Student Knowledge about Canada: A Hint of Optimism

Abstract

Using a questionnaire of 60 cognitive items, the authors investigated general knowledge about Canada in Canadian students in grades 7, 10 and 12. The criteria of relevance, pervasiveness and durability guided the selection of items. The questionnaire was administered in both French and English to 14,051 students from all 10 provinces and 2 territories.Judging from their responses, students do indeed possess an adequate level of knowledge about Canada. Furthermore, this knowledge level increases significantly between grades 7 and 12.