University of Tokyo

Abstract
Survey Number 0707
Survey Title 1st Basic Survey on the Actualities of Children's Life, 2004
Depositor Benesse Educational Research and Development Institute
(Former Name:Benesse Corporation)
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Educational Purpose Available for both research and instructional purposes.
Period of Data Use Permission One year
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Summary This survey was implemented with the objective of assessing the children’s attitudes to and actual state of children’s lives amid changes in their surrounding social circumstances and educational environments. It has been implemented on children from fourth grade in elementary school to second year in high school using nearly the same question items, making it possible to compare differences according to stage of development. In addition, the survey was designed with consideration for the enabling of tracking of future changes in children and the drawing of year-to-year comparisons.

The special characteristics of this survey are as follows.

1. It allows broad assessment of the children’s attitudes to and the actual state of children’s lives

We have asked questions on a vast array of basic information of these children, including time use, state of introduction to rapidly spreading media such as PC and cell phone, their relationships with their parents, friends, and other people around them, and manner and objectives of learning. This information will help paint a picture of the nature of the daily lives of children.


2. It allows assessment of connection between lifestyles and learning

This survey makes it possible to see the relationship between children’s lifestyles and their learning behavior and attitudes. Children’s learning behavior can be ascertained not only within the framework of learning but from its place within their daily lives.

3.It captures differences seen across different stages of development

This survey polls children from fourth grade in elementary school to second year in high school with nearly the same questions, enabling us to clearly compare the ways in which lifestyle, relationships with other people, and learning habits, etc., change through developmental stages.

4. Designed for longitudinal comparison

The survey was designed by selecting basic criteria in consideration of children’s everyday lives to make it possible to make longitudinal comparisons.

Data Type quantitative research
quantitative research: micro data
Universe Students in fourth grade in elementary school to second year in high school
Unit of Observation Individual
Sample Size Number of valid responses: 14,841 people (4,240 elementary school students, 4,550 junior high school students, 6,051 high school students)
Date of Collection 2004-11 ~ 2004-12
Time Period 2004 ~ 2004
Spatial Unit Japan
Japan
Sampling Procedure Non-probability: Purposive
Non-probability sampling considering population density and population size of municipalities

- Three regional categories were set considering population density and size of municipalities (metropolitan city (inside Tokyo), mid-sized cities, rural areas)
- Multiple municipalities in each applicable regional category were randomly selected.
- Schools were randomly selected in the above selected municipalities to conduct the survey
- Furthermore, high school students were sampled, considering the effects of the type of school and deviation value range, in addition to the above three geographical regions.
Mode of Data Collection Self-administered questionnaire: Paper
Self-administered survey using questionnaire distributed and collected through schools
Investigator Benesse Corporation
DOI 10.34500/SSJDA.0707
Sponsors (Funds)
Related Publications (by the Investigator) Please refer to the abstract in Japanese.
Related Publications (based on Secondary Analysis) List of related publications (based on Secondary Analysis)
Documentation [Questionnaire]
Major Survey Items (1) Daily life
Wake-up time and bedtime, how meals are taken, places to go play after school, hours spent watching TV and videos (DVDs), hours spent playing video games, things respondent normally does, experiences from when respondent was small to now, extracurricular activities (participation status, number of days per week, amount of time spent per practice) (for junior high school and high school students), part-time (arubaito) job experience, number of days worked per month (for high school students)

(2) Studying
Number of hours spent studying at home (weekdays/weekends and holidays), learning outside of school, number of days per week respondent goes to tutoring schools (juku) (or a preparatory school), hours spent studying there each time, whether the tutoring school (juku) is an exam preparatory school or remedial school, respondent’s approach to learning, things respondent does well and poorly, reasons to study, personal evaluation of grades (by subject)

(3) Relationship with parents and friends
Frequency of conversations with parents (for each topic), relationship with parents, number and types of friends, relationship with friends, presence of a boyfriend/girlfriend and the age respondent had a first boyfriend or girlfriend (for junior high school and high school students)

(4) PC, cell phone, pocket money
Use of PC (frequency of use per week, reasons for using, way and manner of using PC), use of cell phone (whether respondent owns one, frequency of use, way of using cell phone), pocket money (whether amount is fixed, monthly amount, purpose of use, things to consider when using)

(5) About respondent
Things applicable to him or herself, level of satisfaction (grades, personality, family, friends, teachers, school, community, society)

(6) About the future
Whether planning to take junior high school entrance exam (for elementary school students), desire to go into higher education, whether or not there is an occupation respondent desires, things respondent does to get the desired occupation, things important when choosing an occupation (for junior high school and high school students)

(7) Home situation and attributes
Mother’s work status, home environment, number of siblings and birth order, type of school, year in school, gender
Date of Release 2011/01/13
Topics in CESSDA Click here for details

Compulsory and pre-school education
Topics in SSJDA Education/Learning
Version 1 : 2011-01-13
Notes for Users