Study title

Energy Attitudes of the Finns 1990

Dataset ID Number

FSD1069

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD1069

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Kiljunen, Pentti (University of Tampere. Department of Local Government Studies)

Abstract

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, opinions, beliefs, assessments, attitudes and knowledge about various energy issues were studied by presenting several statements about energy production. The respondents were also asked in what direction the electricity power production should be developed in Finland and how important they regarded the following factors connected with energy production to be: price, non-polluting energy, availability, domestic energy sources, safety, and production reliability. Moreover, the respondents were asked whether they would prefer nuclear power to coal, and who has real power in the decision-making regarding energy policy. Finally, the respondents' views on what kind of impact constructing new nuclear power plants in Finland or giving up the use of nuclear power would have on Finnish society.

Background variables included the respondent's gender, age, size of the municipality, region, occupation, education, and which political party R would vote for if the parliamentary elections were held at that time.

Keywords

coal; energy; energy consumption; energy generation; energy policy; energy prices; energy supply; environment; environmental degradation; fossil fuels; fuel oils; gas fuels; hydropower; non-renewable energy; nuclear energy; political power; renewable energy; solar energy; wind energy

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Natural sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Environment and conservation (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Energy Attitudes of the Finns 1983-2011

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

The dataset is (B) available for research, teaching and study.

Data Collector

• Kiljunen, Pentti (University of Tampere. Department of Local Government Studies)

Data Producers

• Imatran Voima

Time Period Covered

1990

Collection Dates

1990-09-12 – 1990-12-08

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

Finns aged 18-70 (excluding the Åland Islands)

Time Method

Longitudinal: Trend/Repeated cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Probability: Stratified

The questionnaire was sent to 4,652 persons. The target group consisted of eight separate samples. The entire Finnish population (excluding the Åland Islands citizens) was represented by a group of 2,500 persons aged between 17 and 70, randomly sampled from the population register. Respondents received a questionnaire in Finnish or Swedish, according to their native language. Two additional samples represented municipalities with nuclear power plants: Loviisa (250 persons) and Eurajoki (250 persons). Two samples of similar size represented the municipalities of Kuhmo and Sievi, which are potential nuclear waste repository sites. The fifth municipal-based sample represented the citizens of Pori (250 persons), a potential coal-fired power plant site.

In the 1990 survey teachers/researchers of energy matters (402 persons) and journalists working at the time (500 persons) formed two extra target groups. The questionnaire used was similar to the one used with other target groups, only the background variables were less numerous. Teachers/researchers were chosen from the person registers of relevant universities/polytechnics/colleges, schools, and institutes with their help and permission. The aim was to include as many persons corresponding to the eligibility criteria as possible. The target group of journalists was sampled from the member register of the Association of Finnish Journalists. 2,854 adequately completed questionnaires were returned and the total response rate was 61.4%.

The response rate varied somewhat between the different target groups: in the sample representing the entire Finnish population it was 61.5%, in the Loviisa sample 66.8%, Eurajoki 56.8 %, Kuhmo 61.2 %, Sievi 53.2 %, Pori 65.6 %, teachers/researchers 71.3 % and journalists 54.6 %. The questionnaire was resent twice to the non-respondents of the Finnish population and municipality-based samples, and once for the other two groups.

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Paper

Research Instrument

Structured questionnaire

Response Rate

61.40

Data File Language

Downloaded data package may contain different language versions of the same files.

The data files of this dataset are available in the following languages: Finnish.

FSD translates quantitative data into English on request, free of charge. More information on ordering data translation.

Data Version

2.0

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

In accordance with the source data there are 558 missing data (SYSMIS) for the background variables BV5-BV10.

The sample for the entire Finnish population represents the population in general well as regards the major demographic, social, regional and political factors. Also the municipality-based samples are representative of the population in these municipalities. There are no reference data for teachers/researchers, but the high response rate indirectly implies that the sample is representative. The journalist sample is similar in its structure to other reference data of members of the Association of Finnish Journalists, so it can be regarded as representative of the target group's opinions.

Weighting

There are no weight variables in the data.

Citation Requirement

The data and its creators shall be cited in all publications and presentations for which the data have been used. The bibliographic citation may be in the form suggested by the archive or in the form required by the publication.

Bibliographical Citation

Kiljunen, Pentti (University of Tampere): Energy Attitudes of the Finns 1990 [dataset]. Version 2.0 (2018-07-23). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD1069

Deposit Requirement

Notify FSD of all publications where you have used the data by sending the citation information to user-services.fsd@tuni.fi.

Disclaimer

The original data creators and the archive bear no responsibility for any results or interpretations arising from the reuse of the data.

Related Publications

Kiljunen, Pentti (1991). Energia-asenteet 1990. Seurantatutkimusaineistoa suomalaisten suhtautumisesta energiapoliittisiin kysymyksiin vuosina 1983-1990. Tampereen yliopisto. Kunnallistieteiden laitoksen suunnittelusarja; 44.

Kari, Mika & Kojo, Matti & Litmanen, Tapio (2010). Community Divided. Adaptation and Aversion towards the Spent Nuclear Fuel Repository in Eurajoki and its Neighbouring Municipalities. Jyväskylä: University of Jyväskylä. Tampere: University of Tampere. URN:ISBN:978-951-39-4149-9

Kojo, Matti, Kari, Mika & Litmanen, Tapio (2012). Nuclear community considering threats and benefits of final disposal. Local opinions regarding the spent nuclear fuel repository in Finland. International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management (IJETM) 15(2),124-145.

Lauttamäki, Ville (2018) Geoenergia kiinteistöjen lämmitysratkaisujen markkinoilla Suomessa energiakriisien ajoista 2030-luvulle. Turun yliopiston julkaisuja - Annales Universitatis Turkuensis Sarja - ser. E osa - tom. 29 Oeconomica Turku 2018. http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-29-7234-0