Policy Research
SPR has conducted many projects to inform or develop government
policies, including policy studies, literature reviews, international reviews,
Delphi studies and related analyses.
- Policy Analysis: some typical SPR projects include:
Review of Policy Issues in Child Development (for Human
Resources Development Canada, 1999); Study of the Costs and Benefits of
For-profit Versus Not-for-profit Child Care (for The House of Commons
Special Committee on Child Care, 1987); and Study of Shelter
Allowances as an approach to housing low-income families (for the Ontario
Ministry of Housing, 1989).
- Literature Reviews, for
example: SPR's review of literature for the Year Three Evaluation of the Canadian
Strategy on HIV/AIDS (for Health Canada, 2000-2001); retirement issues for
an Evaluation of Public and Private Incentives for Retirement (for
Human Resources Development Canada, 1997-99); Review of Literature on
Inter-City Transportation (for the Ontario Ministry of Transportation,
1984); and Review of the Literature on Sports Injuries (for the
Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Recreation, 1988).
- International Reviews: such as SPR's examination of
international experiences in youth exchanges for a Strategic Review of
Youth Exchanges (for Canadian Heritage, 1997-2000); Study of
Public Disability Pensions in Six Countries (for Human Resources
Development Canada, 1996); Study of Homeownership Policies in Six
Countries (for the Ontario Ministry of Housing, 1989); and Review
of the Future Prospects of International Trade Fairs (for External Affairs
Canada, 1988).
- Delphi Studies: such as SPR's study to forecast future
directions for international expositions for an Evaluation of Canada's Participation at EXPO
2000 (for Canadian Heritage, 2000-2001); and a Delphi study to
assess future directions for the National Longitudinal Survey of
Children (for HRDC, 1996).
- Computer Simulations and Models: such as SPR's 1996
research to estimate quality of decisions to award pensions for the Canada
Pension Plan (Disability Component); SPR's 1991 work to estimate an "actualization line" (inverted
poverty line) for persons with disabilities; and SPR's 1981 examination of patterns of
Federal-Provincial cost-sharing, in relation to the Ontario Work Incentives
Program.