Study title

Finnish Local Government Barometer 2008: Inhabitants

Dataset ID Number

FSD2467

Persistent identifiers

https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2467
https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd2467

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Foundation for Municipal Development

Abstract

The survey charted the respondents' attitudes towards municipal administration, service provision, and elections. First, the respondents were presented with a set of attitudinal statements on municipal administration and services. Their views were also queried on various municipalities, municipal decision-making, and service provision. In addition, the respondents were queried how adequate or inadequate different services in their municipalities were in terms of demand. They were also asked whether the responsibility for organising municipal services should be assumed by individual municipalities or jointly by several municipalities, and whether private companies and organisations should provide municipal services more in the future.

Further questions charted the respondents' willingness to hold various municipal elected offices, for example standing as a candidate in municipal elections or acting in a department of a political party. They were also presented with a list of various characteristics of local councillors and asked which characteristics they would like to see in their own councillors. In addition, the respondents gave their opinions about various statements on municipal management and municipal elections. Finally, the adult respondents evaluated themselves as voters.

Background variables included the respondent's gender, age, education, occupational status, household composition, region of residence (NUTS3), and household gross income.

Keywords

councillors; local government; local government elections; local government policy; mayors; municipalities; political influence; political parties; public services; voting

Topic Classification

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

Series

Finnish Local Government Barometers

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

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

Data Collector

• TNS Gallup

Data Producers

• Foundation for Municipal Development

Time Period Covered

2008

Collection Dates

2008-03-01 – 2008-04-02

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

People aged 15 or over living in Finland (excluding the Åland Islands)

Time Method

Longitudinal: Trend/Repeated cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Probability: Multistage

The sample was drawn in three stages. In the first stage, the number of subjects required by the survey was regionally divided by major regions (NUTS2). In the second stage, the number of subjects was further subdivided within each major region by the type of neighbourhood. The type of neighbourhood was determined in two different ways: city municipalities were divided into large and small cities according to their population size, and rural municipalities into three groups based on the occupational structure of the population. The survey municipalities were representatively selected on the basis of the forementioned strata. In the third stage, starting points (addresses) were selected in each municipality based on their population size. The interviews were conducted by using random-walk method. Four interviews were made starting from each of the randomly selected starting points. One member corresponding to the age and gender eligibility criteria was chosen for the interview from each sample household.

Collection Mode

Face-to-face interview

Research Instrument

Structured questionnaire

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

2.0

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

Weight variables and variables indicating municipality and postal code have been 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

Foundation for Municipal Development: Finnish Local Government Barometer 2008: Inhabitants [dataset]. Version 2.0 (2018-07-18). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2467

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

Kansalaismielipide ja kunnat: Ilmapuntari 2008 (2008). Helsinki: Kunnallisalan kehittämissäätiö. Polemia-sarja; 69.

Related Publications

Kansalaismielipide ja kunnat: ilmapuntari 2008 (2008). Helsinki: Kunnallisalan kehittämissäätiö. Polemia-sarja; 69.

Laiho, Anna (2013) Kuntalaisten ja kunnanvaltuutettujen mielipiteet kunnallisista palveluista 2000-luvulla. Turku: Turun yliopisto. Sosiaalipolitiikan pro gradu -tutkielma.