Scottish Crime and Justice Survey: 2018-19 questionnaire review
In consultation with users, we reviewed the SCJS questionnaire ahead of the 2018/19 (fieldwork commenced in April 2018).
Progress update
In consultation with users, we reviewed the SCJS questionnaire ahead of the 2018/19 (fieldwork commenced in April 2018). The outcomes paper provided below provides detailed information on the review process, the approach underlining it, the key outcomes and our future plans/next steps. A summary of this is also provided below.
SCJS questionnaire development for 2018/19 and in future
It is important that the SCJS captures evidence on priority issues, but is also able to develop and be responsive to emerging issues when required. The SCJS questionnaire is currently at capacity - in order to fit in new topics (or expanded versions of existing topics), some existing content must be taken out for a period of time. One way of enabling the SCJS to be more responsive is to use it more flexibly, such as the approach of rotating content in and out of the survey over time. This approach is used successfully by the Scottish Household Survey, for example. We have expressed a commitment to meet the needs of a wider range of users for some time: rotating content, and focusing on different issues in different sweeps enables us to do this. Successful implementation of this approach will help us to maximise the public value derived from the investment in the SCJS over the longer-term, by meeting the evidence needs of a range of users.
Developments in 2018/19 SCJS
We consulted on our proposals to implement this approach of resting/rotating questions as part of the 2018/19 questionnaire review. Based on previous feedback, we have worked with key stakeholders to develop new questions on cyber-crime/online behaviours for the 2018/19 SCJS. These questions will not provide estimates about the extent of cyber-crime or victimisation, but will help to build up additional evidence in this area. In addition, these questions are not the extensive fraud and computer misuse questions added to the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) in October 2015- we are continuing to monitor the development of these questions, including whether such an approach is merited in Scotland going forward. As noted in the paper itself, we would welcome user feedback on the SCJS cyber-crime/online behaviours questions, including how they could be developed (if at all) going forward- please let us know your thoughts.
In order to create space for these questions we initially proposed to rest the existing quarter-sample modules on workplace abuse, fake and smuggled goods and the self-completion section on drug use.
Having consulted users and considered their feedback, we are rotating out existing sections on workplace abuse and fake and smuggled goods in the 2018/19 SCJS. It is important to note that we continue to see these as being important issues, and we retain the ability to ask these questions in future at a suitable time to provide updated results. In light of the comments provided by users, rather than rotate out the whole module, we have instead substantially streamlined the drugs self-completion module in the 2018/19 SCJS. This outcome will still provide the key prevalence data users emphasised was important, while creating space for new questions on cyber-crime/online behaviours to be added.
Future plans and next steps
We are at the early stages of our planning to develop content for the 2019/20 SCJS and beyond. To help us prioritise content for inclusion and development in future, we will be:
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Drawing from user responses to the 2018/19 questionnaire review (and previous reviews).
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Taking stock of policy and legislative developments and emerging priority issues.
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Identifying where there is a need or desire to maintain questions, and also where there is a need, desire or opportunity to rotate out questions.
A key part of this process will involve continuing to engage with users on ideas for new and/or redeveloped content- we value users’ on-going input into the SCJS and we will be in touch with key users about different topics in due course. In order to help us prioritise these competing demands (particularly for self-completion modules), we will work closely with users to generate a full understanding of the analytical and/or policy rationale for a topic to be retained, added or expanded. It will also be important to work with relevant users in the review and further development of any aspects of the survey to ensure that any changes will meet needs.
In the mean-time, as ever, we would welcome user feedback at any point- please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
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