Current Long Term Projects

Principal Investigator: Jerry White
Time Frame: 2006-2012
Source of Funding: SSHRCC, CIHR, INAC
Research Assistant(s) Employed (Graduate): Susan Wingert and Nick Spense
Seeking Research Assistants?: No
Contact Information: Jerry White, at white@uwo.ca

The purpose for the Consortium is to develop a world resource for policy research concerning indigenous people. Papers and research reports will be held and made available through a searchable database on the APRC web page; to solicit and promote Aboriginal/Indigenous policy research world-wide including comparative analyses; to support and promote policy research on issues of concern to First Nations, Inuit and Metis in Canada; to encourage international exchange and cooperation between academic, government, civil society and private sector researchers and policy makers and to organize the Tri-annual Aboriginal Policy Research Conference held in Ottawa, Canada.

Principal Investigator: Roderic Beaujot
Co-Investigators: Teresa Abada; Zenaida R. Ravanera; Rajulton Fernando
Time Frame: 2006-2008
Source of Funding: Human Resources and Social Development Canada

The Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) is funding a research program on Earning, Caring, and Public Policy undertaken by investigators who are members of the Population Change and Public Policy cluster. Rod Beaujot, Director of the cluster and in behalf of the investigators, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with HRSDC to undertake 10 research projects for $360,000 over 2 years starting in November 2006. The research program pays particular attention to the family context of people’s lives, family diversity, labour market integration, and life course transitions. It addresses some of HRSDC’s medium-term policy research priorities including the implications for individuals, families and society of changing family structures and composition; how work arrangements affect work-life balance; how to achieve better economic inclusion of immigrants; and the extent to which the income support system is influencing the housing choices of older Canadians.

The four projects at the Population Studies Centre are: The Impact of Social Capital on the Integration of Young Canadian Immigrants by Teresa Abada and Zenaida R. Ravanera; Models of Earning and Caring: Implications for Individuals, Families and Society by Rod Beaujot, Don Kerr, Jianye Liu, and Zenaida R. Ravanera; Socioeconomic Determinants of Family Formation by Rajulton Fernando, Thomas K. Burch, and Zenaida R. Ravanera; and Family Structures and Social Capital by Zenaida R. Ravanera, Rajulton Fernando, and Rod Beaujot.

Principal Investigator: Anabel Quan-Haase
Time Frame: March 2005 to March 2009
Source of Funding: SSHRC
Research Assistant(s) Employed (Graduate): Michael Brundin, Catherine Cotter & Jeren Balaeva.
Contact Information: Anabel Quan-Haase at aquan@uwo.ca,

The use of the Internet has exponentially increased in the last 10 years, with undergraduate students being one of the most predominant user groups.

The Instant Messaging on Campus project will contribute to our theoretical knowledge of the social consequences of the widespread use of instant messaging. Instant messaging occupies an important role in how students communicate, and its use will continue to grow as more Internet savvy students move from high school to university. Understanding students’ uses will allow us to improve the universities technical infrastructure providing more effective learning environments. As the Internet becomes an important means for collaboration and information sharing, we need to guarantee that students are learning the appropriate skills to function in a global, technology and knowledge intensive economy. Communication skills are essential for developing a productive work force.

Principal Investigator: Julie McMullin
Time Frame: March 2004 - March 2009
Source of Funding: Premier's Research Excellence Award (PREA)
Contact Information: Dr. Julie McMullin at mcmullin@uwo.ca

This project examines the relationship between workforce aging and employment in new economies. This work will 1) provide a comprehensive overview of the age structure of occupations and industries in Ontario to identify those that will be most affected by workforce aging, and 2) examine the employment and retirement patterns of older workers. The culmination of these analyses will inform policy development on training, retraining, and age diversity management in employment.