The survey series was launched in 1983 at the University of Tampere, and was initially financed by the energy company Imatran Voima (later known as the Fortum Corporation). Finnish public opinion on energy policy issues was studied by annual mail surveys. Comparative data allow detailed empirical analysis and systematic follow-up of citizen perceptions, opinions, beliefs, knowledge, values, and attitudes on these matters.
The surveys were carried out by Yhdyskuntatutkimus and jointly produced by the Fortum Corporation (Imatran Voima until 1998) and Teollisuuden Voima (TVO). The Finnish Energy Industries (ET) was responsible for publishing the results from 2004 onwards. The data collection for this series has been finished, but the same themes are studied in the Finnish Energy Attitudes series.
The survey studied Finnish public opinion on energy policy issues. The data are part of an extensive survey series launched in 1983. The respondents' conceptions of various energy issues, their evaluations, opinions, beliefs, assessments, attitudes and knowledge about them were studied by presenting several statements about energy production. The respondents were also asked in what direction should energy production be developed in Finland and how important they thought the various factors connected with energy production to be (e.g. price, low pollution, availability, degree of domestic added value, safety and secureness of production). The respondents were also asked the extent to which they were worried about various things (e.g. spread of AIDS, threat of war, nuclear disasters, having a traffic accident). Finally, the respondents were asked to select advantages and disadvantages of different sources of energy.
Background variables included the respondent's gender, age, size of municipality of residence, province of residence, occupation, education, and political orientation.
In the population central register 3,500 persons were randomly chosen into the sample. The respondents were aged between 15 and 70 years. The target group consisted of five different samples. 2,500 persons represented the whole country's population. The target group contained also two municipalities with a nuclear plant, Loviisa (250 persons) and Eurajoki (250 persons). The energy attitudes of Kuhmo and Sievi were studied with separate samples of equal size. 70.1 % of the whole country's target group responded, 71.2 % of those living in Loviisa, 69.6 % of inhabitants of Eurajoki, 63.6 % of those in Kuhmo, and 72.4 % of those living in Sievi. After the original questionnaires had been mailed, the respondents were sent two reminders in order to gather the information.