Inequalities in access to blue coastal space: research report

Appendix B – Discussion guides for qualitative fieldwork

Guide for focus group discussions

Introduction / ground rules / warm-up

6.00 – 6.10 [10 mins]

Facilitator to introduce self, any observers/note takers and thank participants for attending.

We (Ipsos Scotland, an independent research organisation) are carrying out some research about access to Scotland's coast. The research is being conducted on behalf of Marine Scotland, the Directorate in the Scottish Government that is responsible for the integrated management of Scotland's seas.

The discussion will last an hour and a half this evening, so we'll be here until 7:30. If you have any problems with your connection and you drop out you can let the moderator know on [work mobile number]

• Conversation will be relaxed and informal
• No right or wrong answers, just keen to hear what everyone thinks
• Not everyone thinks the same, so you may well hear views you don't agree with - please feel free to disagree, just keep it polite
• Please try to avoid talking over one another
• Plenty to get through, so I may have to move people on from time to time
• Explain independence of Ipsos and that everything shared will be treated anonymously. No identifying information will be included in report.
• Taking part completely voluntary, don't have to answer any questions you don't want to
• Explain audio-recording and ask for consent to use

Icebreaker: Ask people to introduce themselves and say where they live, and what they like to do in their spare time.

Section 1 – General perceptions of the coast

6.10 – 6.25 [15 mins]

Aim: To warm up participants to the discussion, and to understand their top-of mind perceptions of the coast, including early experiences

Thinking about how you spend your time...

In your free time, what places do you most like to go to? [Note whether the coast is mentioned]

• What is it about those places that you enjoy?
• How does going to the coast compare with visiting those places?

What comes to mind when you think of the coast?

[Probe for words, images, associations]

Thinking back to when you were a child, what are your early memories of visiting the coast, if any?

• What did you do there?
• How often did you visit?
• Did you enjoy going? Why/why not?
• Does this make any difference to how you feel about visiting the coast now?
• If they never/very rarely visited: do you remember why that might have been?

Tell me about the last time you visited the coast in Scotland…

• When did you go?
• Which part of the coast did you go to?
• Why did you go?
• Did you go with anyone else?
• What was the experience like?

Does how frequently you visit the coast change throughout the year at all?

[If yes, probe on why]

Thinking about the nearest part of the coast to you…

• How often do you visit it, if at all?
• What is the experience of going there like? [Probe for good and bad things about the experience]

Section 2 – Benefits and drawbacks of visiting the coast

6.25 – 6.40 [15 mins]

Aim: To understand the perceived benefits and drawbacks of visiting the coast

You all took part in our survey late last year, and said either that you hadn't visited the coast in the last year or that you had been less often than once a month.

What, if any, do you think the benefits of visiting the coast would be for you personally, if you did choose to visit it more? [Probe fully]: Any other benefits?

• Exercise/ walking/ physical health benefits
• Mental health benefits (e.g. managing stress, relaxing)
• Spending time in nature
• Activities they enjoy (e.g. water sports)
• Opportunity to visit amenities (e.g. cafes/restaurants)
• Social contact/ spending time with others

[Note how people describe the benefits in their own words]

Is there anything that puts you off visiting the coast, or that you don't enjoy about it?

[Probe fully]: Anything else?

• Lack of / poor facilities (e.g. toilets, benches, path networks)
• Difficult to get to/ poor transport links
• Cost of getting there and back
• Takes a long time to get there
• Difficult to navigate/ get around once there
• Anti-social behaviour
• Poor quality environment (e.g. litter)
• Poor water quality
• Safety
• Crowds
• Weather
• Don't feel it's for people like me [probe on reasons]

Are there any areas of Scotland's coast you would particularly like to visit? Why do you say that?

Section 3 – Experiences of visiting the coast

6.40 – 7:00 [20 mins]

Aim: To understand motivations and barriers to visiting the coast

Now I'd like to ask specifically about your experiences of visiting (or not visiting) the coast.

In general, how easy or difficult do you find it to visit the coast? And what types of things make it easy/difficult?

