ANU Poll 2011: The Internet and Social Capital

This poll is the ninth in an ongoing series of polls being undertaken by the Social Research Centre for the ANU. Their purpose is to assess Australians' opinions on important and topical issues, with an emphasis on international comparisons. These polls are typically conducted three times a year, or about every four months. Some questions appear in every poll in order to provide information about changes in opinion over time; the majority of questions appear in one poll only. This research is used to inform public debate and policy about issues affecting Australia. The main focus of this poll was on Australians' attitudes towards the internet and social capital. Variables include opinions about the biggest problems facing Australia today; contributions to society; political interests, discussions and efficacy; participation in voluntary organisations and perceptions of trust in communities, along with individual use of the internet. Background variables include gender, age, household composition, country of birth, highest level of education, employment status and income.