The survey series was launched in 1983 at the University of Tampere, and was initially financed by the energy company Imatran Voima (later known as the Fortum Corporation). Finnish public opinion on energy policy issues was studied by annual mail surveys. Comparative data allow detailed empirical analysis and systematic follow-up of citizen perceptions, opinions, beliefs, knowledge, values, and attitudes on these matters.
The surveys were carried out by Yhdyskuntatutkimus and jointly produced by the Fortum Corporation (Imatran Voima until 1998) and Teollisuuden Voima (TVO). The Finnish Energy Industries (ET) was responsible for publishing the results from 2004 onwards. The data collection for this series has been finished, but the same themes are studied in the Finnish Energy Attitudes series.
The survey charted Finnish attitudes to energy production and energy strategy. The data are part of an extensive survey series launched in 1983. The respondents' conceptions, opinions, beliefs, assessments, attitudes, and knowledge about energy issues were studied by presenting them with a number of statements relating to energy production, energy sources, climate change, energy prices, pollution, etc. They were also asked whether Finland should increase or decrease the use of certain energy sources (e.g. coal, peat, natural gas, nuclear power, water power, wind power, bioenergy) in electricity generation. Views on the sources of atmospheric aerosol particles, i.e. particulate matter, were charted. Opinions were also surveyed on the reliability of various organisations and institutions as sources of information on the risks, environmental effects and costs of different energy production alternatives.
Background variables included the respondent's gender, age group, basic and vocational education, economic activity and occupational status, number of inhabitants in the municipality, region of residence, and which political party R would vote for if the parliamentary elections were held at that time.
The questionnaire was sent to 4050 persons aged 18 - 70, randomly sampled from Finland's population register. Altogether, three separate samples were drawn. The entire Finnish population, including both Swedish-speaking and Finnish-speaking persons but excluding the Åland Islands residents, was represented by a sample of 3000 persons. One additional sample of 350 persons represented the inhabitants of Loviisa, and another of 700 persons represented the inhabitants of Eurajoki. The respondents received either a Finnish or Swedish questionnaire according to their mother tongue.
The number of adequately completed questionnaires was 1163 and the total response rate was 28,7. Response rate varied somewhat between the samples: for the sample representing the entire Finnish population it was 28,9 %, for Loviisa 34,6 % and for Eurajoki 25,1 %.