A Focus Group Protocol for Exploring Motivations for Intentionally Harming Snakes and Turtles

David Shepherd1, Nathan Bennett1, Emilie Caron1, Adam Dyck1, Andrew Heppner1, Brian Hutchinson2 and Bob Payne1

1Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism, Lakehead University

2 Parks Canada, Ontario Service Centre

• Intentional Harm to Snake and Turtles– Parks Canada and Species at Risk Act– Evidence of harm

• Drivers run over snakes/turtles– E.g., Long Point example

• Property owners may not appreciate snakes

– Chopping up snakes with radio transmitters

– A human dimensions question: why do people do this?

• Background literature:• Weller and Dickson (2000)

• Sissons (2006)• Moving into snake/turtle habitat

• Ashley, Kosloski and Petrie (2007)• Long Point

Focus Groups• What:

– A small group discussion focused on a particular topic which is facilitated by a researcher

(Tonkiss, 2005)• Why:

– Design and development of quantitative surveys (Weeden,

2005)– To uncover factors that influence opinions, behaviour or

motivations (Krueger & casey,

2000)• How:

– Determine the purpose– Identify participants– Determine design and the number of focus groups– Determine questioning route– Deliver

(Krueger & casey, 2000)

• Recruitment Strategy– Where?

• People who live along the shore of Lake Erie

• Highway # 3• Eastern Fox Snake Habitat

– The Leamington area

• Recruitment Strategy– Who?

• Drivers: – Men, women (two separate focus

groups)– 18-35 years of age– Driving on highway # 3

• Property owners– Men and women (two mixed focus

groups)– Exurban and rural properties– cottagers

The Theory of Planned Behaviour

Behavioural Beliefs and Outcome Evaluations

Normative beliefs and Motivation to Comply

Control Beliefs and Perceived

Attitude Towards Snakes and Turtles

Subjective Norm Towards Snakes and

Turtles

Perceived Behavioural Control

Intentions Behaviour

Context Drivers (Snakes/Turtles) Property Owners (Snakes)

Opening Introduce common snakes/turtles (pictures)How do you feel when you see this picture?

Introduce common snakes (pictures)How do you feel when you see this picture?

Introduction What do you know about local snakes and turtles? What do you know about local snakes?

Transition A recent study on the North Shore of Lake Erie has shown that people intentionally swerve off of the road to hit snakes and turtles. The purpose of this study is to gain an understanding of why you might think that people engage in this behaviour.

Snakes in the region are sometimes equipped with radio transmitters to track population and mortality rates. In some instances, researchers find snakes which have been intentionally killed. The purpose of this study is to gain an understanding of why you think people might engage in this behaviour.

Key (and Probes) Why would people drive over snakes or turtles?a. What might these people be feeling?b. What factors might contribute to people running over

snakes or turtles? What would someone get out of doing that?a. Would they fell good about doing this?b. What are the benefits or impacts of doing this?Does this sort of action have any effects on the natural

environment?a. Do you think that snakes and turtles play an important

role in the natural environment?b. Do you think that these people care about the natural

environment?How do you think the action of driving over a snake or turtle

would be viewed by others?a. Would the views of others influence the actions of the

driver?How do you feel about people doing this?a. What is your initial reaction?b. What is your logical or secondary reaction?What type of person, in your opinion, is most likely to drive

over snakes and turtles?

Why would people kill snakes on their properties?a. What factors might contribute to people killing snakes?b. What might these people be feeling?c. Is there a particular situation which might cause

someone to do this?d. In what scenarios would this be acceptable?What would someone get out of doing that?a. Would they fell good about doing this?b. What are the benefits or impacts of doing this?Does this sort of action have any effects on the natural

environment?a. Do you think that snakes and turtles play an important

role in the natural environment?b. Do you think that these people care about the natural

environment?How do you think people view this sort of action?a. Would the views of others influence the actions of the

person killing snakes?How do you feel about people doing this?a. What is your initial reaction?b. What is your logical or secondary reaction?What type of person, in your opinion, is most likely to kill

snakes?

Closure Summarize responses to key questions.Is there anything that was missed or that you would like to

add regarding this topic?

Summarize responses to key questions.Is there anything that was missed or that you would like to

add regarding this topic?

• Discussion– Goss Gilroy Inc did focus groups on March

14 and 15– Mexican population– Mixed groups worked well; male only/female

only not as well

• Next Steps– A survey designed around the outcomes of

the focus groups to estimate the extent of intentions to harm snakes and turtles

– An educational program based upon the focus groups and survey results