Study title

Finnish Local Government 2004: Non-Governmental Organisations 1996

Dataset ID Number

FSD1196

Persistent identifiers

https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD1196
https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd1196

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Ståhlberg, Krister (Åbo Akademi University. Department of Public Administration)
• Helander, Voitto (Åbo Akademi University. Department of Public Administration)
• Pikkala, Sari (Åbo Akademi University. Department of Public Administration)

Abstract

The respondents of the survey were representatives of associations and other local non-governmental organisations in target municipalities. The aim of the survey was to study political participation and local interest groups. Most questions pertained to the activities and characteristics of associations and organisations, but the respondents' opinions were probed on certain issues. First questions covered the basic facts: was the organisation registered, its range of activities and geological area of operations. Some questions focused on the organisation's resources: membership structure, number of individual members, their gender, age and education, characteristics of community members, changes in member numbers, number of employees and the division of work between employed personnel and voluntary activists.

The organisation's internal and external interaction was studied. Questions covered how the organisation informed members of its activities, did it probe members' opinions or try to increase the degree of membership activity and the number of meetings held. Respondents were asked whether the organisation's elected or employed officials had municipal elective offices or municipal posts, or held elective offices within the organisation on a district or national level. The organisation's collaboration with other associations, non-governmental organisations and parties were also charted. The organisation finances were investigated with questions about expenditure and sources of income and whether the organisation owned/administered foundations or real estate. A number of questions pertained to the relations between the organisation and the municipality: methods used to influence municipal decision-making, the organisation's collaboration and interaction with municipal bodies and co-operation with other organisations to influence decision-making. Respondents were asked whether the organisation had supported any candidates in the 1996 municipal election campaign and in what way. The organisation's own service production was investigated. Respondents were asked how successful various organisations were in influencing the decision-making in the respondent's municipality.

Finally, respondents were asked to what extent they agreed with statements relating to the relations between non-governmental organisations and authorities/municipalities/the state. Other statements pertained to what factors prevent organisations from reaching their aims, fund-raising, taxation, democracy, service production and the future.

Background variables included the respondent's status in the organisation, sex, year of birth and the number of organisations in which he/she held an elective office.

Keywords

associations; decision making; local government; local government services; membership; municipal elections; municipalities; organizational democracy; participation; political influence; private voluntary organizations; social economy; third sector; voluntary work

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Government, political systems and organisations (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Finnish Local Government 2004

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

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

Data Collector

• Ståhlberg, Krister (Åbo Akademi University. Department of Public Administration)
• Helander, Voitto (Åbo Akademi University. Department of Public Administration)
• Pikkala, Sari (Åbo Akademi University. Department of Public Administration)

Data Producers

• Åbo Akademi University. Department of Public Administration

Time Period Covered

1996

Collection Dates

1996-05 – 1996-08

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland, Espoo, 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, Rural Municipality of Porvoo, Pudasjärvi, Punkaharju, Pyhäntä, Pylkönmäki, Ranua, Rääkkylä, Sonkajärvi, Suolahti, Tyrnävä, Vaasa, Vahto, Varkaus, Vehkalahti, Vimpeli, Virrat

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Organization/Institution

Universe

Chairpersons, secretaries, executive managers (or such) of associations and organizations in target municipalities (one respondent per association)

Time Method

Longitudinal: Trend/Repeated cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Probability: Multistage

Total universe/Complete enumeration

Two-stage stratified sampling in selecting project municipalities. Total study of the non-governmental organisations, selected with judgement sampling from the lists provided by the municipal decision-makers of the sampled project municipalities.

The project municipalities were selected separately from those with less than 10000 inhabitants (28 municipalities) and from those with more than 10000 inhabitants (19 municipalities). The selection aimed to be representative within both groups in relation to all municipalities with the same population size. Large municipalities were over-represented because 70 % of the Finnish population lives in large municipalities. Representativeness criteria included regional location, age and education of the population, industry structure, municipal economy parameters, political situation and variables related to municipal policy. The target group municipalities form a small scale model of all Finnish municipalities. The Åland Islands municipalities were excluded because of special features caused by their autonomy.

The selection of associations and other non-governmental organisations: local contact persons received a request for data and a list of organisations. The list was derived from another study in the Finnish Local Government survey series and was based on the information received in that study: municipal decision-makers had listed organisations which aimed to influence decision-making in their municipality. The request for data also included a list of the type of organisations that the researchers wished to be surveyed. Organisations did not need to be registered. Supplementary information was requested in case the municipality sent a list which included only the most important organisations or if certain types of organisations were missing. The sample group, i.e. organisations interacting in some way with municipalities, was chosen with judgement sampling from the lists provided by the contact persons.

The final target group consisted of 3919 associations and organisations. The associations existing "only for themselves" (eg. workers' associations, student unions and study groups) and local party organisations were excluded. Only the trade unions which have municipal personnel as members were included. If the association had subsections or municipal district sections etc. in the municipality, only the principal association was included. If the principal association did not function in the municipality, at most four sections were included. Hobby associations were included only if they formed a part of the municipality's image (eg. choir or theatre). Sports organisations were limited to four per each sport. Same criteria applied to hunting and fishing associations. No elimination was made regarding business activity associations, sectors of social and health organisations, municipal district associations or village committees. There were 2131 responses.

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Paper

Research Instrument

Structured questionnaire

Response Rate

54.4

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

1.0

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

The data contain two categorized variables describing association/organisation type.

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

Ståhlberg, Krister (Åbo Akademi University) & Helander, Voitto (Åbo Akademi University) & Pikkala, Sari (Åbo Akademi University): Finnish Local Government 2004: Non-Governmental Organisations 1996 [dataset]. Version 1.0 (2002-03-11). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD1196

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

Kunnat ja järjestöt (1999). Toim. Voitto Helander & Sari Pikkala. Helsinki: Suomen Kuntaliitto. KuntaSuomi 2004 -tutkimuksia; 20 & Acta; 116.

Kunnat ja päättäjät (1997). Toim. Sari Pikkala. Helsinki: Suomen Kuntaliitto. KuntaSuomi 2004 -tutkimuksia; 9 & Acta; 85.