• If difficult: What if anything would make it easier to get there?
• Probe on transport specifically: How do you need to travel to get there? (NOTE: Do they know how to get there?)

If they visit the coast: When you do visit the coast, what would you say are the main reasons you visit?

[Probe fully – e.g. mental health, physical health, socialising/ social contact, to walk a dog, enjoyment, feeling close to nature, spending time outdoors, nostalgia, etc.

If they don't visit it often/ at all: What are the main reasons you don't visit the coast (more often)? [Probe fully]

[Probe on e.g. external factors (don't have others to go with/ social factors; knowledge e.g. not sure how to get there/ where to go once I get there; time; costs of getting there; practicalities e.g. facilities I need aren't available, lack of parking; cultural factors; internal factors (e.g. not personally motivated to do so; lack of confidence; physical ability)

Of all the reasons you've mentioned, which are the most important reasons for not visiting the coast for you personally?

Would you like to visit the coast any more often than you currently do, or not?

• If yes: And what prevents you from visiting more often? [Probe fully]
• If no: Why is that? Is there anything that puts you off doing it more often?

Is there anything about your own situation specifically that makes you more or less likely to visit the coast?

What types of people do you think are most likely to visit this part of the coast?

• What makes you say that?
• And how about the coast across Scotland more generally?

Section 4 – Potential policy interventions

7:00 – 7.25 [25 minutes]

Aim: To gauge views on some potential policy interventions that could be used to help encourage people to access the coast in Scotland

What, if anything, would need to change to encourage you to visit the coast more often? [Probe fully]

How about your family and friends – how often do they visit the coast? What, if anything would need to change to encourage them to visit the coast more often?

I'm interested in hearing what you think of some different changes that could be made in coastal areas in Scotland.

[Moderator to spend 4-5 minutes on each of the following policy interventions. rotate order in which these are discussed across groups. use stimulus slide for each.]

1. Improved transport links to the coast, which could include:

a. More frequent train and bus services

b. Running late-night services during summer to allow people to spend the day at the coast

c. Creating more direct services linking up areas across Scotland with the coast

2. Making public transport to the coast more affordable

For those of you who are under 22, has the under 22s free bus pass made any difference to how often you visit the coast? How about your friends, has it made any difference to how often they visit the coast?

3. Developing the area along the coast, such as creating waterfront promenades with benches and tables, more walking paths or cycle lanes, building viewpoints, or putting more lighting along the coast so that people can use beaches and coastal paths at night time.

4. Offering more groups or club activities, such as walking groups, wild swimming clubs, community beach cleans, or water sports activities e.g. kayaking, rowing or fishing.

5. Improving the quality and cleanliness of water at the coast (e.g. legal standards for bathing water quality)

Probes for each:

• Initial reactions
• Would this make you personally any more likely to visit the coast?
• How about your family and friends - do you think this would make them any more or less likely to visit the coast?

From all the ideas we've talked about, which one or two would make most difference to how likely you are to visit the coast – if any?

Section 5 – Wrap up

7.25 – 7.30 [5 minutes]

From everything we have discussed tonight about the coast, what one thing stands out for you as most important? [Go round group so all have the opportunity to feedback]

Any final points that you would like to add?

Guide for depth interviews with general public

Introduction

2 minutes

Interviewer to introduce self & thank participant for taking part.

We (Ipsos Scotland, an independent research organisation) are carrying out some research about access to Scotland's coast.

The research is being conducted on behalf of Marine Scotland, the Directorate in the Scottish Government that is responsible for the integrated management of Scotland's seas.

The discussion will last for around one hour and as you know, you will receive £35 as a thank you for your time. We can sort that out at the end.

• The conversation will be relaxed and informal

• No right or wrong answers, just keen to hear what you think
• Explain independence of Ipsos and that everything shared will be treated anonymously. No identifying information will be included in report.
• Taking part completely voluntary, don't have to answer any questions you don't want to
• Explain audio-recording and ask for consent to use

Warm-up questions:
3 minutes

To start us off, can you tell me a bit about where you live and who you live with…

• Where do you live? How long have you lived there?
• Who do you live with? (If have children: How old are they? )

And are you currently working?

