General Social Survey – Social Identity, 2020: New Microdata File in Research Data Centres and Infographic on Discrimination During the Pandemic
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Released: 2022-03-17
The second release of the 2020 General Social Survey – Social Identity (GSS SI) microdata file is now available at Statistics Canada's Research Data Centres. This file now includes integrated administrative data from the T1 Family File and the Longitudinal Immigration Database. The microdata file is accompanied by a user's guide and a data dictionary.
This survey is an important source of information for providing an overall picture of Canadians' identity, sense of attachment, belonging, and pride in their social and cultural environment. The key components of this survey include the following topics: social networks, civic participation and engagement, knowledge of Canadian history, appreciation of national symbols, shared values, confidence in institutions, and trust in people. In addition, the survey covers people's experiences of discrimination before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of the data pillar of Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy, Canadian Heritage sponsored an oversample of six population groups designated as visible minorities for this cycle of the GSS SI. This oversample will allow data users to further disaggregate the data to better represent the unique experiences of different groups of Canadians.
An infographic titled "Discrimination before and since the start of the pandemic" accompanies today's release. The infographic highlights the prevalence of general discrimination for the total population, reasons for unfair treatment among those who experienced discrimination and the relative risk of being discriminated on the basis of skin colour or ethnicity among various population groups. Most data is provided for the five years before the pandemic as well as the period roughly representing the first year of the pandemic.
Note to readers
Individuals aged 15 and older living in the provinces were interviewed for the General Social Survey – Social Identity from August 2020 to February 2021. The survey excluded residents of Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, as well as full-time residents of institutions and those living on reserve.
Contact information
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).
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