2002-2003 Survey

An online survey was conducted between October 30, 2002 and January 27, 2003 on "Canadian Genealogy Online: Building an Innovative Model of Cooperation." A total of 2,237 people took part.

Details

Age groups:

Under 18	0.7%
18-35	5.9%
36-45	12.7%
46-55	26.6%
56-65	30.5%
65 and over	21.9%
Did not answer	1.8%

Provinces/Territories:

Alberta	7.8%
British Columbia	10.6%
Prince Edward Island	0.9%
Manitoba	2.0%
New Brunswick	2.4%
Nova Scotia	3.6%
Nunavut	0.2%
Ontario	31.3%
Quebec	19.4%
Saskatchewan	1.8%
Newfoundland and Labrador	1.0%
Northwest Territories, Yukon, other	0.6%
United States	4.2%

What is your level of experience in genealogy?

Beginner	21.1%
Intermediate	60.1%
Expert	10.6%
Did not answer	8.1%

Question 1

Which consultation strategy or method should the Canadian Genealogy Centre adopt first?

Online survey	54.3%
Conference/symposium	3.3%
Telephone survey	1.6%
Focus group survey	4.1%
Advisory panel	21.9%
I do not know	13.1%
Did not answer	1.7%

Question 2

Within the context of consultations conducted by the Canadian Genealogy Centre, users and genealogical service providers identified products and services that should be made available through the Centre.

Among these products and services, which one should be developed first?

Online databases (e.g., census index, digitized images, passenger lists)	83.5%
Genealogy courses	3.1%
Discussion group (e.g., CHAT)	0.8%
Online shopping (e.g., partners' products and services, specialized research, CD-ROMs, books, software)	0.9%
Digitized newspapers	2.7%
Online genealogical reference service (e.g., replies to online genealogical queries)	5.3%
I do not know	1.9%
Did not answer	1.8%

Question 3

The Canadian Genealogy Centre is seeking a balance between free products and services and the billed products and services that it will provide.

Would you be willing to pay for the following products and services?

	Yes	No	Did not answer
Consultation of online databases (e.g., census index)	28.2%	63.0%	34.8%
Digitized images on demand	50.2%	37.6%	12.2%
Genealogy courses	50.0%	37.7%	12.3%
Consultation of digitized newspapers	32.1%	54.6%	13.3%
An online genealogical reference service (e.g., replies to online genealogical queries)	39.9%	48.4%	11.7%
A subscription to the Canadian Genealogy Centre	52.8%	34.5%	12.7%

Question 4

Would you be interested in participating in the following Canadian Genealogy Centre projects as a volunteer?

	Yes	No	Did not answer
Development of online databases (e.g., census index, passenger lists)	47.0%	44.4%	8.6%
Genealogy courses	16.9%	70.3%	12.8%
Production of specialized guides (e.g., relating to Aboriginal genealogy)	12.6%	73.6%	13.8%
Online genealogical reference service (e.g., replies to online genealogical queries)	33.0%	55.4%	11.6%
Online discussion group with specialists in genealogy	30.8%	56.2%	13.0%
National genealogical resource directory	37.9%	50.3%	11.8%

Question 5

In your opinion, what is the most important element to ensure quality control of Canadian Genealogy Centre content?

The development of national standards for various kinds of content (e.g., national standards for indexing and describing content that is available through the Canadian Genealogy Centre)	51.1%
The creation of a content selection committee	8.5%
The development of a process to ensure compliance with various pieces of legislation concerning access to information and privacy	7.0%
The development of a protocol for participating in the Canadian Genealogy Centre (e.g., commercial advertising, partnership and funding criteria)	4.5%
The development of a code of ethics relating to lobbying, conflict of interest, etc.	6.5%
I do not know	22.4%