Canadian Social Survey (CSS)

Detailed information for second quarter of 2024

The Canadian Social Survey (CSS) is Statistics Canada's recent data collection project. The goal is to understand social issues more rapidly by conducting surveys on different topics every three months.

• Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s)
• Description
• Data sources and methodology

Description

The Canadian Social Survey (CSS) will collect information on a variety of social topics such as health, well-being, impacts of COVID-19, activities, time-use, emergency preparedness, quality of life, energy use, virtual health care and trust. The CSS will provide data at the national level (excluding the territories).

This information may be used by all levels of government and various organizations, to inform the delivery of services and supports for Canadians during and after the pandemic, and to guide policy development on a range of social and economic issues.

Data sources and methodology

Target population

The target population for the Canadian Social Survey is all non-institutionalized persons 15 years of age or older, living off-reserve in the 10 provinces of Canada.

Instrument design

The questionnaire was designed based on research and consultations with data users. Qualitative testing was carried out by Statistics Canada's Questionnaire Design Resource Centre (QDRC). Questions which worked well and others that needed clarification or redesign were highlighted. QDRC staff compiled a detailed report of the results along with their recommendations. All comments and feedback from qualitative testing were carefully considered and incorporated into the survey when possible.

Sampling

This is a sample survey with a cross-sectional design.

The Canadian Social Survey sample is a stratified two-stage sample of one person from each dwelling in a sample.

Sampling unit
At the first stage, the sampling unit is a dwelling. At the second stage, one person is selected within the dwelling.

Stratification method
Stratification is done by province and by expected number of household members aged 15 or older.

Sampling and sub-sampling
A stratified sample of 20,000 dwellings was selected probabilistically. Within a household, information is collected from one randomly selected household member aged 15 or older.

Data sources

Data collection for this reference period: 2024-04-19 to 2024-06-03

Responding to this survey is voluntary.

Data are collected directly from survey respondents.

Data are collected using self-response via an electronic questionnaire or by computer-assisted telephone interviewing. First contact is made either by an invitation letter in the mail, which provides a link and access code for completing survey electronically, or by telephone. A non-responding household may receive reminders by mail, by email or by SMS before they are contacted by a Statistics Canada interviewer to complete the questionnaire over the telephone. No proxy reporting is allowed. The respondents have the choice between French and English. Interviews are approximately 20 minutes.

View the Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s) .