Research Name:
Study on the types of reflexive lifestyles and their conditions among Japanese youth today
Project members:
- Head of Research:
- Professor, Tokyo Gakugei University, Faculty of Education Tomohiko Asano
- Research Members:
- Ichiyo Habuchi
Professor, Hirosaki University, Faculty of Humanities - Ko Iwata
Professor, St. Andrew's University, Faculty of Sociology - Izumi Tsuji
Professor, Chuo University, Faculty of Letters - Mikito Terachi
Associate Professor, Ibaraki University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences - Asami Senoo
Senior Researcher, Ritsumeikan University, Global Innovation Research Organization
（New post：Assistant Professor, Doshisha University, Faculty of Culture and Information Science） - Eriko Kimura
Research Associate, Japan Women's University, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Social Sciences
（New post：Assistant Professor, Japan Women's University, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Social Sciences） - Riki Futakata
Lector, Seisen Jogakuin College, Department of Early Childhood Education - Yoshimasa Kijima
Associate Professor, St. Andrew's University, Faculty of Sociology - Hiroyuki Kubota
Professor, Nihon University, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences - Tom Ogawa
Lecturer, Showa Women’s University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences - Tomokazu Makino
Associate Professor, Otsuma Women’s University, Faculty of Human Relations
Survey Objectives(Outline)
The purpose of this study is to elucidate the structure and types of reflexive lifestyles of youth, their possibilities and problems, and contribute to the establishment of new relationships between youth and society.
To that end, we will conduct the following three types of research based on the three youth surveys conducted every 10 years since 1992: 1) Urban Youth Survey (4th following 2012), 2) Urban Middle-aged Survey (2nd following 2012), 3) National Youth Survey (first conducted this time).
We will analyze current youth not only in the terms of socio-economic conditions, but also in many aspects, including self-consciousness, relationships, culture, and social awareness. At the same time, we will conduct a multi-layered analysis from the viewpoints of time axis (yearly comparison / generational comparison) and space axis (urban / non-urban comparison).
This study is unique in that it focuses not only on the continuity of the survey and the multi-layered nature of consideration, but also on the youth reflexive lifestyle, which is the key to considering youth consciousness and behavior. In particular, today's social and political participation of young people is an urgent issue, and we will provide useful policy suggestions for rebuilding the relationship between youth and society.
(It will be updated as the survey progresses.)
Research Name:
"A Generational Comparison Survey on the Lifestyle of Urban Residents and their Sense of Awareness” (16 to 29 years old) (30 to 49 years old)
Project members:
- Head of Research:
- Masayuki Fujimura
Professor, Sophia University, Faculty of Human Sciences
- Research Members:
- Ichiyo Habuchi
Associate Professor, Hirosaki University, Faculty of Humanities - Ko Iwata
Associate Professor, Momoyama Gakuin University, Faculty of Sociology - Tomohiko Asano
Associate Professor, Tokyo Gakugei University, Faculty of Education - Izumi Tsuji
Associate Professor, Chuo University, Faculty of Letters - Daisuke Tsuji
Associate Professor, Osaka University, School of Human Sciences - Yoshimasa Kijima
Associate Professor, Momoyama Gakuin University, Faculty of Sociology
Survey Implementing Agency:
Shin Joho Center, Inc. (1-19-15 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)
Homepage:http://www.sjc.or.jp/
Survey Objectives(Outline)
One of the objectives of our 2012 survey was to recognize the actual state of youth in their late teens to twenties, in regards to their behavior and awareness, and use this as a base to understand the change and current condition of the socialization process.
Our second objective was, by surveying and comparing the behavior and awareness of the prior generation of 30 to 40 year olds, we are able to comprehend the complexity of today’s socialization process quantitatively and qualitatively.
In order to achieve these objectives, we implemented this survey to inquire about the variety of day to day life of those who live in modern day cities and their understanding of the changing times, along with their behavior and awareness in relation to lifestyle and culture.
Modern society is more often than not characterized by fluidity; as a consequence, issues such as individualization and risk have garnered much attention.
Youth are now experiencing new types of difficulty in various aspects of their life.
It is thought that there is a need to quantitatively assess the attitudes and thoughts that approach the underlying perspectives of how youth themselves who faced these difficulties, also how adults who had faced these difficulties in their youth, adapt to society and how they innovate various forms of behavior for themselves, and to what degree they develop.
Our research group, both in 1992 and 2002, using the same scientific research fund, was able to conduct a comprehensive study on youth behavior and awareness and publish it in academic monographs.
Our objective for our third study in 2012, which had been ten years since our last one, will be a temporal comparison over a 20 year span.
Survey Method (Content)
We will conduct a survey from November to December of 2012, made up of 4200 people from Suginami Ward, Tokyo and Nada and Higashi Nada Wards in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture. The selection process for those chosen followed national protocol, in which there was a statistical random sampling of the Basic Resident Register (similar to a lottery method).
After having sending a postcard in advance, a researcher will come to your home and hand deliver and explain the questionnaire to you.
After filling out the questionnaire, please return it to the researcher who will return in a few days to collect it.
Also, research results will be statistically processed by computer so personal thoughts and opinion will not appear, as well as there will be no infringement of privacy.
Although this questionnaire is voluntary, we ask for your cooperation in order to make the results of this questionnaire more accurate.
This questionnaire will be kept safely at the Sophia University Faculty of Human Sciences, Department of Sociology, Masayuki Fujimura Research Laboratory and once the analysis has been finished, will take responsibility in properly destroying this document.
This survey is purely for academic research and this questionnaire will not be used for any objective other than for academic research purposes.
We are planning to present the results of this questionnaire on our homepage as well as in academic papers and national and international academic conferences.
This research survey received a grant from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Grants-in-aid for Scientific research. Further details can be viewed at the Grants-in-aid database.