| Vol. 15 No. 2 | ISSN: 0834-1729 |
| Recent Research at the Institute |
| Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) in the Home |
| Approximately 1,800 households across Ontario were recently contacted for a study being conducted on behalf of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics at the University of Toronto and the Institute for Social Research (ISR) at York University. The Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) survey sought information about social norms with respect to smoking in households; information about the extent to which there are rules, understanding or agreements about smoking in households; what factors are associated with having or not having rules about smoking; the degree of association between rules and smoking status of respondents; and, the association between having or not having rules and knowledge of health affects of ETS. This study was led by Dr. Mary Jane Ashley of the Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics at the University of Toronto, Dr. Roberta Ferrence, Director of the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit, and David Northrup, Associate Director at ISR, who also directed data collection at ISR. |
| Social Change and Well-Being Survey |
| ISR began conducting 4,000 CATI interviews, in both official languages, with randomly-selected Canadians from all provinces in April 2000 for a study exploring the economic, social and political factors that shape public policy, and how these policies determine societal values, attitudes and well-being among individuals and communities. The overall study is being conducted on behalf of a group of researchers from a number of Canadian universities, and the survey component of the study is led by Professor Richard Johnston from the University of British Columbia. Funding is provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Data collection, directed by David Northrup at the Institute, will be completed around November 2000. |
| Survey on Charitable Giving |
| This study examined the opinions of 3,875 randomly-selected Canadians on various aspects of charitable giving. Topics under examination included attitudes toward new approaches to fundraising in Canada, regulations and accountability for charities, and whether or not charities should become involved in business ventures. The CATI survey was administered, in both English and French, between May and August 2000. The study was conducted on behalf of the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy (CCP) with funding from the Muttart Foundation. Dr. Michael Hall, CCP's Vice-President, Research, guided the study for the Centre and David Northrup directed data collection at ISR. |
| National Survey of Informal Learning Practices |
| Canadians' opinions on, and experiences with, informal learning and how it is related to formal and continuing education and training programs were explored in this study. The information collected will help researchers understand what social barriers may prevent the integration of informal learning with formal programs and certification, and what standards need to be implemented to allow formal credit for the informal learning people undertake. The current survey is a follow-up study of 1,500 respondents who participated in a 1998 Canada-wide survey on informal learning. This project was conducted between June and August 2000 on behalf of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and the University of Toronto, and was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Principal investigator was OISE's Dr. David Livingstone and the study was directed at the Institute by Tammy Chi and David Northrup. |
| Tobacco Policy Survey |
| Between April and August 2000, the Institute conducted 1,600 CATI interviews with randomly-selected residents of Ontario for a study examining attitudes toward smoking regulations, opinions about the effects of smoking on health, and the role that should be played by tobacco companies, government and individuals when it comes to health issues related to smoking. Current attitudes will be compared against opinions gathered in baseline studies approximately four years ago. Comparisons will also be made between attitudes of the general public and responses from Canadian legislators in a previous study asking many of the same questions. The study was funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Program and was conducted for Drs. Mary Jane Ashley and Joanne Cohen (University of Toronto) on behalf of the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit. The project was directed at ISR by Tammy Chi and David Northrup. |
| Strengthening Canadian Democracy |
| This national study, commissioned by the Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP) and conducted between February and April 2000, focused on a number of issues that are expected to be part of discussions concerning democracy in Canada over the next decade. Data collection for this study entailed 1,200 CATI interviews, conducted in either English or French, with randomly-selected residents in all Canadian provinces. Results from this research will be compared to findings from a 1990 study conducted for the Royal Commission on Electoral Reform and Party Financing. IRPP, a non-partisan 'think tank' which promotes democracy in Canada, provided funding for the project. Principal investigator Paul Howe, IRPP's Research Director, and David Northrup, ISR Associate Director, have co-authored a report on the study findings. |
| Community Attitudes Toward Adoption |
| More than 750 CATI interviews were conducted in the spring of 2000, in both English and French, with randomly-selected respondents in all provinces for a study examining Canadians' attitudes toward adoption. This research examined attitudes toward birth parents and adoptive parents, and opinions about open adoptions and birth reunions. The goal of the research is to provide policy makers with valid and reliable data upon which to make decisions and formulate policy in the area of adoption. Principal investigators were Professor Charlene Miall, McMaster University, and Professor Karen March, Carleton University. The study was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. John Pollard directed the study at ISR. |
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