Interview Evaluation

Interview Evaluation

“Do the social activities in Banstead appeal to you as a teenager? Why?”

My first question asked the interviewee if they felt that the social activities in Banstead appealed to them particularly as a teenager; to which he replied with no due to the fact that it is a more family environment targeting families with young children. This highlights the fact that the facilities in Banstead have not targeted towards teenagers, only families with young children. This supports my general idea that teenagers do not feel as if Banstead is an age appropriate location for them to socialise.

“What type of social activities do you think there should be that would interest teenagers?”

After asking my interviewee what type of social activities Banstead could introduce that would interest teenagers, my interviewee responded with internet/social cafes, arcades, skate parks and shops that teenagers often buy from. These shops can include New Look, H&M and Topshop; teenagers will be attracted to these due to them being lower priced shops. These different activities can target both male and females.

“Do you feel that the lack of activities available can result in teenagers resorting to criminal behaviour, e.g. vandalism and drugs?”

I asked my interviewee if whether or not they felt that the lack of activities available could result in criminal behaviour, to which he replied with “Yes”. He also stated that he felt that teenagers could resort to this behaviour seeing as there is no other alternative (e.g. social clubs or arcades) for what a teenager can do; given that teenagers will be more likely to give in to peer pressure especially if they feel as if they have not got anything ‘better’ or ‘more important’ to do.

“Have you personally witnessed teenage drug use in your local area? (Banstead)”

I asked my interviewee this question as I wanted to see if someone else, apart from myself, had witnessed teenagers using drugs. As a response to this question, my interviewee said he had witnessed teenagers on a number of different occasions smoking cannabis in the local park. This provides me with substantial evidence that there could potentially be more witnesses of this particular behaviour; without assuming why these teenagers took drugs, this could highlight the suggestion that teenagers, apart from the lack of social activities, may be using drugs to escape from stressful situations as home life. Referring back to my secondary research where I found that there were a significant number of single parent families living in Banstead, teenagers of these families may feel upset from these situations.

“Do you believe that there is a link between teenage drug use and home issues?”

After asking my interviewee this question, they responded with “Yes”. They felt strongly about this question as they firmly believed that children and teenagers do feel stress and pressured from home life issues which then impacts their behaviour outside of home; at this point teenagers, may look for something to look forward to outside of home (e.g. activities or even jobs to take their mind off that stress at home) which could then leave them with no choice but to resort to criminal behaviour at some times.