Staff Interview Topics

Appendix E School Staff Interview Request Script, Topical Guide, and Protocol

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I

OMB No.: xxxx-xxxx

Expiration Date: MM/DD/YY

NTERVIEW PROTOCOL

FOR KEY SCHOOL STAFF

Introductory Script:

My name is [interviewer’s name], and I am a member of the data collection team for the “Impact Evaluation of Mandatory-Random Student Drug Testing.” As you may know, the Evaluation Team is collecting several types of data from program schools in order to:

1) Estimate the impact of school-based mandatory-random drug testing programs; and

2) Assess the implementation of drug testing policies and procedures.

One of the types of data being collected is interviews with key school staff at both treatment and control schools. I am here today to conduct these interviews with key staff at this school. I will be asking about your school’s background with respect to drug use, your school’s prevention efforts, and the characteristics of your school’s mandatory-random drug testing program. The interview will take approximately 60 minutes.

Please be assured that this interview is confidential, and we will not attribute any of the statements or information to you individually.

Do you have any questions before we begin?

Interviewer Instructions:

1. The interview should be conducted in a location where privacy can be expected.

2. Be sure to collect all applicable documentation for each section of the instrument. See “Documentation Request” at the end of each section for a list of requested documents.

3. Suggested answers to common questions that might be posed by the interviewees are provided at the end of this protocol.

Staff Interview Topics:

School Background

• Types of drugs commonly encountered

• Existence of drug activity locations

• Recent drug-related police activity

• Recent drug-related student sanctions

• Drug prevention strategies in effect

Staff Perceptions

• Level of drug use among students

• Types of drugs students use

• Locations of drug activity

• Effectiveness of drug prevention activities

Random Student Selection and Drug-Test Procedure

- Student selection method (e.g., lottery, random/rotating selection)

- Frequency or schedule of drug testing

- Type of drug test employed

- Procedure for sample collection

- Sample handling and processing

Types of Drugs for which are Tested

- Types of drugs tested for

- Reasons for testing each drug type (e.g., use prevalence, perceived harmfulness)

- Types of drugs not tested

- Reasons for not testing

When a Student is Suspected of Drug Activity

- School policy for when a student is suspected of being under the influence

- School policy for when a student is found in possession of drugs

Positive Detection Outcomes

- To whom are positive test results reported

- Manner of formal and informal reporting (e.g., mail, phone call)

- School policy for when test results are positive

- Nature of school sanctions

- Variations in sanction based on previous tests, behavior, grades, drug type, etc.

Control School Interviews

Identical interview questions but with drug-testing questions omitted.

Originally developed by COSMOS Corporation