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2. Methodology > 2.3. Procedureas a relatively short narrative of approximately 250 words. The scenarios were derived from a frameworkdeveloped from recent qualitative research. The framework provided an outline structure for the scenario, sothat reference was made to the victim’s relationship to the perpetrator, the location of the event, degree ofalcohol use, the form of consent / non-consent (verbally saying no, passive behaviour, physical resistance, etc.),degree of verbal / physical coercion, and situational context (date, party, stranger situation, etc.). We also drewon recent research on the ethnography of college student drinking to construct the scenarios. This researchhas emerged from qualitative studies of college student drinking (e.g., MacNeela & Bredin, 2011; Conway &MacNeela, 2012), and was used to situate the scenarios as happening in a college socialising context.Table 1. Overview of the Hypothetical Scenarios Employed in the Focus GroupsScenario Names Relationship Status Non-Consenting Sexual Acts1 Fred, Jane Acquaintances Penetrative sex2 Dan, Isobel Strangers Masturbation3 Michelle, Ben One-month relationship Oral sex4 Claire, Jim Friends Penetrative sexThe principal investigator has developed vignettes and scenario-based elicitation materials for a number ofresearch studies previously (e.g., MacNeela et al., 2010a, 2010b). The materials were reviewed by the otherresearchers, who were better placed to locate the premise and wording of the scenarios in the youth culturedue to being aged in their mid to late-20s. The materials were also reviewed by a contact in RCNI as a checkon their relevance to issues concerning rape and sexual assault.2.3.2. Focus Group ProcedureThe invitation email circulated to students included the email address of the principal investigator for the study.Students were encouraged to contact the researcher if they wished to receive additional information about thestudy, address any queries, and so on. A standard information sheet was emailed to prospective participantswho expressed a further interest in the study. Students who were still interested were then provided withinformation on focus group times and locations. Focus groups took place in a comfortable, suitable setting inthe university.On arriving, the participants were welcomed by the moderator and co-moderator. Each participant received ashopping voucher for 20 Euros, which was provided at the outset and not contingent on completion of thefocus group. The participants were provided with informed consent materials and the information sheet, andasked to indicate whether they wished to take part. The participants were informed that they did not haveto answer any of the questions and could leave at any point. All focus groups were audio-recorded andsubsequently transcribed. A brief demographics sheet was completed by each focus group participant beforerecording began.The focus group topic guide began following the initial welcome and overview of the study. Then the moderatorled an introductory discussion of alcohol use among university students, followed by questions concerningstudent perceptions of consent to sex. Then the hypothetical scenarios were presented in order. First, theparticipants were invited to read the scenario quietly. Then the moderator initiated a discussion of the scenariousing a list of pre-prepared questions. The moderator steered the exchanges and used prompts whereappropriate, before moving on to the next scenario. A wind-up discussion took place following the scenarios.8 Young People, Alcohol, and Sex: What’s Consent Got to Do With It?