Follow-up Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating (FSGVP)

Summary of changes

Activity on this program started: 1997

Reference period of change - 2023

The Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating has undergone few changes since the last survey was conducted in 2018. To minimize the impact on data comparability since the survey was moved to EQ collection in 2018 and to account for potential impact to the data stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, content changes were kept to a minimum for the 2023 survey.

Reference period of change - 2018 (Cycle 33)

Comparability of 2018 General Social Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating (GSS GVP) estimates with previous iterations - The 2018 GSS GVP offered an Internet option to survey respondents for the first time. This approach to data collection was implemented in recognition of the need to adapt to the changing use of technology and the ever present demands on Canadians' time. It is impossible to determine with certainty whether, and to what extent, differences in a variable are attributable to an actual change in the population or to changes in the survey methodology. However, there is reason to believe that the use of an electronic questionnaire had an impact on the estimations. For this reason, it is not appropriate to compare results from 2018 GSS GVP with previous iterations.

The 2018 GSS GVP was significantly reworked to reflect changes that occurred since its last iteration, including the following:

Some updates were made in light of changing international standards regarding the definition of volunteering.

The rewording of several questions was done to better reflect new online technologies and social media. Thresholds and limit values associated with volunteer hours and donation amounts were put in place in the electronic application to facilitate the flow of questions.

Reference period of change - 2013 (Cycle 27)

Target population - The 2013 GSS GVP continued the method of measuring established by the 2004, 2007 and 2010 Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating (CSGVP). CSGVP replaced the way these behaviours were measured in the 1997 and 2000 National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating (NSGVP). For this reason, it is not appropriate to compare results from the 2013 GSS GVP or the 2010, 2007, or 2004 CSGVP with previous NSGVP estimates.

Instrument design - In 2013, many survey-specific socio-demographic questions were replaced by Statistics Canada harmonized content. Harmonized content modules contain standard concepts, definitions, classification and wording for multiple collection modes. Standardized content was for the most part very similar to the previous concepts used by CSGVP, but in some cases required adjustments to the traditional derived variables.

Sampling - In 2013, the survey was implemented using the newly redesigned General Social Survey (GSS) frame, which integrated data from sources of telephone numbers (landline and cellular) available to Statistics Canada and the Address Register (AR). This new frame included "cell phone only" households. The sampling unit was also different in 2013, and wasdefined as groupings of telephone numbers linked to the same address.

Reference period of change - 2012 (Cycle 27 Pilot Survey)

This survey became a part of the General Social Survey (GSS) program.

Reference period of change - 2004

In 2004, the survey's name was changed from the National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating (NSGVP) to the Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating (CSGVP).

The target population for the CSGVP was expanded to include residents of the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Reference period of change - 2004 (follow-up of 2000)

The Follow-up Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating was conducted to follow-up on a sample of respondents from the 2000 National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating (NSGVP) and collect data regarding unpaid volunteer activities and charitable giving.

Reference period of change - 2000

Beginning in 2000, the National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating (NSGVP) was conducted as part of the Federal Government's Voluntary Sector Initiative.

Reference period of change - 1997

The National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating (NSGVP) was conducted in 1997 as a one-time special survey.

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