positively linked with all four sport participation variables; the two arts participation variables for children aged 5-10; libraries and heritage inside school for 11-15 year olds; and museums outside schools for 5-10 year olds. Clearly swimming does not cause participation in other cultural activities. However, higher levels of swimming ability, notably amongst 5-10 year olds, point to culturally engaged families providing their children with a relatively wide range of sporting and cultural opportunities. Enjoyment Whilst it is hardly surprising, enjoyment is identified as a variable is strongly associated with participation in arts and heritage, particularly amongst 11-15 year olds. This finding is useful in confirming individual tastes and preferences as a key determinant of the demand for culture by 11-15 year olds. The theme of tastes and preferences is prevalent throughout the research and is a complex area of human behaviour. There is some evidence that children's tastes and preferences are shaped by their parents' experiences as children; their parents' current behaviours; and their own experiences. There is no pattern to the relative impact of the factors influencing children's tastes and preferences and it is likely that any such impacts will vary by sector and by the age of children. Demand Stimulating demand for and culture is often predicated on the basis of perceived 'barriers' to participation. The majority of the significant associations we found were positive rather negative. There are two possible explanations. First, the CTPS does not include questions about barriers to participation and this is an area for future development of the survey. Second, the decision to participate or not in a particular sport or cultural activity is a function of tastes and preferences. Should the latter point be the case, the role of policy is to influence tastes and preferences such that children value sport and culture more than they do competing products and services. Sectoral overview Arts In the arts sector we find that being a girl is a strong predictor of participation and is consistently associated with participation across the four out of school participation variables. Sport In sport we find that being a girl is systematically negatively associated with all participation variables, that is, the exact opposite to the case with arts participation. These findings suggest that participation in sport and the arts is gender-specific and seemingly a taste or preference that is developed early in life. Heritage In heritage ethnicity and Asian) is negatively associated with participation amongst children aged 5-10. This is a finding that is consistent with the adult Taking Part Survey but it is perhaps surprising that it is a finding that is significant for children aged 5-10 but not
positively linked with all four sport participation variables; the two arts participation variables for children aged 5-10; libraries and heritage inside school for 11-15 year olds; and museums outside schools for 5-10 year olds. Clearly swimming does not cause participation in other cultural activities. However, higher levels of swimming ability, notably amongst 5-10 year olds, point to culturally engaged families providing their children with a relatively wide range of sporting and cultural opportunities. Enjoyment Whilst it is hardly surprising, enjoyment is identified as a variable is strongly associated with participation in arts and heritage, particularly amongst 11-15 year olds. This finding is useful in confirming individual tastes and preferences as a key determinant of the demand for culture by 11-15 year olds. The theme of tastes and preferences is prevalent throughout the research and is a complex area of human behaviour. There is some evidence that children's tastes and preferences are shaped by their parents' experiences as children; their parents' current behaviours; and their own experiences. There is no pattern to the relative impact of the factors influencing children's tastes and preferences and it is likely that any such impacts will vary by sector and by the age of children. Demand Stimulating demand for and culture is often predicated on the basis of perceived 'barriers' to participation. The majority of the significant associations we found were positive rather negative. There are two possible explanations. First, the CTPS does not include questions about barriers to participation and this is an area for future development of the survey. Second, the decision to participate or not in a particular sport or cultural activity is a function of tastes and preferences. Should the latter point be the case, the role of policy is to influence tastes and preferences such that children value sport and culture more than they do competing products and services. Sectoral overview Arts In the arts sector we find that being a girl is a strong predictor of participation and is consistently associated with participation across the four out of school participation variables. Sport In sport we find that being a girl is systematically negatively associated with all participation variables, that is, the exact opposite to the case with arts participation. These findings suggest that participation in sport and the arts is gender-specific and seemingly a taste or preference that is developed early in life. Heritage In heritage ethnicity and Asian) is negatively associated with participation amongst children aged 5-10. This is a finding that is consistent with the adult Taking Part Survey but it is perhaps surprising that it is a finding that is significant for children aged 5-10 but not
Multivariate_analysis_of_the_determinants_of_child_participation_-_Technical_Report.docx