need to prepare for it. There are no right or wrong answers, we just want to understand your views and experiences.

How will my information be used?

If you agree, the Ipsos interviewer will audio-record the conversation, so they can refer back to what you said. If you prefer not to be recorded, they will just take notes. The recording will be securely stored in a folder only accessible to the team at Ipsos. Ipsos will use their secure AI assistant to transcribe the recording.

Ipsos will use the information from the interviews, along with data from other sources, to write a report for the Scottish Government.

Quotes will be anonymised, and identifiable information will be removed in reporting as far as possible. However, where there are unique experiences, it may be helpful to identify areas and attribute quotes accordingly. We will check whether you are happy for us to do this at the beginning of your interview. There is a chance that some parts of the report may be identifying (even if it you are not quoted directly) due to the small number of people in relevant roles.

After the interview, we will check if there is anything that you would not like to be quoted in the report. We will also share with you any elements of the draft report we feel may be identifying, including any potential identifiable quotes, before sharing it with the Scottish Government. We can remove identifying information/quotes upon request. However, it will not be possible to change the overall findings of the report.

Do I have to take part?

No. It is entirely your choice whether you take part. You can also change your mind at any time without giving us a reason. You can choose not to answer individual questions if you don't feel comfortable with them, and/or stop the discussion completely. Ipsos will always respect such decisions.

How will we handle your personal data?

Please read the accompanying privacy notice for this project. This tells you more about how Ipsos securely handles your personal data.

How can I take part?

If you would like to take part, or have any questions about taking part, please get in touch with Ipsos. Email: [Redacted]

Please let us know if there is anything that would make it easier for you to take part. We will discuss your needs with you and try to make it as easy as possible for you to take part.

If you have more general questions about the evaluation, please contact Scottish Government. Email: [Redacted]

Your involvement in this research is incredibly valuable, and we appreciate you spending the time reading the above and considering your participation.