Data Source

Survey

Type of Study

Cross-section, regular

Data gathering method

Face-to-face interview (CAPI, PAPI)

Ease

Free downloadable files from the Centre Quételet (http://www.reseau-quetelet.cnrs.fr/spip/) (2008-09 data) or DVD/CD sent by DREES after agreement

Conditions of access

Formal agreements (e.g. fees, research contracts, institutional agreements, etc.)

Free access with standard procedure (reference to the Insee/Drees in publications, communication of publications...).

Time elapsed between application and reception of data

Short delay.

Type of available data (e.g. anonymised microdata, aggregated tables, etc.)

Individual data.

Formats available

txt

Language issues

The data base is in French.

Years of collection, reference years, and sample sizes

Data collection ongoing annually since 2000 (excludes 2003) and includes a sample size of approximately 4,000 individuals for each wave.

First year of collection

2000

Base used for sampling

Quota sampling (quotas defined for gender, age, occupation, size of town and region).

Geographical coverage and breakdowns

national

Age range

age 18 and over

Coverage of main and cross-cutting topics

This survey follows French opinions toward health and social issues, welfare, family, solidarity and poverty. Several questions deal with some aspects of public attitudes toward older age, for example, concern towards the aging of the population in developed countries, and in France in particular, future of the retirement system, perceived risk of poverty/exclusion according to age, perception of the standard of living of retired people (compared to the whole population); opinions and personal wishes regarding the retirement system, care for older and disabled people is mainly a task for the State/local authorities/the family/insurance companies, attitude toward a parent who would become dependent, and personal desire/reluctance to live (in the future) in a specialised institution for Old Age & Elderly Care Homes.

Further Reading

• Coppoletta, R. ”Les attentes des Français en matière de protection sociale” Études et Résultats n°821, Drees (2012). Available at: http://www.drees.sante.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/er821.pdf
• Lequien, L., & Andrieux, V. “Les opinions et les souhaits des Français en matière de retraite en 2010” Collection Études et Statistiques - Les Retraités et la Retraites 2010 (2012). Available at: (www.drees.sante.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/retraite2010.pdf
)

Standardisation

No standardization.

Possibility of linkage among databases

No.

Breaks

Data collection is carried out by a private institute (IFOP for 2000-2002, BVA for 2004-2012).

Consistency of terminology or coding used during collection

Good consistency across waves.

Strenghts: - This survey is one of the very few sources of data dealing with Public Attitudes towards Older Age in France; - It’s a ‘light’ survey, with self-reported data only, thus it is quite easy to carry out analyses and data are quickly available; - This is a periodic survey carried out annually since 2000; - It is possible to contact the DREES to suggest new questions. Weaknesses: - Quota sampling; - There are very few contextual questions (only one question to identify the respondent as a informal caregiver or a disabled/dependent person; - data dictionaries and datasets are not available in English.