Focus Group Discussion Guide

Introduction

• Go around the table and make introductions
• Explain the importance of confidentiality

First half hour: Consent forms and materials on policy

Note: Throughout the interview, remember to name who is speaking for the recorder

1. As you know, one of the main things we will be talking about today is our Sexual Assault Policy, and we want to get a sense of the policy as seen by students from a variety of cultural groups. We are the experts on [geographic area]. The first question I want to ask is how visible you would say that policy has been to students. Have you seen it or heard about it at all in your time here?
2. In terms of the new policy we have been looking at, on a scale of 0-10 – zero being none and ten being lots – how much relevance would you all say this policy has to students like ourselves? (NOTE: Encourage everyone to give a number)
   - Prompt/follow-up: So let’s talk about our numbers. How do you come to your numbers? (NOTE: Gently encourage everyone to contribute thoughts, but if some people don’t want to that’s okay).
3. Next, we’re going to brainstorm some questions we have about this policy – so we need to come up with at least five questions before we move on, and of course more would be great too. (NOTE: discuss the questions as they come up. For example, you may want to converse about how the answers to some questions matter).
4. How do you think older members of your family would respond to this policy, whether parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents? Tell me who you are thinking of and what they would say.
   - Example prompt/follow-up: That’s interesting – what would that mean, coming from your Aunt?
5. We are going to shift gears a bit now and I would like us all to imagine for a moment that a friend has confided that she has been sexually assaulted on campus and has asked for advice. [Pause]. Are we all there, picturing a friend? [Pause]. Okay. Now, what are some things we would ask ourselves when making suggestions? What would we need to think about before giving advice?
6. What kind of characteristics or qualities do you think a person needs to have to support someone who has experienced sexual assault?
   - Prompt/follow-up: Let’s unpack these qualities a bit [list things participants have mentioned]. How are these characteristics or qualities helpful for providing support after a sexual assault?
7. If you could offer advice to folks at our university who might support people from [cultural region] who have experienced sexual assault, what advice would you offer? I am thinking of security staff or counsellors who do not belong to our culture.