Study title

Young People and Local Democracy 2004

Dataset ID Number

FSD2048

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2048

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Advisory Council for Youth Affairs (Nuora)
• Finnish Youth Research Society. Finnish Youth Research Network
• Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities

Abstract

The survey charted attitudes to local democracy among people aged between 15 and 30. Respondents' opinions on local government policy, party policy and municipal services were studied with attitudinal statements. Some questions focused on inequality, immigrants and ways and channels of political influence. Respondents were asked to what extent characterisations such as local citizen and member of global community apply to them. They were also asked whether they would vote in the following municipal elections, if they had the right to vote, and which party they would vote for then and now. Respondents who would not vote were asked reasons for their decisions and those who would vote were asked to state aspects that would influence their choice of candidate.

Representative and interest groups for young people in the municipality were charted. Respondents assessed how much power different bodies have, for example, municipal council and the media. Opinions on local government policy were studied with attitudinal statements whose themes pertained to citizens' possibilities to influence the policy, young people and local government policy and respondents' willingness to be involved in the process of local democracy. Attitudes to organisations and associations and their activities as well as taking measures such as municipal initiatives were studied. In case respondents themselves were politically active, their trust in, for example, friends, other citizens and international non-governmental organisations was examined. Finally, respondents were asked whether they are satisfied with municipal services and measures, for example, libraries, cafés, employment and prevention of social exclusion. Their willingness to influence or participate in making decisions on these matters was also charted.

Background variables included respondent's gender, age, educational institution, field of study, economic activity, and sector and industry of employment.

Keywords

citizen participation; local government policy; political participation; public services; social influence; voting; young people; youth

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Youth (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Political behaviour and attitudes (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

• Advisory Council for Youth Affairs
• Finnish Youth Research Society. Finnish Youth Research Network
• Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities

Data Producers

• Advisory Council for Youth Affairs
• Finnish Youth Research Society. Finnish Youth Research Network
• Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities

Time Period Covered

2004

Collection Dates

2004-04 – 2004-05

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland, Savitaipale, Jalasjärvi, Pieksänmaa, Loviisa, Puolanka, Janakkala, Kaustinen, Viitasaari, Anjalankoski, Kolari, Lempäälä, Mustasaari, Kitee, Oulu, Kiuruvesi, Hollola, Pori, Espoo, Salo

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

People aged between 15 and 30 living in selected municipalities

Time Method

Cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Non-probability: Purposive

One municipality was chosen from every Finnish region excluding the Åland Islands. Selection of the municipalities was based on the municipal welfare classification of the National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health (STAKES). Questionnaires were sent to each municipality according to the proportion of the population. Personal data, addresses and information on native language were collected from the Population Register Centre. Approximately 1,250 questionnaires reached the chosen persons. A total of 537 questionnaires were returned, out of which 25 had to be rejected. Some of the answers were received through other research contacts.

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Paper

Research Instrument

Structured questionnaire

Response Rate

43

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

Related Datasets

FSD2049 Young People and Local Democracy 2004: Active Participants

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

The variable identifying municipality has been removed from the data. Variables connected with open-ended answers are also missing. The data includes only the variable of the most important matter of the question 13 ("Priority of matters in the municipality") and year of birth has been replaced with an age variable.

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

Advisory Council for Youth Affairs (Nuora) & Finnish Youth Research Society & Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities: Young People and Local Democracy 2004 [dataset]. Version 1.0 (2005-03-03). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2048

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

Nuorten ääni ja kunnantalon heikko kaiku: nuoret kunnallisessa demokratiassa ja paikallisissa vaikuttajaryhmissä (2004). Toim. Kari Paakkunainen. Helsinki: Opetusministeriö & Suomen kuntaliitto & Nuorisotutkimusverkosto & Nuorisoasian neuvottelukunta. Nuorisoasian neuvottelukunta, julkaisuja; 29 & Nuorisotutkimusverkosto/Nuorisotutkimusseura, julkaisuja; 46.

Paloniemi, Riikka & Vainio, Annukka (2011). Why Do Young People Participate in Environmental Political Action? Environmental Values 20(3), 397-416. doi: 10.3197/096327111X13077055166108

Vainio Annukka & Paloniemi Riikka (2013). Arvot, luottamus ja kompetenssi nuorten ympäristöpoliittisen osallistumisen selittäjinä. Psykologia, 48, 17-31.