"We've found some areas that provide us with some good opportunities, things that are really positive, and some areas that… trouble us," Frances Adams of the Peterborough Social Planning Council reported during a media conference yesterday.

The study, called the Peaceful Communities Research Project, took place over the last year and was co-ordinated by Pauline Matthews of the Peterborough Social Planning Council. Pauline worked in partnership with 12 local organizations.

Some 400 adults and 350 students were surveyed on their attitudes about what constitutes violence, the prevalence of violence, their own experiences with violence and how it can be reduced.

Nine focus groups were also held with about 50 community members. They discussed such issues as the definitions of violence, root causes and solutions.

Several significant positive points of the research included the following:

 • Four out of five respondents agreed or strongly agreed that people can change to become non-violent.

 • 70 per cent of community members
believe they have a personal responsibility to prevent violence.

 • Male and female students indicated virtually the same rate of agreement on the question of whether it is men's responsibility to stop violence against women.

 • There was generally a low tolerance for many forms of violence and abuses.

Frances said she also found it positive that "people are generally hopeful about the potential for the success of peace-building initiatives and strategies."

Areas of concern as indicated by the research were as follows:

 • The levels of violence that people have experienced and the lack of safety that people feel in the Peterborough area.

 • Only 20 per cent of students feel a personal responsibility to prevent violence, although a sizeable number (40 per cent) simply were not sure.

 • Students said they tolerated more
abusive behaviours, and were less likely to report violence against themselves.

 • There is comparatively little understanding of the extent of abuse against older adults in the community. Slightly more than one-half of resident agreed that abuse of older adult was a problem in the community. Only 20 per cent of students thought likewise.

The research project comprises phase one of the Peaceful Communities Project, which was started last year. Phase two was the Peaceful Communities Forum, held in October.

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