Studies in Education, Human Resources and Training
SPR has conducted many evaluations and surveys in education, human resources and training, including:

Training Programs for New Canadian Professionals - On-line Surveys and Learning Exchange Workshops. This project was designed to measure "lessons learned" from Federal-Provincial programs providing training through the Ontario Bridge Training Program (OBTP), to new Canadians in over 100 professions, to aid labour markets and Ontario skills strategies. The goal of the project was to identify lessons from on-line surveys and stakeholder workshops. Four bilingual web surveys were conducted (including several thousand stakeholders (colleges, universities, NGOs), employers, and internationally-trained individuals (ITIs)) involved in bridge training programs. The web surveys were highly successful -- the response from 1,770 trainees is the largest ever obtained for such a survey with numerous lessons learned regarding language and related factors in labour market integration (for the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, 2011-2012);
Survey on Late Career & Post-Retirement Paid Employment in the Non-Profit Sector. This national on-line survey examined perceptions of post-retirement paid employment in the non-profit sector among professionals in government, industry and health organizations. The original target of 1,200 responses was exceeded, with over 5,000 responses received (for the HR Council for the Voluntary and Non-profit Sector, 2009-2010);
Pan-Canadian and International Study of Literacy Profiles of Youth. This project involved quantitative analysis of two international surveys: Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA); and the International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey (IALSS). Factors examined included demographic and school characteristics, with the goal of identifying policy implications for the provinces. A unique feature of the study involved a Delphi Panel involving all of the provinces, through individual Ministries of Education and/or literacy agencies (for the Council of Ministers of Education - Canada, 2007);
Training and Labour Market Information (LMI) Project. This 2006-2007 study of labour market information examined the need for and use of web and print information on labour markets, for professionals and organizations involved in logistics and supply chain functions. The project involved consultations, web surveys and five regional workshops across Canada to identify LMI strategies (for the Canadian Supply Chain Sector Council, 2007);
Human Resources Study for the Meteorological Sector. This study involved the compilation of a database of private meteorological firms in Canada and a multi-method survey component which required the development of labour market information tools, in-depth focus groups across Canada, and analysis of data (for EcoCanada, 2004-2005);
Study of the Need and Demand for Post-Secondary Education in Central Newfoundland. This study involved analysis of Census data to assess demographics and the population base for post-secondary education programs in Central Newfoundland, as well as Web and FAX surveys of students and professionals (funded by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, 2003-2004);
Evaluation of Industry Canada Science Education Programs. This evaluation assessed four science education programs: Computers for Schools, which collects, repairs and refurbishes surplus computers; SchoolNet Youth Initiative: Employment for Youth; Information Highway/Science and Entrepreneurship Camps; and SkillNet.ca on-line career and recruitment services. The evaluation included national surveys to assess impacts on youth, employers and others (for Industry Canada, 2002-2003);
Evaluation of Tourism Careers for Youth. This evaluation examined a youth internship program funded by HRDC to provide career transitions for youth interested in careers in the tourism industry. Key topics included impacts of the program on training culture in the tourism industry, and impacts of the devolution of training (from HRDC to the provinces/territories). The evaluation involved national surveys of employers, youth, trainers and funders (for the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council, 2001-2002);
Evaluation of the Construction Technology for Women Internship Program. A pilot project of the HRDC Youth Internship Program, this evaluation involved surveys of over 250 participating employers and young women regarding their experience with the program. Survey topics included course assessment, on-the-job experience, and attitudes towards women in the construction industry and those pursuing careers in construction. Focus groups formed a key part of the study, with workshops conducted in five sites across Canada (for the Women in Trades and Technology National Network (WITT NN) and HRDC, 1997-99);
Evaluation of the Internship Program for Aboriginal Youth. SPR aided in the implementation of surveys for this evaluation of a housing-oriented youth internship program examining youth internships as implemented in approximately 50 of Canada’s First Nations and Inuit communities. Surveys of First Nations and Inuit employers and interns examined program operations, employment and housing impacts, and comparisons to other youth employment programs and alternatives for improving youth employment (for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 1998-99);
Review of Occupational Health and Safety Training. This study involved a review of training and education programs for Ontario and recommendations for consolidation of over 500 courses into a simpler curriculum (for the Ontario Workplace Health and Safety Agency, 1991);
Review of the Ontario Driver Education Program. This study involved a survey of over 3,000 students and 200 teachers in 35 Ontario school boards to assess reading levels and readability of educational texts. Multi-variate techniques were used to estimate readability assessments for all sections of the proposed student texts and teacher's guides (for the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Communications, 1984).