• If working probe: What kind of work do you do? Full time or part time? And are you currently working from home or travelling to your workplace?

And do you currently have any studying or caring responsibilities?

Ask to disabled respondents only: Could you tell me a bit more about the nature of your health condition or disability?

[Probe on type of condition (physical/mental) but stress that participant does not have to go into detail if they do not want to]

Section 1 – General perceptions of the coast
10 minutes

Aim: To warm up participant to the discussion, and to understand their top-of mind perceptions of the coast, including early experiences

Thinking about how you spend your time...

In your free time, what places do you most like to go to?
[Note whether the coast is mentioned]

• What is it about those places that you enjoy?
• How does going to the coast compare with visiting those places?

What comes to mind when you think of the coast?
[Probe for words, images, associations]

Thinking back to when you were a child, what are your early memories of visiting the coast, if any?

• What did you do there?
• How often did you visit?
• Did you enjoy going? Why/why not?
• Does this make any difference to how you feel about visiting the coast now?
• If they never/very rarely visited the coast: do you remember why that might have been?

Tell me about the last time you visited the coast in Scotland…

• When did you go?
• Which part of the coast did you go to?
• Why did you go?
• Did you go with anyone else?
• What was the experience like?

Does how frequently you visit the coast change throughout the year at all?

[If yes, probe on why]

Thinking about the nearest part of the coast to you…

• How often do you visit it, if at all?
• What is the experience of going there like? PROBE FOR GOOD AND BAD THINGS ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE

Section 2 – Benefits and drawbacks of visiting the coast

10-12 minutes

Aim: To understand the perceived benefits and drawbacks of visiting the coast

You took part in our survey late last year, and said that you [hadn't visited the coast in the last year/ you had been less often than once a month].

What, if any, do you think the benefits of visiting the coast would be for you personally, if you did choose to visit it more? [Probe fully]: Any other benefits?

• Exercise/ walking/ physical health benefits
• Mental health benefits (e.g. managing stress, relaxing)
• Spending time in nature
• Activities they enjoy (e.g. water sports)
• Opportunity to visit amenities (e.g. cafes/restaurants)
• Social contact/ spending time with others

[Note how they describe the benefits in their own words]

Is there anything that puts you off visiting the coast, or that you don't enjoy about it?

[Probe fully - Anything else]

• Lack of / poor facilities (e.g. toilets, benches, path networks)
• Difficult to get to/ poor transport links
• Cost of getting there and back
• Takes a long time to get there
• Difficult to navigate/ get around once there
• Anti-social behaviour
• Poor quality environment (e.g. litter)
• Poor water quality
• Safety
• Crowds
• Weather
• Don't feel it's for people like me [PROBE ON REASONS]

Are there any areas of Scotland's coast you would particularly like to visit? Why do you say that?

Section 3 – Experiences of visiting the coast

15 minutes

Aim: To understand motivations and barriers to visiting the coast

Now I'd like to ask specifically about your experiences of visiting (or not visiting) the coast.

In general, how easy or difficult do you find it to visit the coast? And what types of things make it easy/difficult?

• If difficult: What if anything would make it easier to get there?
• Probe on transport specifically: How would you need to travel to get there? (NOTE: Do they know how to get there? Probe on transport links / cost / travel time)
• Probe fully on barriers: poor accessibility for people with physical disabilities, environmental factors, social factors such as not feeling welcome/included

If they visit the coast: When you do visit the coast, what would you say are the main reasons you visit? [Probe fully]

• social norms/peer pressure
• it's purposeful/ functional/ part of routine (e.g. walking a dog);
• mental health
• physical health
• socialising/ social contact
• to walk a dog
• feeling close to nature, spending time outdoors
• nostalgia

If they don't visit it often/ at all: What are the main reasons you don't visit the coast (more often)?

