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Childcare research

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Letter to the editor
Author: 
Cunningham, Mary K.
Format: 
Article
Publication Date: 
22 Aug 2016
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EXCERPTS

Re: Keep Ottawa out of the childcare business — Aug. 13

In the interests of full disclosure, it is to be hoped that readers of this article took time to find out something about the organization that Andrea Mrozek, the writer, comes from.

I did social science research my whole professional life and had never heard of Cardus. I wondered about the tone of the article, especially the line that said, "Canadians think it is best for a child under six to be at home with a parent." I would certainly like to examine the study sample(s) and questions that produced that conclusion.

Online I discovered that Cardus is a Christian-based organization which appears to be connected to doing research and publishing opinions. That is not necessarily a bad thing as long as readers know how this organization is focused. However, I was more concerned to learn that as of January 2016, Cardus has taken in the Institute of Marriage and the Family which was started by Focus on the Family Canada in 2006. I am not sure how this move could possibly lead to an increase in objectivity in any research. Social science research should be highly objective especially when it is recommending government action or inaction as this article did.

-Mary K. Cunningham, Kitchener

-reprinted from The Record

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