Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions.
The purpose of this study is to learn what personal and social factors shape decision-making as youth become young adults. Conducted over five years, this study will look at how different experiences impact youth as they leave high school and transition into adulthood.
This study is being led by Dr Nick Turner from the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary.
The study is being administered by R.A. Malatest & Associates (Malatest), an independent Canadian research company that has been around for almost 40 years.
This study has received funding from Canada's Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
For more information about Dr. Turner, Haskayne School of Business, Malatest or the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, please see the Contact tab.
Yes. This study has been approved by UCalgary's Conjoint Faculties Research Ethics Board (REB22-0294).
In Year 1, Canadians and permanent residents aged 17 or 18 years old who left high school in 2023 were invited to participate in the study. Registration closed at the end of Year 1. Only those who completed a valid survey in 2023 can participate in this study.
Year 1 was the year that took participants the longest, because there was a registration survey and then the main survey. In all subsequent years, including this year, your participation will take less time since you won't have to fill out the registration form again.
This is a longitudinal study, meaning it will run over five consecutive years, with a possible final follow up in Year 10. Each year, participants will be sent an email, inviting them to participate in that year's survey. In Year 1, it took a bit longer because everyone had to fill out a registration form as well as the survey. In all subsequent years, including this year, participation will take less time since you don't need to fill out the registration form again.
By participating in this study, you are part of a small group of young Canadians participating in a groundbreaking study about how youth make decisions as they transition into adulthood. Every participant who completes the Year 3 survey will receive a $5 e-gift card. In addition, all participants who complete a valid Year 3 survey will be entered into a prize draw for one of 15 $100.00 gift cards. See below for information about the prize draw.
For the rules governing the provision of incentives, click here. For the rules governing the prize draw, click here.
No. The decision to take part in this study is completely up to you. We would really like to hear from you, but if you don't want to participate that's okay. You can stop at any time, even after you have started the survey, and you won't be asked to tell us why or give any explanations. There will be no negative consequences.
Yes. Malatest abides by Canadian laws that prevent people from sharing personal information. We do not share people's answers in any way that might indicate who answered the questions. Instead, we group information together and report it back that way (called 'reporting in aggregate'), so that no one person can be singled out. That keeps everyone, and the information they provide, safe. More information about how we protect privacy is available on the Privacy tab.
If you still have questions, please email us and someone will get back to you soon. You can print a copy of these FAQ by clicking here.
We are hoping to hear from a diverse group of young Canadians, with different backgrounds, experiences, hopes and plans. We know that this means that participants may experience the survey differently: some participants will be totally comfortable answering the questions about their life and experiences, while others could find it triggering. While some participants may decide to stop participating - which is absolutely fine - we know that some participants will want to participate even if they find some of the topics difficult or triggering. We want to support everyone, whether you decide to participate or not. Here are some mental health resources you might find useful.
IF YOU ARE IN IMMEDIATE CRISIS, PLEASE TEXT WELLNESS TO 686868.