1. Media Influence and Breed Specific Legislation
This survey is being conducted between the 5th – 15th October 2009. Any
person of any age or background is welcome to complete the survey. No
identifying personal information is required, ensuring your complete
anonymity.
The principle aim of this research project is to discover whether the media
has an influence over the public and their perception of specific issues,
namely Breed Specific Legislation. As well as this, it is endeavoured to
discover if there are other influencing factors which shape perceptions
including; background, education level, age, sex, and life experience.
If there are any concerns or queries please feel free to contact the
researcher, Michelle Butcher by email on either
michellebutchermb@hotmail.com or 16781737@student.uws.edu.au
Please complete and email the survey to the above addresses by the 15th
October 2009.
Thankyou for your assistance.
Breed Specific Legislation is legislation that bans or places restrictions on the
ownership of specific breeds of dog which have been deemed dangerous.
 Please copy this tick and paste in front of your answer.
1. Which age group do you □ Under 20
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2. belong to? □ 21 – 25
□ 26 – 30
□ 31 – 35
□ Over 35, Please Specify_________
2. What is your gender? □ Male □ Female
3. What country were you □ Australia
born in?
□ Other, Please Specify
__________________________
4. What country were your □ Australia
parents born in?
□ Other, Please Specify
__________________________
5. Do you currently? □ Live at home with parents
□ Board
□ Rent
□ Own
□ Other, please specify
_______________________________
6. What is your level of □ High School □ Tertiary
education?
□ Undergraduate □ Postgraduate
□ Other, please specify
_______________________________________
7. What level of education □ High School □ Tertiary
did your parents achieve?
□ Undergraduate □ Postgraduate
□ Other, please specify
_______________________________________
8. Do you currently? □ Study full time □ Study part time
(tick all that apply)
□ Work full time □ Work part time
□ Unemployed
9. Have you ever worked in □ No □ Yes
the animal welfare If yes, are you still currently working in the
industry?
industry? □ Yes □ No
How long have you currently or previously worked
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3. in the industry? Please Specify__________
10. How often would you
say that you read a □ Daily
newspaper, be it
□ 2 – 3 times weekly
electronically or in
□ 4 – 5 times weekly
hard copy form?
12. How often would you □ Daily
say that you watch the
□ 2 – 3 times weekly
news?
□ 4 – 5 times weekly
13. Do you think the media
influences your Strongly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly
perception of issues? Agree Disagree
14. Do you think the media
focuses reports on Strongly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly
issues that may be Agree Disagree
controversial?
15. Have you seen any
media reports on dog □ No □ Yes
attacks?
16. Did these reports
mention the breed Always 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Never
which had attacked?
17. Were these reports
accompanied by a Always 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Never
picture of the dog that
had attacked?
18. Have you previously □ No □ Yes
owned a dog?
19. Do you currently own a □ No □ Yes
dog? If yes how many? ____________________
20. Have you previously
heard of Breed □ No □ Yes □ Unsure
Specific Legislation?
21. Where did you first □ News media □ Book □ Friend / family
learn of BSL?
□ Social networking site □ Website
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4. □ Other, please specify______________________
22. Have you previously □ No □ Yes □ Unsure
owned a dog that is If yes how many? ____________________
restricted by BSL?
23. Do you currently own a □ No □ Yes □ Unsure
breed that is restricted If yes how many? ____________________
by BSL?
24. Do you believe the
media has played a role Strongly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly
in the government Agree Disagree
implementing BSL?
25. Do you believe BSL is an
effective tool to reduce Strongly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly
problems associated Agree Disagree
with aggressive dogs?
26. Do you believe BSL will
solve the problems Strongly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly
associated with Agree Disagree
aggressive dogs?
27. What factors do you
believe contribute to a
dog showing
aggression?
A: Fear Agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Disagree
B: Pain Agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Disagree
C: Nervousness Agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Disagree
D: Born Aggressive Agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Disagree
E: Untrained Agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Disagree
F: Naughty Agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Disagree
G: Dominance Agree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Disagree
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5. 28. Please select all the
breeds that you think □ Bull Terrier □ Chihuahua
are classed as
□ Presa Canario □ Affenpinscher
restricted under BSL in
□ Rottweiler □ Shiba Inu
Australia
□ Japanese Tosa □ Maltese Terrier
□ Bull Mastiff □ Dogue De Bordeaux
□ Akita □ Pit Bull Terrier
□ Dogo Argentino □ Neopolitan Mastiff
□ Fila Brasilerio □ Doberman
□ American Pit Bull Terrier
29. Do you think it is
possible to accurately
identify a dog’s breed Strongly 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Strongly
based on physical Agree Disagree
appearance alone?
30. Please identify which breeds of dog which you believe are restricted,
based on physical appearance, from those pictured below.
□ □ □
□ □ □
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6. □ □ □
□ □ □
□ □ □
Thankyou for participating in this survey
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