**Appendix 1. Attitude questionnaire**

On behalf of … We are carrying out a survey about people with learning disabilities living in this neighbourhood. Can I have about 15 minutes of your time to answer some simple questions?

**1.** How long have you been living in this neighbourhood?

	- a) None

disabilities, with only a minority expressing 'stereotypical' concerns. However, clear differences were identified in the attitudes of those in the random sample as opposed to those in the micro-neighbourhood survey. Those who lived near community-homes had more positive attitudes, whereas those in the random sample, while expressing positive

It was evident from this study that attitudinal research that combines a micro-neighbourhood and a random survey gives a true picture of attitudes in fact as opposed to attitudes in principle. Hence, a more sensitive and flexible methodology capable of measuring a wider range of attitudes using the design recommended in this chapter has practical utility as a methodological approach. Attitudes cannot be expected to remain static and on-going research is required to monitor and re-evaluate such changes, which will contribute to more informed discussions and more effective planning of services and meaningful socially inclusive and

On behalf of … We are carrying out a survey about people with learning disabilities living in this neighbourhood. Can I have about 15 minutes of your time to answer some simple

General Section

attitudes, did not want community-homes in their locality.

self-determined lifestyles for people with learning disabilities.

**Appendix 1. Attitude questionnaire**

204 Learning Disabilities - An International Perspective

Minutes

questions?

a) Less than 1 year

b) 1–2 years c) 3–5 years

d) Over 5 years

No. Code

Electoral Area Code

Interviewer Code

**1.** How long have you been living in this neighbourhood?

	- a) None
	- b) 1 or 2
	- c) 3 to 5
	- d) 6 to 15
	- e) 16+
	- a) Only occasional contact with your neighbours
	- b) Some contact now and again with your neighbours
	- c) Frequent and regular contact with your neighbours


	- a) No, there is not
	- b) Don't know
	- c) Yes, there is

A whereabouts is it?

PROBE are there any other centres? (For example)

What sort of people attend (use their all wording for the centre)

	- a) No contact
	- b) Seen them around
	- c) Occasional meetings
	- d) Regular contact
	- a) Children
	- b) Adults
	- c) No real contact just seen them around
	- d) Met and talked with them
	- e) Regular contact
	- a) On the hall, this is a good policy
	- b) Not so good policy
	- c) You have no opinion one way or the other (go to question 10)

If the person answer is 1or 2; then ask why is this?

	- a) Yes, there is
	- b) I don't know
	- c) No, there is not

Go to section 2 is interviewing areas with a group home

Then section 4

or

Go to section 3 is interviewing areas with no group home,

Then go to section 4

#### SECTION 2 AREAS WITH A GROUP HOME

#### **11.** Whereabouts is it?

A whereabouts is it?

206 Learning Disabilities - An International Perspective

neighbourhood? a) No contact

b) Seen them around c) Occasional meetings

d) Regular contact

a) Children b) Adults

PROBE are there any other centres? (For example)

What sort of people attend (use their all wording for the centre)

**7b.** Are they people with learning disabilities? Yes or no.

had with people with learning disabilities?

c) No real contact just seen them around

d) Met and talked with them

a) On the hall, this is a good policy

If the person answer is 1or 2; then ask why is this?

e) Regular contact

b) Not so good policy

a) Yes, there is b) I don't know c) No, there is not

**7.** Can I ask what contact you will have had with people with learning disabilities in your

**8.** Thinking of people with learning disabilities in general, Can I ask what contact you have

**9.** There is now a national policy of having people with learning disabilities living wher-

**10.** Is there a house that is occupied by a group of people with learning disabilities, physical

Go to section 2 is interviewing areas with a group home Then section 4

ever possible within the local community. Do you think that?

c) You have no opinion one way or the other (go to question 10)

disabilities or mental health problems in this neighbourhood?



#### **13.** How was the contact made?


#### **14.** What contact have you had with the staff who work in the home?


	- a) You will approach the staff person
	- b) They approached you
	- c) Introduced by person with a learning disability
	- d) Other/Can't recall

**15b**. Has anyone else in your household had contact with people from the group home?


If yes, who?

What contact have they had?

	- a) yes
	- b) No

Probe: And others?