[Probe fully]

External factors:

• don't have others to go with/ social factors
• knowledge e.g. not sure how to get there/ where to go once I get there
• time
• costs of getting there
• practicalities e.g. facilities I need aren't available, lack of parking
• cultural factors

Internal factors:

• not personally motivated to do so
• lack of confidence
• physical ability

Of all the reasons you've mentioned, which are the most important reasons for not visiting the coast for you personally?

Would you like to visit the coast any more often than you currently do, or not?

• If yes: And what prevents you from visiting more often? [Probe fully for external and internal barriers to increased participation]
• If no: Why is that? Is there anything that puts you off doing it more often?

When visiting the coast, have you ever felt uncomfortable? [Probe on what happened and why they felt uncomfortable]

Is there anything about your own situation specifically that makes you more or less likely to visit the coast?

What types of people do you think are most likely to visit this part of the coast?

• What makes you say that?
• And how about the coast across Scotland more generally?

Section 4 – Potential policy interventions

15 minutes

Aim: To gauge views on some potential policy interventions that could be used to help encourage people to access the coast in Scotland

What, if anything, would need to change to encourage you to visit the coast more often? [Probe fully]

For disabled participants:

• What if anything would make it easier for you to visit Scotland's coast? [Probe for factors relating to accessibility]
• If group trips to the coast were available, would that make any difference to how likely you are to visit?

For participants from ethnic minorities:

• What if anything would make it easier for you to visit Scotland's coast? [Probe fully]
• If community or group trips to the coast were available, would that make any difference to how likely you are to visit?

How about your family and friends – how often do they visit the coast? What, if anything would need to change to encourage them to visit the coast more often?

I'm interested in hearing what you think of some different changes that could be made in coastal areas in Scotland.

Ask for their views on each of the 5 changes below. This is flexible - if they have already suggested this change earlier in the discussion, no need to cover again here.

1. Improved transport links to the coast, which could include:

a. More frequent train and bus services

b. Running late-night services during summer to allow people to spend the day at the coast

c. Creating more direct services linking up areas across Scotland with the coast

2. Making public transport to the coast more affordable

Probe for under 22s: has the under 22s free bus pass made any difference to how often you visit the coast? How about your friends, has it made any difference to how often they visit the coast?

3. Developing the area along the coast, such as creating waterfront promenades with benches and tables, more walking paths or cycle lanes, building viewpoints, or putting more lighting along the coast so that people can use beaches and coastal paths at night time.

4. Offering more groups or club activities, such as walking groups, wild swimming clubs, community beach cleans, or water sports activities e.g. kayaking, rowing or fishing.

5. Improving the quality and cleanliness of water at the coast (e.g. legal standards for bathing water quality)

Probe for each:

• Initial reactions – good/bad idea, any drawbacks
• Would this make you personally any more likely to visit the coast?
• If time: How about your family and friends - do you think this would make them any more or less likely to visit the coast?

From all the ideas we've talked about, which one or two would make most difference to how likely you are to visit the coast – if any?

Section 5 – Wrap up

2 minutes

Any final points that you would like to add about visiting the coast in Scotland?

Guide for depth interviews with stakeholders

Introduction

8 minutes

Interviewer to introduce self & thank participant for taking part.

We (Ipsos Scotland, an independent research organisation) are carrying out some research about access to Scotland's blue spaces. A 'blue space' is any body of water or places around them, such as beaches or rivers. We're focussing on visiting the coast.

The research is being conducted on behalf of Marine Scotland, the Directorate in the Scottish Government that is responsible for the integrated management of Scotland's seas.

The purpose of this study is to understand why people access the coast, how they make use of the coast, and what may make a difference to people's decision to visit or not.

• Explain independence of ipsos and that everything shared will be treated anonymously. No identifying information will be included in report.
• Taking part completely voluntary, don't have to answer any questions you don't want to. Let us know if something you'd prefer not to be quoted.
• Explain you would like to audio record, if consent begin recording.

To start us off, can you tell me a bit about your organisation and your role within it?

