European Values Systems Study Group (EVSSG) carried out the first EVS surveys in several Western European countries in 1981. The World Values Surveys series was started when the original EVS study evoked such interest that it was replicated in 14 additional countries. EVS surveys have been carried out in four waves: 1981, 1990, 1999 and 2008. WVS data have been collected in five waves: 1981-1984, 1989-1993, 1994-1999, 1999-2004, and 2005-2008.
Structurally, the international surveys of the World Values Survey (WVS) series resemble the Eurobarometers and the ISSP surveys. Citizen activities, attitudes, and basic values in different countries are studied with integrated, structured surveys.
European Values Study group is responsible for the EVS data collection. The planning of the WVS, and the coordination and documentation of the aggregated four-wave data file has been carried out by the World Values Survey network, under the direction of Professor Ronald Inglehart.
Finland has participated in WVS from the very beginning with materials collected by Gallup Finland (TNS Gallup Ltd). WVS/EVS data are usually collected with face-to-face interviews. However, in 1990 and in 2009 (the fourth wave of EVS), the Finnish material was collected via GallupChannel, i.e. by using Internet terminals installed in respondents' homes.
WVS/EVS data and documentation are also available on the Values Survey Database web site. The service is free, but downloading requires registration.
World Values Survey 2005: Finnish Data studies the respondents' values, attitudes and situation in life in a versatile manner. The data include an oversample of Swedish-speaking population.
The respondents rated the importance of various domains in life (e.g. family, work, leisure time). Views were probed on happiness, objectives, satisfaction with life, and whether the respondents felt that they have completely free choice and control over their lives. The survey also investigated whether the respondents belonged to any voluntary organisations or communities. In relation to prejudices against different groups with various characteristics, the respondents were asked which groups they would not like to have as neighbours (e.g. people of a different race, drug addicts, immigrants, homosexuals). Further questions covered general trust or mistrust of people.
There were several questions relating to working life in the survey. One theme pertained to which aspects the respondents would consider to be important if they were looking for a job (e.g. a good income, safety in the workplace). The respondents were asked whether they agree with statements relating to work and working life. The respondents were also asked whether it is justifiable to favour Finns or men for employees when jobs are scarce.
Several questions focused on family, home, marriage, and having and raising children. Further questions charted religious behaviour, beliefs, and whether the respondents belonged to any religious denominations. The respondents were asked to assess the aims of Finnish society and potential future changes in lifestyle. They considered different global problems and objectives to find solutions to them. The respondents' political action was covered by asking, among other things, if they had participated in peaceful demonstrations. Confidence in various institutions in society was examined. The respondents were also asked to assess different political systems and characteristics of democracy.
Political inclinations were surveyed, for instance, by asking the respondents to place themselves on the left-right axis and by asking them about voting behaviour. Opinions were also probed on the responsibilities of the individual vs. the responsibilities of the government, competition, science, technology, income disparity, attitudes towards euthanasia, cheating on taxes, accepting a bribe, Finnishness, foreign aid, immigration, and ethnic diversity. The use of computer and different sources of information were investigated as well.
The face-to-face interview was followed by a self-completed questionnaire. Finnish conceptions of Swedes were investigated. Firstly, the questionnaire covered the respondents' knowledge of, among others, Swedish population, current and former prime ministers, authors, composers, athletes, and how Sweden fared in the UN's international comparisons measuring standard of living and equality between men and women. Further questions covered the respondents' trips to Sweden and whether they had any Swedish acquaintances. The respondents' opinions on, among others, cooperation between Sweden and Finland regarding culture, politics and economy were charted, as well as their views on Swedish institutions and the characteristics and self-image of Swedes. Finally, the questionnaire examined the attitudes that the respondents, their relatives, and the whole Finnish population have towards Swedes.
Background variables included, among others, the respondent's gender, year of birth, marital status, number of children, educational level, main occupation, duration of the possible unemployment, province of residence, type of neighbourhood, household income, and whether or not R lives with his/her parents.
Multistage stratified sampling
The base sample is a representative sample of 18 years and older population in Finland excluding Åland (Ahvenanmaa). Primary stratification was based on municipality data and secondary stratification was based on zip code areas. The first stage stratification was based on two dimensions: the North-South dimension grouped the municipalities according to NUTS 2 into three groups (Southern Finland, Central Finland and Northern Finland) and the urban-rural dimension was used to form two groups (urban municipalities and semi-urban and rural municipalities). By linking these two dimensions six primary level strata were obtained. The Capital Region (Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen) formed an individual stratum. The total number of starting/sampling points was 127, and one sampling point contained eight interviews. Starting points were distributed among strata in accordance to the population (aged 18+).
The second stage stratification grouped zip code areas within the first stage strata in such a way that the second stage strata was as homogeneous as possible in terms of socio-economic dimensions. The mean income in the capital region and proportion of apartment buildings in other regions were used as the stratification variables. In total there were 16 second stage strata (Capital region, Southern Finland, Central Finland and Northern Finland each was divided into four second stage strata). At each first stage stratum the number of starting points was distributed as equally as possible amongst the second stage strata. The number of sampling points inside each stratum was in a direct relation to the number of inhabitants in each stratum. Therefore proportional allocation was used. Inside each stratum, clusters (zip code areas) was picked using PPS-sampling and inside each picked cluster the sample size was the same (8 interviews). Inside each sampled cluster a starting point was chosen randomly. From randomly drawn address the interviewers moved towards growing address numbers. Within the target households the respondents were chosen by sex and age quotas.