10. General Social Survey

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Summary

The primary objectives of the General Social Survey (GSS) are to gather data on social trends in order to monitor changes in the living conditions and well being of Canadians over time; and to provide information on specific social policy issues of current or emerging interest. The General Social Survey program began in 1985, and each year a new survey is developed on any of various themes including victimization, the family, social support, and access to and use of information and communications technologies. Some of these themes are recurring, and accordingly they lend themselves to cross-sectional analyses over time.

Table 10.1 General Social Survey topics according to series, year and cycle

Target population

The General Social Survey target population consists of persons 15 years of age and over living in a private household in the ten Canadian provinces. Some General Social Survey cycles may target a more specific population, such as persons aged 45 and over (cycles 16 and 21). Also, for some cycles, such as cycle 18, data may be collected in the three territories.

Sample size

The size of the samples varies from one cycle to another, but it has been in the range of 23,000 since 1999. Before 1999, the samples were approximately 10,000; the size was increased in order to produce more precise estimates at the national and provincial scale, as well as for various smaller population groups (such as disabled persons, members of visible minorities and the elderly).

Sample size based on main linguistic characteristic

The size of the samples for official-language minorities also varies according to the cycle, and it has definitely been larger since the increase in the size of the sample in 1999. However, we can estimate that it will be representative of the official-language minorities, and thus it will be in the range of 500 Anglophones in Quebec and 800 Francophones outside Quebec.

Available linguistic characteristics

The General Social Survey contains a series of standardized questions on languages. The question to identify mother tongue, "What language did you first speak in childhood?", is included in all the cycles. In cycles 1 (1985) and 2 (1986) as well as cycles 10 (1995) to 22 (2008), this question is followed by the follow-up question, "Do you still understand that language?" The question on the language spoken most often at home is included in all cycles except cycle 3 (1988).

Cycle 2 (1986) on time use contains a specific module on knowledge of official and non-official languages and their use at home, at school and at work, and on the use of languages during childhood and adolescence.

Cycle 9 (1994) has a question on the language used most often at work; cycle 14 (2000) contains questions on languages and the use of the Internet; and cycle 21 (2007) contains questions on knowledge of languages.

Also, all cycles of the GSS contain a variable indicating the language in which the interview was conducted. This is available only in the analytical file and not in the public use microdata file.

Some cycles on victimization include a question on discrimination based on language.

Document available on the Internet: The General Social Survey: An Overview (PDF Version)

Table 10.2 Linguistic questions asked in the General Social Survey according to the cycles in which they were asked