Since 1984, the Finnish Business and Policy Forum (EVA) has conducted surveys studying changes in Finnish attitudes, values, and perceptions of the present and the future. For related studies, see the Finnish EU Attitudes 1992-2012 series. Since 2013, EVA has not distinguished between national value and attitude surveys and EU attitude surveys. From 2018 onwards, the EVA Surveys on Finnish Values and Attitudes have been consistently biannual.
The series aims at measuring and analysing citizens' views on Finnish society. The data allow a detailed empirical analysis and systematic follow-up of change in public opinion. Each dataset contains both new themes and recurring themes with questions repeated over the years.
Themes covered include democracy, market economy, welfare, environment, society and politics, Finland's international position, economic depression, economic growth, Finnish identity, and views on the future. The surveys are funded by EVA and have usually been carried out by Yhdyskuntatutkimus and Taloustutkimus. More information on the surveys can be found on the EVA Arvopankki website (in Finnish).
The main themes of this survey were occupational life, working conditions in Finnish workplaces, national economy, employment, time use and work-life balance. Other topics included the significance of certain job characteristics and paid work in general.
First, the respondents were asked whether they agreed with a number of statements relating to working life and the Finnish society. The statements pertained, for instance, to job security, employment situation, financial crisis, equality, pension system, aging work force, income tax, entrepreneurship, trade unions, immigration and market economy.
The next set of questions probed views on the importance of certain job/work characteristics to the respondents. The characteristics mentioned included full-time work, permanent contract, flexible or regular working hours, supervisor/manager characteristics, autonomy at work, secure job, working atmosphere, interesting job, wage level, good career prospects etc.
One theme pertained to time use. The respondents were asked whether they would like to use more or less time on paid work, household work, family activities, friends, leisure time activities, and participation in political or voluntary activities.
A number of questions focused on perceptions of paid work, to what extent it was only a necessity to finance life and hobbies, to earn a living and to what extent it was a source for self-esteem, a privilege or a duty, whether it meant continuous physical or mental stress, unjust treatment, continuous change, solidarity with employer, possibility to demonstrate skills etc.
Finally, the respondents evaluated how likely it was that certain changes would take place in occupational life in Finland. The changes mentioned included, for instance, loss of permanent jobs, weakening of trade union influence, increase in part-time work, increase in entrepreneurship, new jobs in the service industry or in manufacturing, deteriorating working atmosphere, people working longer before retirement etc.
Background variables included, among others, the respondent's gender, age group, education, economic activity and occupational status, industry of employment, region of residence, employer type, type of employment contract, self-perceived social status, and number of inhabitants in the municipality of residence.
The data consist of two separate samples. The first sample was the internet panel conducted by Taloustutkimus, with 2,048 respondents completing the questionnaire between 19 January and 1 February 2010. The second sample was the traditional simple random sample drawn from the Finnish population register (excluding the Åland Islands inhabitants) used for EVA surveys. In this sample the number of adequately completed posted questionnaires was 1,124 persons. Both samples received the same questions.