Understanding extremism in Scotland: public perceptions and experiences

Appendix D: Summary of Discussion Guides

Focus Group

Section: Set up

Topics Covered:

• Introduction explaining length of the focus group, that it is anonymous and confidential, and asking permission to record the session
• Opportunity for participants to ask any questions
• Participant introductions

Section: Understanding the term extremism

Topics Covered:

• Confidence in understanding of the term extremism
• Participants' own definitions of extremism
• Where participants get their information about extremism

Section: Distinctions between extremism and related terms

Topics Covered:

• Distinction between extremism and terrorism, hate crime, and sectarianism
• Distinction between conducting, encouraging, and condoning violent or hateful acts

Section: Thresholds of extremism

Topics Covered:

• Participants' judgements on whether various examples constitute extremist acts

Section: Extent and types of extremism in Scotland

Topics Covered:

• Extent to which participants feel extremism is a problem in Scotland currently
• Variability of extremism across parts of Scotland
• Types of extremism prevalent in Scotland
• Perceptions of increased or decreased threat from extremism in Scotland in last five years
• Predictions of increased or decreased threat from extremism in Scotland in the next five years

Section: Conclusions and wrap up

Topics Covered:

• Participants thanked for their time
• Opportunity to ask any questions and discuss any other topics
• Signposting to resources if discussion was distressing
• Additional information about incentive payments and subsequent parts of the research

Interview

Section: Set up

Topics covered:

• Introduction explaining length of the interview, that it is anonymous and confidential, asking permission to record the session, and reassuring participants they do not need to answer any questions they don't want to
• Opportunity for participants to ask any questions

Section: Understanding the term extremism

Topics covered:

• Participant's own definition of extremism
• If views and actions can be extremist
• Examples of extremist views and actions
• Causes of extremist views and actions
• Changes in intensity of these causes

Section: Experiencing/Observing/Witnessing Extremism

Topics covered:

• Participant observations of extremism in Scotland in last 5 years
• If terrorism is mentioned, follow up questions on this topic

Section: Definitions of extremism

Topics covered:

• Presentation and evaluation of the UK, Australian, Swedish definitions of extremism
• Presentation and evaluation of categorisation approach to extremism

Section: Knowledge and views on tackling extremism, including Prevent

Topics covered:

• General impressions of how well various organisations tackle extremism
• Awareness of Prevent and whether interviewees would use it
• If unaware of Prevent, interviewees were presented with a definition and asked whether they would use it

Section: Conclusions and wrap-up

Topics covered:

• Interviewee thanked for their time
• Offered opportunity to ask any questions and discuss any other topics