• Remit and aims
• Core people they work with
• Their role within it

Does your organisation support the people it works with to go to green spaces or to the coast in Scotland at all? [If yes, probe on the work it does]

Section 1 – Perceptions, benefits and drawbacks of visiting the coast

12 minutes

Aim: To understand perceptions of the coast and its perceived benefits and drawbacks of visiting the coast among certain groups

What comes to mind for you personally when you think about Scotland's coast? [Probe for words, images, associations]

And how do you think the people your organisation works with perceive Scotland's coast? [Probe fully: Why do you say that?]

How important is having access to the coast to the people you support?

What benefits do you think there are of visiting the coast for the people your organisation works with, if any?

E.g.

• Exercise / walking / physical health benefits
• Mental health benefits (e.g. managing stress, relaxing)
• Spending time in nature
• Activities they enjoy (e.g. water sports)
• Opportunity to visit amenities (e.g. cafes/restaurants)
• Social contact / spending time with others

Would you say there are any benefits that are particularly important to [disabled people / people in the Black African community/from an Asian background in Scotland']?

Do you think the people you work with experience any negative impacts of spending time at the coast?

We carried out a survey on Marine Scotland's behalf looking at which groups of people were less likely to visit the coast in Scotland. [Disabled people / people from ethnic minorities] were among these groups. Does that surprise you at all?

• Why/ why not?
• Why do you think it is that [disabled people/ people from ethnic minorities] are less likely to visit Scotland's coast?

Section 3 – Accessibility and barriers

15 minutes

Aim: To understand barriers to visiting the coast for these groups

In general, how easy or difficult it is for the people you support to visit the coast? What types of things make it easy/difficult?

Probe on barriers:

• Social factors
  • such as not feeling welcome/included
  • not something their family / friends / community do
  • not formed the habit / don't think to go
• Transport
  • Difficult to get to / poor transport links
  • Cost of getting there and back
  • Takes a long time to get there
• Characteristics of coastal areas
  • Difficult to navigate / get around once there
  • Lack of / poor facilities (e.g. toilets, benches, path networks)
  • Anti-social behaviour
  • Poor quality environment (e.g. litter)
  • Poor water quality
  • Safety
  • Crowds
  • Weather

Are some parts of the coast easier for to access than others (if so, why)?

If organisation has a focus on supporting people to access nature/the coast: Could you tell me a bit more about how your organisation supports people to access nature and/or the coast?

• How do they mitigate/overcome access barriers?
• What are the key factors that help encourage or enable people to access the coast?
• Is there anything they have tried previously that did not work so well?
• What factors remain a challenge?

Is there anything that you think would encourage the people your organisation works with to visit the coast more often, or make it easier for them to do so?

[Probe on motivation (including social/cultural factors), as well as capability/ opportunity/ practical barriers]

Section 4 – Potential policy interventions

15 minutes

Aim: To gauge views on some potential policy interventions that could be used to help encourage people to access the coast in Scotland

I'm interested in hearing what you think of some specific changes that could be made in coastal areas in Scotland and whether these would make any difference to whether the people your organisation works with visit the coast.

Probe for each:

• What difference this change would make to the people they support in encouraging them/enabling them to visit the coast more often?
• What is good about this
• Any drawbacks

1. Improved transport links to the coast, which could include:

a. More frequent train and bus services

b. Running late-night services during summer to allow people to spend the day at the coast

c. Creating more direct services linking up areas across Scotland with the coast

2. Making public transport to the coast more affordable

Probe for under 22s: has the under 22s free bus pass made any difference to how often you visit the coast? How about your friends, has it made any difference to how often they visit the coast?

3. Developing the area along the coast, such as creating waterfront promenades with benches and tables, more walking paths or cycle lanes, building viewpoints, or putting more lighting along the coast so that people can use beaches and coastal paths at night time.

4. Offering more groups or club activities, such as walking groups, wild swimming clubs, community beach cleans, or water sports activities e.g. kayaking, rowing or fishing.

5. Improving the quality and cleanliness of water at the coast (e.g. legal standards for bathing water quality)

Section 5 – Wrap up

2 minutes

What one thing feels most important to bear in mind when it comes to the people your organisation works with visiting the coast?

Are there any final points that you would like to add before we finish?