Study title

Religious Diversity 2008: Finnish Data

Dataset ID Number

FSD2835

Persistent identifiers

https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2835
https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd2835

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Ketola, Kimmo (Church Research Institute)
• Volkhard, Krech (Ruhr Universität Bochum. Centrum für Religionswissenschaftliche Studien)
• Hero, Markus (Ruhr Universität Bochum. Centrum für Religionswissenschaftliche Studien)
• Huber, Stefan (Universität Bern. Theologische Fakultät)
• Klingenberg, Maria (Church Research Institute)
• Vovk, Tina (Univerza v Ljubljani. Center za raziskovanje javnega mnenja in mnozicnih komunikacij)

Other Identification/Acknowledgements

• Sohlberg, Jussi (Church Research Institute)
• Hovi, Tuija (Åbo Akademi. Uskontotiede)
• Crnic, Ales (Univerza v Ljubljani. Center za proucevanje kulture in religije)
• Sabec, Ksenija (Univerza v Ljubljani. Center za proucevanje kulture in religije)
• Smrke, Marjan (Univerza v Ljubljani. Katedra za analitsko sociologijo)
• Traunmüller, Richard (Universität Mannheim. Mannheimer Zentrum für Europäische Sozialforschung)

Abstract

The survey studied religiosity and attitudes towards religious pluralism in Finland. It formed part of the research "What Are the Impacts of Religious Diversity? Regions in Three European Countries Compared", funded by New Opportunities for Research Funding Co-operation in Europe (NORFACE). The same survey was also carried out in Slovenia and Germany.

First, views on religious pluralism were charted by asking the respondents whether truth can be found in none, one or all religions. The importance of religion in the respondents' lives was studied with questions about religious experiences, praying, meditating, taking part in religious services and activities, and belief in God and afterlife. The respondents were also asked how religious or spiritual they considered themselves to be and how often they rethought their religious views or were critical of religious teachings.

Other questions covered the respondents' religious options and religious currents they had been in contact with. Another set of questions focused on the degree of fundamentalism, asking the respondents whether they tried to convert others to their religion, were prepared to make sacrifices for religion, whether they thought their religions was the only right one etc.

Views were probed on what kind of groups (e.g. alcoholics, immigrants, homosexuals, people of different race) the respondents would not have liked to have as their neighbours. One theme pertained to tolerance towards immigrants. Frequency of participating in activities promoting human rights, development aid, community activities, environmental or cultural issues was charted, as well as participation in activities organized by a religious community and donations to charity. A number of questions studied religious affiliation and commitment to the religious community.

Background variables included the respondent's year of birth, gender, education, marital status, financial circumstances of the family, number of persons living in the household, R's ethnic background, Finnish citizenship, native tongue, and type of neighbourhood.

Keywords

citizen participation; donations to charity; immigrants; religion; religious affiliation; religious behaviour; religious beliefs; religious practice; social participation

Topic Classification

• Humanities (Fields of Science Classification)
• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Religion and values (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Social behaviour and attitudes (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

• Innolink Research

Time Period Covered

2008

Collection Dates

2008-08 – 2008-09

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland, Helsinki, Southern Savonia (Etelä-Savo)

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

People aged over 18 living in the city of Helsinki or in the region of Southern Savonia in Finland

Time Method

Cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Probability: Stratified

A quota sample of 1,500 persons was selected separately both for Helsinki and for the region of Southern Savonia (Etelä-Savo). The quotas were based on population distributions in terms of age and gender.

Collection Mode

Telephone interview: Computer-assisted (CATI)

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

The variable identifying postal code has been removed from the data.

Weighting

There are four weight variables in the data. The first (Paino1) weights the sample to be representative in terms of affiliation with a church or a religious community, that is, affiliation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, affiliation with other church/religious community or no religious affiliation. The second (Paino2) weights the sample to population distribution by education level. Paino3 and Paino4 consist of combined Paino1 and Paino2.

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

Ketola, Kimmo (Church Research Institute) & Volkhard, Krech (Ruhr Universität Bochum) & Hero, Markus (Ruhr Universität Bochum) & Huber, Stefan (Universität Bern) & Klingenberg, Maria (Church Research Institute) & Vovk, Tina (Univerza v Ljubljani): Religious Diversity 2008: Finnish Data [dataset]. Version 2.0 (2018-07-26). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2835

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

Hero, Markus & Huber, Stefan & Ketola, Kimmo & Krech, Volkhard & Traunmüller, Richard (2013). Religious Diversity and Religious Vitality: New Measuring Strategies and Empirical Evidence [verkkodokumentti]. Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion, 9 (3). Saatavilla http://www.religjournal.com/articles/ [viitattu 15.8.2013].

Related Publications

Hero, Markus & Huber, Stefan & Ketola, Kimmo & Krech, Volkhard & Traunmüller, Richard (2013). Religious Diversity and Religious Vitality: New Measuring Strategies and Empirical Evidence [verkkodokumentti]. Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion, 9 (3). Saatavilla http://www.religjournal.com/articles/ [viitattu 15.8.2013].

Karhu, Juha (2020). Rukoilun merkityksestä juutalaisuudessa: Pro gradu -kyselytutkimus Suomen juutalaisten rukoilemiseen liittyvistä käsityksistä. Helsinki: Helsingin yliopisto. Lähi-idän tutkimuksen pro gradu -tutkielma. http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:hulib-202012155200.