Study title

Finnish Local Government 2004: Inhabitants 2004

Dataset ID Number

FSD2273

Persistent identifiers

https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2273
https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd2273

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Helander, Voitto (Åbo Akademi University)
• Pekola-Sjöblom, Marianne (Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities)
• Sjöblom, Stefan (University of Helsinki. Swedish School of Social Science)

Abstract

This survey studies the inhabitants' views on their municipalities, municipal services, and decision-makers. Views were also probed on the different ways of participation and influencing, as well as on the level of political and civic activity.

The respondents' opinions on how likely they will live in their current municipality of residence for the rest of their lives were charted. They were also asked whether they considered their municipality a good place to live compared to other municipalities.

The respondents were asked to what extent they identified with their neighbourhood, municipality, region, country, the Nordic countries, the EU, and Europe on the whole. Political inclinations were surveyed by asking the respondents to place themselves on the left-right axis and on the hard-soft scale. The survey also charted the respondents' satisfaction with their lives, economic situation, and housing. The respondents were asked to evaluate their own abilities to interact with their municipality and to defend their own interests.

The respondents were asked which municipal services (public services) they had used in the last 12 months, how well certain municipal services functioned, and whether the municipality should invest more or less in these services in the future.

The respondents were also asked whether they had been elected to any office in their municipality, and whether they would be willing to hold an elected office. Political views and activity were investigated by asking the respondents whether they were going to vote in the 2004 municipal elections, whether they were going to vote for a female or male candidate, which party they were going to vote for, and whether they change the party they vote for between different elections. Relating to voting decision, the respondents were asked to rate the importance of the person, the party, and the fact that the candidate lives in the same municipality.

Methods and activity of influencing decision-making were studied by asking the respondents whether they had followed current issues concerning their municipality in the media or visited the web pages of their municipality. Further questions covered whether the respondents had given feedback on public services in their municipality and whether the eventual feedback had been countered. The respondents were asked whether they had used certain methods of influencing decision-making (e.g. taking part in demonstrations, signing petitions, contacting decision-makers). They were also asked to rate the effectiveness of these methods. Membership and participation in non-governmental organisations and associations was also queried. Finally, the respondents gave their views on a set of attitudinal statements related to organising different services and administration. In addition, they were asked to assess how integral certain aspects are to the idea of citizenship (e.g. paying taxes honestly, obeying the law and regulations, sacrificing personal interest for the common good, respecting public property, membership in a political party).

Background variables included the respondent's year of birth, gender, number of underage children, education, employment type, employer, and tenure. Background variables not asked in the questionnaire included the respondent's marital status and mother tongue.

Keywords

attitudes; citizenship; community identification; elected officials; elections; housing; local government; local government elections; local government policy; place of residence; political allegiance; political participation; politics; public services; residential areas; social influence; voluntary organizations; voting; voting behaviour

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Political behaviour and attitudes (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Government, political systems and organisations (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Social welfare policy (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

• Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities

Time Period Covered

2004

Collection Dates

2004-08 – 2004-12

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland, Espoo, Hamina, 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, Porvoo, Pudasjärvi, Punkaharju, Pyhäntä, Pylkönmäki, Ranua, Rääkkylä, Sonkajärvi, Suolahti, Tyrnävä, Vaasa, Vahto, Varkaus, Vimpeli, Virrat

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

Residents of the project municipalities aged 18 or over

Time Method

Longitudinal: Trend/Repeated cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Probability: Multistage

Simple random sampling, sample size 25,050.

The project municipalities in the Finnish Local Government 2004 research programme have been completed every year. In 2004, the list was extended to cover Kangaslampi, which merged with the city of Varkaus at the beginning of 2005. The research universe consisted of 47 municipalities.

The Population Register Centre randomly drew a sample of 300, 450, 650 or 1,500 inhabitants in each selected municipality depending on its size. There were three follow-up mailings, of which the last one was sent only to those municipalities where the response rate was among the lowest. 13,265 questionnaires were returned.

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Paper

Research Instrument

Structured questionnaire

Response Rate

53

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 and English.

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

Number of Cases and Variables

254 variables and 13265 cases.

Data Version

1.0

Related Datasets

FSD1207 Finnish Local Government 2004: Inhabitants 1996

FSD2272 Finnish Local Government 2004: Inhabitants 2000

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

The variable charting the municipality of residence was removed from the data.

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

Helander, Voitto (Åbo Akademi University) & Pekola-Sjöblom, Marianne (Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities) & Sjöblom, Stefan (University of Helsinki): Finnish Local Government 2004: Inhabitants 2004 [dataset]. Data version 1.0 (2007-09-05). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd2273; URN: https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2273

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

Pekola-Sjöblom, Marianne & Helander, Voitto & Sjöblom, Stefan (2006). Kuntalainen - kansalainen. Tutkimus kuntalaisten asenteista ja osallistumisesta 1996-2004. KuntaSuomi 2004 -tutkimuksia nro 56. Helsinki: Suomen Kuntaliitto

http://www.kunnat.net/k_kuntaliitto_perussivu.asp?path=1;161;279;29902;29906;45777;51260

Related Publications

Schoultz, Vera (2010). Nuorten poliittinen osallistuminen ja sen murros. Teoksessa Ohipuhuttu nuoruus? Nuorten elinolot -vuosikirja (toim. Anu-Hanna Anttila, Kristiina Kuussaari & Tiina Puhakka), 93-104. Helsinki: Nuorisotutkimusverkosto/Nuorisotutkimusseura, Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos THL & Valtion nuorisoasiain neuvottelukunta Nuora.

Pikkala, Sari (2009). Avhoppare och utslagna. Personomsättning i finländska kommunfullmäktige. Åbo: Åbo Akademis förlag.

Pekola-Sjöblom, Marianne & Helander, Voitto & Sjöblom, Stefan (2006). Kuntalainen - kansalainen. Tutkimus kuntalaisten asenteista ja osallistumisesta 1996-2004. Helsinki: Suomen Kuntaliitto. KuntaSuomi 2004 -tutkimuksia; 56 & Acta-sarja; 182.

Demokratiaindikaattorit 2013. Toim. Borg, Sami. Helsinki: Oikeusministeriö. Selvityksiä ja ohjeita 52/2013. URN:ISBN:978-952-259-334-4