世論 What Japan Thinks

goo Research, in conjunction with the Yomiurin Shimbun, published the results of a survey conducted into youth and volunteering and pets. This is the second time there’s been a strange combining of topics by goo Research; last time it was love and comedy.

Demographics

Between the 24th and 26th of April 2007 550 members of goo Research’s online monitor panel completed a private questionnaire. There was an exactly 50:50 split between the sexes, and 35% of the respondents were students, 31% in full time employment, and 11% fulltime homemakers. The occupation (or lack thereof) of the remaining 23% was not reported.

Looking at the results, it is nice to see that a majority have some degree of interest in volunteer activities, with a large minority willing to take part in them. Through the union at work I occasionally see calls for volunteers for river bank clearing, etc and whilst I have an interest in that, I really do not want to do anything for the union as they do very little for me. Last year in fact they tried to get me to volunteer (there is an almost-obligatory volunteering system) to take part in a campaign to get people to vote.

Research results

Q1: Are you interested in volunteer activities? (Sample size=550)

	All	Male	Female
Very interested	12%	9%	14%
Somewhat interested	42%	39%	48%
Not very interested	34%	37%	30%
Not interested at all	11%	14%	9%
Don’t know	2%	1%	2%

Q2: Have you ever taken part in volunteer activities? (Sample size=550)

	All	Teenagers	Twenties	Thirties
Yes	44%	54%	43%	34%
No	48%	30%	51%	62%
Don’t know	8%	15%	6%	4%

Q3: Do you want to take part in volunteer activities in the future? (Sample size=550)

Want to (to SQ)	43%
Don’t want to	17%
Don’t know	41%

Q3SQ: What kind of volunteer activities might you like to take part in? (Sample size=234, multiple answer)

Environment beautification (litter collection, etc)	61%
Natural environment protection	46%
Medical, nursing, caring services	38%
International cooperation, exchange	31%
Child-rearing support, child care	31%
Town development	30%
Culture, arts	27%
Education	27%
Sports	24%
Tourism	24%
Local safety, crime prevention	19%
Other	3%
Don’t know	2%

Q4: In high schools, etc, there are moves to make volunteer activities compulsory. What do you think about this? (Sample size=550)

It’s natural that they are compulsory	15%
It’s strange to make it required	73%
Don’t know	12%

Now, we move from volunteers to pets, for some reason…

Q4: Do you or your family currently have a pet? (Sample size=550)

Tropical, goldfish, koi carp or other fish	12%
Bulldog, Corgi, Shiba-ken, or other medium-sized dog	11%
Amercian Short Hair, Russian Blue or other cat	8%
Minature Dashhound, Chiuhaha, Papilion or other small dog	8%
Hamster, ferret, rabbit or other small animal	5%
Budgie, parrot or other bird	4%
Turtle, iguana, snake or other reptile	3%
Golden Labrador, Doberman, Akita-ken or other big dog	2%
Beetle, or other insect	1%
Other	1%
Don’t have a pet	60%
Don’t know	0%

The following supplemental question was put to the 40% who said they or their family kept a pet.

Q4SQ: Why do you keep a pet? (Sample size=221, multiple answer)

Because it’s cute	63%
Because it’s healing	65%
Because I like animals	49%
Because my family likes animals	46%
Because it lessens a sense of loneliness	18%
Because it was a stray, was given it	15%
Because it can improve family life	13%
Because it can relieve stress	12%
To enrich children’s life	10%
Because it protects against crime	7%
Because it is more fun than humans	5%
Because it makes me appear great	1%
Other	1%
Don’t know	1%

Q5: How do you see the relationship between pets and their owners? (Sample size=550)

	All	Male	Female
They are part of the family, love pet like a child	56%	50%	62%
Only a pet, just there to please me	27%	33%	21%
Don’t know	14%	14%	14%
Other	3%	3%	3%