Study title

Student Perspective on Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences 2010

Dataset ID Number

FSD2613

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2613

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Lavikainen, Elina (Student Research Foundation (Otus))

Abstract

The survey investigated student opinion on study conditions in universities of applied sciences (polytechnics) in Finland. The main themes pertained to the choice of educational institution, study tracks, quality of teaching on their programme, study environment, the respondents' ability to study, and ways of influencing how things are run in the institution and in Finnish society.

Questions covered what year the respondents had completed their upper secondary education, reasons for choosing their institution and field of study, reasons for the time it took to for them to commence their present studies after secondary education or previous studies, satisfaction with own study progress, and reasons for slow progress.

Further questions charted how well the institution and studies had met their expectations, how satisfied the respondents were with different aspects of their institution (e.g. teaching quality, teaching methods, amount of work compared to credits gained, study guidance), and whether their studies had given them skills needed in working life and in life generally. Opinions on practical training and feedback were surveyed, as well as plans for further studies. The survey also explored the respondents' previous studies and possibilities to credit the previous studies or work experience as part of their degree.

Ability to study and study environment were charted with a number of questions. The respondents were asked to rate their abilities to, for instance, work in group, find suitable study methods, prepare for an exam, plan their studies, interact with other students and teachers. They were presented with some statements relating to, for example, their health, life control, social relations, different aspects of study environment, and study guidance and support. Experiences of being subjected to antisocial behaviour or discrimination were charted. One topic pertained to sport services at the institution.

The respondents were asked whether they were members in the student union and reasons for not being a member. They were asked to what extent they agreed with some statements relating to the activities and services of the student union. Methods used to influence things at the institute were explored. Finally, the respondents were asked whether they believed they could influence issues important to them by voting and what methods they had used to influence decision-making in Finnish society.

Background variables included the respondent's year of birth, gender, R's and the parents' level of education, and details of R's degree programme and study (field of study, level, teaching language of the programme, whether Finnish or foreign student, year when commenced present studies, credits earned, change of institution or field of study).

Keywords

educational certificates; educational guidance; quality of education; student organizations; students (college); tertiary education; vocational education institutions

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Higher and further education (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

• Lavikainen, Elina (Student Research Foundation)

Data Producers

• Ministry of Education and Culture
• Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences - SAMOK

Time Period Covered

2010

Collection Dates

2010-04-30 – 2010-06-09

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

People who had enrolled at a Finnish university of applied science for a polytechnic Bachelor's or polytechnic Master's degree during 2004-2009, and who had earned at least one credit point during the past three years.

Time Method

Cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Probability: Systematic random

Systematic sample including every 4th person in the target population.

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Web-based (CAWI)

Research Instrument

Structured questionnaire

Response Rate

22.5

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

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

Variables identifying the educational institution and unit had been removed from the data prior to the deposition to the data archive. The data do not contain responses to the open-ended questions.

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

Lavikainen, Elina (Student Research Foundation (Otus)): Student Perspective on Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences 2010 [dataset]. Version 1.0 (2011-03-22). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2613

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

Lavikainen, Elina (2010). Opiskelijan ammattikorkeakoulu 2010. Tutkimus ammattikorkeakouluopiskelijoiden koulutuspoluista, koulutuksen laadusta ja opiskelukyvystä. Helsinki: Opiskelijajärjestöjen tutkimussäätiö Otus rs 35/2010.