	- a) Yes that has been a bit of a problem
	- b) No problem that I am aware of
	- c) Can't decide



	- a) None that you can think of

**15.** How was the contact made?

208 Learning Disabilities - An International Perspective

b) They approached you

d) Other/Can't recall

What contact have they had?

a) yes b) No

a) yes b) No

Probe: And others?

If yes, who?

a) You will approach the staff person

c) Introduced by person with a learning disability

**15b**. Has anyone else in your household had contact with people from the group home?

**16.** Do you think that there have been any problems or difficulties in the neighbourhood re-

**17.** Can I just check some (other) problems that other people have suggested in previous surveys? I'd like to know if you have found any of these things to be at problem with regard

A People with learning disabilities being teased, made fun of or jeered at 1 2 3

C They have been isolated and just kept to themselves 1 2 3 D They have been victimized, picked on or taken advantage of 1 2 3 E They have been danger or threat to children or others 1 2 3

1 2 3

to the home for people with learning disabilities in your neighbourhood.

B People with learning disabilities and not receiving adequate professional care

a) Yes that has been a bit of a problem

b) No problem that I am aware of

c) Can't decide

and supervision

sulting from people with learning disabilities occupying that house?

b) Yes, there have been. Can you say what these are?

**19.** There is talk of a scheme in which people are paid to have a person with learning disabilities stay at their house for a weekend, would you:


Go to Section 4

#### Section 3: Areas with No Group Home

	- a) No, it wouldn't
	- b) Yes, it would

What might these problems be?

**21.** Can I just check some (other) problems that other people have suggested in previous surveys. I'd like to know if you think there would be a risk of that problem arising in your neighbourhood.



	- a) None that you can think of
	- b) Yes there might. Can you say what these might be?
	- a) Be interested in having a person staying with you
	- b) Be interested but would want to know more about the scheme first
	- c) Be interested but it's not possible at present
	- d) Not interested

#### Section 4

#### Areas with a group home

As you know people with learning disabilities can do with some extra help, if you were asked, would you be interested in:

	- a) Taking a person with a learning disability from the home along with you on an outing once in a while for example to charge, shopping etc.
	- b) Goals we ~home to visit them
	- c) Helping out staff in an emergency.
	- d) Having a person with a learning disability come to your home on a visit are for a cup of tea
	- e) Go along to an open day or a coffee evening in the house
	- f) Make a point of taking to the person if you saw them around the neighbourhood are went shopping etc.

#### Finally, can I ask some questions about yourself?

**25.** Are you aged:

a) That could be a risk in this neighbourhood

**22.** Do you think there could be any benefits for the neighbourhood if a group of people with

A People with learning disabilities being teased, made fun of or jeered at 1 2 3

C They have been isolated and just kept to themselves 1 2 3 D They have been victimized, picked on or taken advantage of 1 2 3 E They have been danger or threat to children or others 1 2 3

G People with learning disabilities have been noisy and created disturbances 1 2 3 H The property value of neighbourhood houses has dropped or 1 2 3 I People with learning disabilities have been violent or irresponsible 1 2 3

1 2 3

1 2 3

B People with learning disabilities and not receiving adequate professional care

F They have made people embarrassed. People haven't known what to say to

**23.** There is talk of a scheme in which people are paid to have a person with learning disabili-

Areas with a group home As you know people with learning disabilities can do with some extra help, if you were asked,

Section 4

b) Be interested but would want to know more about the scheme first

b) No risk that you can think of

210 Learning Disabilities - An International Perspective

learning disabilities moved into the area?

them or how to react to them

b) Yes there might. Can you say what these might be?

a) Be interested in having a person staying with you

ties stay at their house for a weekend, would you?

c) Be interested but it's not possible at present

a) None that you can think of

d) Not interested

would you be interested in:

c) Can't decide

and supervision

	- a) 15 years
	- b) Go onto a higher level (leaving certificate)
	- c) Go to College, University

#### **27.** Are you:


**28.** Are you:


**29.** Is your house/accommodation


Is it

	- a) No
	- b) Yes, in the past
	- c) Yes, at present

NB Hand-over 'Research Information Sheet' and 'Thank You Sheet' to Participant(s)

Professor Roy McConkey (1983) © Permission given to use and/or adapt instrument
