Study title

Opinions on Social Policy and Public Services 1993

Dataset ID Number

FSD1212

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD1212

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Ervasti, Heikki (University of Turku. Department of Social Policy)
• Kangas, Olli (University of Turku. Department of Social Policy)

Abstract

The survey studied Finnish trade union members' attitudes towards the welfare state in a difficult economic situation. The data were collected with the help of two questionnaires, in the second of which statements were manipulated (variables q1, q11, q12, q13, q19, q21, q26). In some statements only one word had been changed, in others a line of thought. The manipulation was based on the theory that selfish goals, social norms which emphasize solidarity and sufficient knowledge of the subject influence people's behaviour. The respondents were asked whether they agreed or disagreed with the statements covering topics such as social security benefits, social policy, taxation, public services, pensions, unemployment benefits, privatizing public services and financing public expenditure.

The respondents were asked how much they themselves had benefited from public sector benefits and services. The survey charted opinions on the likelihood of respondents taking a supplementary pension if statutory pension schemes were cut. Opinions on how to rein in public spending were canvassed: introduce service fees, increase taxation, introduce means-tested benefits, cut services. The respondents were asked which services, social security benefits or parts of social insurance could be cut. Opinions on who should take care of certain services were canvassed; options included the public, private and third sectors, neighbours and relatives. One question surveyed what a sufficient level for different social security benefits would be (as percentage of wages).

Background variables included the respondents' sex, age, type of household, basic and vocational education, occupation, monthly gross income, interest in politics, trade union, activity in trade union and party preference.

Keywords

attitudes; private sector; public expenditure; public sector; public services; social economy; social policy; social security; social services; social welfare; taxation

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Social welfare policy (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Economic policy, public expenditure and revenue (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Individual datasets

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

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

Data Collector

• Ervasti, Heikki (University of Turku. Department of Social Policy)
• Kangas, Olli (University of Turku. Department of Social Policy)

Data Producers

• University of Turku. Department of Social Policy

Time Period Covered

1993

Collection Dates

1992-12 – 1993-01

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

Working age members of eight Finnish trade unions (Finnish Food Worker's Union, Union of Health and Social Care Services, Finnish Bank Employee's Union, Union of Salaried Employees in Industry in Finland, Technical Employee's Union, The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners, The Finnish Association of Graduates in Economic and Business Administration, The Finnish Metalworkers' Union).

Time Method

Cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Probability: Stratified

Stratified random sampling from the member registers of participating trade unions. Target population consisted of 1,844 working age members of eight different trade unions. The number of returned, completed questionnaires was 1,117 and response rate 61 percent. Strata were chosen to represent occupational groups with differing backgrounds. Sampled members in each stratum were randomly selected. The research frame was based on the strategy of maximum divergence.

Traditional working class occupations were represented by the male-dominated Finnish Metalworkers' Union (response rate 60%) and the female-dominated Finnish Food Workers' Union (57%). Modern middle class occupations were represented by the Union of Health and Social Care Services in the public sector (65%) and by the Union of Bank Employees in the private sector (58%), both of which were female-dominated. Members of the male-dominated Technical Employees Union (66%) and female-dominated Union of Salaried Industrial Employees (65%) operated in the private sector. The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (59%) represented farmers. The sample also included the private-sector Association of Graduates in Economic and Business Administration (57%), whose members mostly belonged to the well-off higher middle class.

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Paper

Research Instrument

Structured questionnaire

Response Rate

61

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

1.1

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

The archive does not have the original questionnaire containing the 30 attitudinal statements (A-questionnaire). The response categories of variables q47 and q57 differ from those in the questionnaire.

Differences between variables q1, q11, q12, q13, q19, q21, q26 in different questionnaires are denoted with brackets. The statement in question 13 is longer in questionnaire 1 than in questionnaire 2. In questionnaire 2, the statements in questions 1, 11, 12, 19, 21, and 26 are longer.

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

Ervasti, Heikki (University of Turku) & Kangas, Olli (University of Turku): Opinions on Social Policy and Public Services 1993 [dataset]. Version 1.1 (2016-11-11). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD1212

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 Materials

Ervasti, Heikki (1993). Yhteiskuntaluokat ja hyvinvointivaltion vaihtoehdot. Turku : Turun yliopisto. - (Turun yliopisto. Sosiaalipolitiikan laitos. Sarja A;3)

Ervasti, Heikki & Kangas, Olli (1994). Ammattiryhmät ja hyvinvointivaltio : tutkimus kahdeksan etujärjestön sosiaalipoliittisista asenteista. Turku : Turun yliopisto - (Turun yliopisto. Sosiaalipolitiikan laitos. Sarja B;3)

Kangas, Olli (1995). Metsä vastaa miten huudetaan : kysymysten muotoilun vaikutus mielipiteisiin. - Julkaisussa: Politiikka 37 (2): 128-137.

Related Publications

Kangas, Olli (1994). Tarveharkinta ja yhteiskuntaluokat: pohjoismaisen universalismin tausta. Janus 2(1), 25-35.

Kangas, Olli (1995). Metsä vastaa miten huudetaan: kysymysten muotoilun vaikutus mielipiteisiin. Politiikka 37(2), 128-137.

Kangas, Olli (1995). Who is the foe of means-testing?: attitudes on means-testing in Finland. Turku: University of Turku. University of Turku. Department of Social Policy. Series B;5.

Forma, Pauli (1996). Etuuksiini ei kosketa: universalismi, rationaalisuus ja tulonsiirtojen legitimiteetti. Janus 4 (1), 3-21.

Forma, Pauli (1999). Interests, Institutions and the Welfare State: Studies on Public Opinion Towards the Welfare State. Helsinki: Stakes. National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health, Research Report; 102.

Ervasti, Heikki & Kangas, Olli (1993). Yhteiskuntaluokat ja sosiaaliturvan suunta. Talous & yhteiskunta 21(3), 40-56.

Ervasti, Heikki & Kangas, Olli (1994). Ammattiryhmät ja hyvinvointivaltio: tutkimus kahdeksan etujärjestön sosiaalipoliittisista asenteista. Turku: Turun yliopisto. Turun yliopisto. Sosiaalipolitiikan laitos. Sarja B;3.

Ervasti, Heikki & Kangas, Olli (1995). Class bases of universal social policy: pension policy attitudes in Finland 1993. European Journal of Political Research, 27(3), 347-367.

Ervasti, Heikki (1993). Yhteiskuntaluokat ja hyvinvointivaltion vaihtoehdot. Turku: Turun yliopisto. Turun yliopisto. Sosiaalipolitiikan laitos. Sarja A; 3.

Ervasti, Heikki (1994). Yhteiskuntaluokat ja hyvinvointipalvelut. Sosiologia 31(4), 274-287.