The main objective of the study is to better understand the factors that influence children’s well-being and development. It will be used to produce enlightening statistics on the needs of Québec children and families. Social policies and programs can then be better adapted to their reality.
Frequently asked questions
The Institut de la statistique du Québec is a government agency whose mission is to produce, analyze and disseminate official, objective and quality statistics on various aspects of Québec society.
It’s a study that follows the same people over time. The information gathered in this way allows us to better understand changes in living situations, the development (or non-development) of certain behaviours, and the various transitions experienced.
An interviewer from Institut de la statistique du Québec will call your family to explain the study and answer your questions. She will also schedule an appointment to do an interview at your home at a time that is convenient for you.
During the visit, the interviewer will complete a questionnaire with you, will do some activities with your child, and will then weigh and measure your child.
Once the appointment has been scheduled, each parent will receive an e-mail containing the information they will need to complete their online questionnaire. A paper version of these questionnaires is also available upon request.
To complete the online questionnaire:
- go to the following web address: statistique.quebec.ca/growing-parent;
- enter your identifier;
- create a password;
- complete the online questionnaire.
If necessary, you can exit the questionnaire and return to finish it at a more convenient time.
Upcoming data collections
Over the next few years, we will invite you to participate in an interview every year or two, and we will continue to visit you at home. We will also invite your child to take part in activities so we can measure his or her development. When your child is older, he or she will have his or her own questionnaire to complete and will also be able to ask us questions about the study.
Make sure you entered your identifier and password correctly.
You can contact Institut de la statistique du Québec by phone at 1-866-433-7828 or by e-mail at growingupinquebec@stat.gouv.qc.ca.
Please mention the name of the study (Growing Up in Québec), your name, your family number, and your contact information.
We will respond to your request within 24 hours during our office hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Parents separating is something that we sometimes need to take into account during the study. If it happens, we stay in touch with both parents throughout the study. Depending on the family’s situation, each parent’s involvement may vary and will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Your child was selected at random when he or she was about 5 months old, like thousands of other children of the same age.
Your participation in this study is voluntary, but important, since it will allow us to better understand the development of Québec children. Your family is unique, and if you drop out of the study, we unfortunately won’t be able to replace you.
The educator’s participation is key to collecting information about certain aspects of your child’s life. Her privileged role will enable her to answer questions about some of your child’s activities and his or her behaviour in the childcare setting, among other things. Her contribution will enrich the study and help us better understand your child’s lived experiences.
You have nothing to prepare for the interview, but since some of the information collected during last year’s data collection round will be updated this year, you can gather the information that was useful to you last year.
The questions will concern various aspects of your child’s life (e.g., living environment, health, eating and sleep habits, behaviour) and family (e.g., parents’ employment situation, language spoken at home). Most questions will be multiple choice, and response cards will be provided as a visual support if needed.
For quality and training purposes, conversations with Institut de la statistique du Québec interviewers are recorded. If you don’t want the conversation to be recorded, you can let the interviewers know.
The Act respecting the Institut de la statistique du Québec guarantees that the information you provide will be kept confidential and will only be used for statistical purposes. All Institut employees have taken an oath before a commissioner and are bound to secrecy and confidentiality.
The Institut de la statistique du Québec will send de-identified responses to its Growing Up in Québec partners and collaborating researchers. This means the responses won’t include any information allowing your family to be directly identified, such as names, phone numbers or addresses. Before they can receive the data files, these partners and researchers must sign a confidentiality agreement that meets Institut de la statistique du Québec’s standards. All of your information will be kept confidential and will only be used for statistical purposes.
Yes. The ethics committee mandated by the Institut de la statistique du Québec has assessed the study to ensure participants are treated with respect and dignity.
You can call Institut de la statistique du Québec toll-free at 1-866-433-7828.
Institut de la statistique du Québec and its partners would like to continue the study until the children reach adulthood in order to achieve its main objective.
The first results are available here. Other publications will be shared on the Institut de la statistique du Québec website in the coming months.
For more information about the study, please contact the Institut de la statistique du Québec by e-mail at growingupinquebec@stat.gouv.qc.ca or by phone at 1-866-433-7828 (toll-free). You can reach us Monday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday to Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Additional information is also available on the website of the study: statistique.quebec.ca/growingupinquebec.