ARINS: ARINS/IT Survey - why do we focus on focus groups?

The Royal Irish Academy

In this ARINS Podcast hosted by Rory Montgomery, Professor Jennifer Todd from UCD and Professor John Doyle DCU discuss their recent article with co-author Dr Joanne McEvoy (University of Aberdeen) titled 'Time for Deliberation, not Decision, on the Shape of a New United Ireland: Evidence from the ARINS Survey focus groups.' Together they explore the power of focus group findings for Analysing and Researching Ireland North and South. We understand the views of people who said they were undecided in how they might vote in a referendum on the future of Northern Ireland. We learn how important issues are identified from perceptions of identity to the understanding of the workings of power-sharing, public policy processes, and governance and institution preferences for people North and South. Based on their findings Professors Doyle and Todd share their insights into how to create sustained and systemic processes of discussion and deliberation processes in tandem with survey findings to help us address the need for greater information and knowledge transfer, across the island. This is episode 25 of a podcast series that provides evidence-based research and analysis on the most significant questions of policy and public debate facing the island of Ireland, north and south. Host Rory Montgomery, MRIA, talks to authors of articles on topics such as cross border health co-operation; the need to regulate social media in referendums, education, cultural affairs and constitutional questions and the imperative for good data and the need to carry out impartial research. ARINS: Analysing and Researching Ireland North and South brings together experts to provide evidence-based research and analysis on the most significant questions of policy and public debate facing the island of Ireland, north and south. The project publishes, facilitates and disseminates research on the challenges and opportunities presented to the island in a post-Brexit context, with the intention of contributing to an informed public discourse. More information can be found at www.arinsproject.com ARINS is a joint project of The Royal Irish Academy, an all-island body, and the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies at Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs.