FSD2273 Finnish Local Government 2004: Inhabitants 2004
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Helander, Voitto (Åbo Akademi University)
Pekola-Sjöblom, Marianne (Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities)
Sjöblom, Stefan (University of Helsinki. Swedish School of Social Science)
Abstract
This survey studies the inhabitants' views on their municipalities, municipal services, and decision-makers. Views were also probed on the different ways of participation and influencing, as well as on the level of political and civic activity.
The respondents' opinions on how likely they will live in their current municipality of residence for the rest of their lives were charted. They were also asked whether they considered their municipality a good place to live compared to other municipalities.
The respondents were asked to what extent they identified with their neighbourhood, municipality, region, country, the Nordic countries, the EU, and Europe on the whole. Political inclinations were surveyed by asking the respondents to place themselves on the left-right axis and on the hard-soft scale. The survey also charted the respondents' satisfaction with their lives, economic situation, and housing. The respondents were asked to evaluate their own abilities to interact with their municipality and to defend their own interests.
The respondents were asked which municipal services (public services) they had used in the last 12 months, how well certain municipal services functioned, and whether the municipality should invest more or less in these services in the future.
The respondents were also asked whether they had been elected to any office in their municipality, and whether they would be willing to hold an elected office. Political views and activity were investigated by asking the respondents whether they were going to vote in the 2004 municipal elections, whether they were going to vote for a female or male candidate, which party they were going to vote for, and whether they change the party they vote for between different elections. Relating to voting decision, the respondents were asked to rate the importance of the person, the party, and the fact that the candidate lives in the same municipality.
Methods and activity of influencing decision-making were studied by asking the respondents whether they had followed current issues concerning their municipality in the media or visited the web pages of their municipality. Further questions covered whether the respondents had given feedback on public services in their municipality and whether the eventual feedback had been countered. The respondents were asked whether they had used certain methods of influencing decision-making (e.g. taking part in demonstrations, signing petitions, contacting decision-makers). They were also asked to rate the effectiveness of these methods. Membership and participation in non-governmental organisations and associations was also queried. Finally, the respondents gave their views on a set of attitudinal statements related to organising different services and administration. In addition, they were asked to assess how integral certain aspects are to the idea of citizenship (e.g. paying taxes honestly, obeying the law and regulations, sacrificing personal interest for the common good, respecting public property, membership in a political party).
Background variables included the respondent's year of birth, gender, number of underage children, education, employment type, employer, and tenure. Background variables not asked in the questionnaire included the respondent's marital status and mother tongue.
Keywords
associations; attitudes; candidates; citizenship; elected officials; elections; housing; local government; local government elections; local government policy; municipalities; participation; place of residence; political allegiance; political participation; politics; public services; regional identity; residential areas; social influence; voluntary organizations; voting; voting behaviour
Topic Classification
administrative sciences; local government studies; political studies (FSD Topics Classification)
government, political systems and organisations; mass political behaviour, attitudes/opinion; social welfare policy (CESSDA Topics Classification)
Series Name
Restrictions
The variable indicating municipality has been removed from the data.
Access to the data granted for scientific and teaching purposes. FSD's access application procedure.
Data Collector
Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities
Collection Date
August 2004 - December 2004
Nation
Finland
Geographical Coverage
Finland, Espoo, Hamina, Haukipudas, Humppila, Hämeenlinna, Iitti, Jaala, Joroinen, Kaarina, Karstula, Kemiö, Kerava, Kiikala, Kokkola, Kolari, Kotka, Kristiinankaupunki, Kuhmoinen, Lappeenranta, Leppävirta, Lieksa, Liljendal, Lumijoki, Mikkeli, Multia, Naantali, Noormarkku, Närpiö, Oulainen, Outokumpu, Padasjoki, Pieksämäki, Porvoo, Pudasjärvi, Punkaharju, Pyhäntä, Pylkönmäki, Ranua, Rääkkylä, Sonkajärvi, Suolahti, Tyrnävä, Vaasa, Vahto, Varkaus, Vimpeli, Virrat
Analysis Unit
Individual
Universe
Residents of the project municipalities aged 18 or over
Sampling Procedure
Simple random sampling, sample size 25,050.
The project municipalities in the Finnish Local Government 2004 research programme have been completed every year. In 2004, the list was extended to cover Kangaslampi, which was annexed to the city of Varkaus at the beginning of 2005. The research universe consists of 47 municipalities.
The Population Register Centre randomly drew a sample of 300, 450, 650 or 1,500 inhabitants in each selected municipality according to its size. There were three follow-up mailings, of which the last one was sent only to those municipalities where the response rate was among the lowest. 13,265 questionnaires were returned.
Collection Mode
Postal survey
Research Instrument
Structured questionnaire
Response Rate
53%
Time Method
Longitudinal: Trend/Repeated cross-section
Collection Size
Data: SPSS portable file. Data available also in other file formats.
Number of cases and variables
13265 cases and 254 variables
Data version
1.0 (5.9.2007)
Other Material
See downloadable files at the top of the page
Questionnaire: pdf file in Finnish
Related Studies
FSD2272 Finnish Local Government 2004 : Inhabitants 2000
FSD1207 Finnish Local Government 2004 : Inhabitants 1996
Citation Requirement
The source must be acknowledged in any publication based wholly or in part on the data. The bibliographic citation may be in the form required by the publication, or in the form suggested by the archive.
Bibliographical Citation
Helander, Voitto & Pekola-Sjöblom, Marianne & Sjöblom, Stefan: Finnish Local Government 2004: Inhabitants 2004 [computer file]. FSD2273, version 1.0 (2007-09-05). Åbo Akademi University & Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities & University of Helsinki. Swedish School of Social Science [producers], 2004. Tampere: Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor], 2007.
Depositing Requirements
The archive must be informed of all publications where the data have been used.
Disclaimer
The depositor and the archive bear no responsibility for any results or interpretations arising from the secondary use of the data.
Related Publications
Pekola-Sjöblom, Marianne & Helander, Voitto & Sjöblom, Stefan (2006). Kuntalainen - kansalainen. Tutkimus kuntalaisten asenteista ja osallistumisesta 1996-2004. Helsinki: Suomen Kuntaliitto. KuntaSuomi 2004 -tutkimuksia; 56 & Acta-sarja; 182.
Pikkala, Sari (2009). Avhoppare och utslagna. Personomsättning i finländska kommunfullmäktige. Åbo: Åbo Akademis förlag.
Schoultz, Vera (2010). Nuorten poliittinen osallistuminen ja sen murros. Teoksessa Ohipuhuttu nuoruus? Nuorten elinolot -vuosikirja (toim. Anu-Hanna Anttila, Kristiina Kuussaari & Tiina Puhakka), 93-104. Helsinki: Nuorisotutkimusverkosto/Nuorisotutkimusseura, Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos THL & Valtion nuorisoasiain neuvottelukunta Nuora.
