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 the survey were social change and the need for transformation in society, equality and inequality, and the European Union.
First, the respondents were asked to what extent they agreed with a number of statements relating to, for instance, political parties and the political system, science and technology, employment, economic growth, changes in society, equality, education, environment, free competition, public services, globalisation, Finland's NATO membership, market forces, national debt, immigration etc.
Opinions were charted on why the Finnish society was slow to change and reform. Reasons mentioned included, for instance, sensible caution and moderation, lack of public funds, complexity and size of social problems, bureaucracy, inability to cooperate of different actors in society, lack of leadership in society, atmosphere that discourages responsiblity and risk-taking, and opposition to reform among citizens.
The respondents were also asked what kind of voter they were (i.e. core voter, swing voter, abstaining voter) as well as how they would place themselves on the left-right and liberal-conservative axes. One set of questions charted opinions on the equality/inequality between Finns in various issues and between different groups, for instance, income distribution, health, educational opportunities, genders, generations/age groups, municipalities, occupational groups, taxation, political rights and opportunities, freedom of speech, and ethnicities. Views on the acceptability of different means of influencing in society were investigated (e.g. boycotting, infiltrating and/or recording in production facilities, legal demonstrations, rioting, traffic blockades, nonviolent direct action in order to draw the attention of the media).
Views were charted on characteristics of the Finns and Finland and the effects of these characteristics in society. Opinions were studied on Finnish education in international comparison.
Relating to the European Union, opinions were charted on Finland's EU membership and the currency change to euro. The respondents were also asked whether the EMU membership and euro were advantageous or disadvantageous to Finland in the economic situation at the time of the survey, whether their opinion of the EU had become more positive or negative, and whether they would vote for or against Finland's EU membership if a referendum were held at the time of responding.
The background variables included the respondent's gender, year of birth, region of residence (NUTS3), basic and vocational education, economic activity and occupational status, industry of employment, political party choice if parliamentary elections were held at the time of survey, membership in a trade union, self-perceived social class, and number of inhabitants in the municipality of residence.
The Internet panel of Taloustutkimus, randomly drawn from Finland's population register, consists of people aged 15-79 who have entered their demographic and sociographic information when registering to the panel and have given their consent to Taloustutkimus to invite them to participate in different surveys. Answering any survey is voluntary and participants can leave the panel any time they want.
The sample for this study was drawn from among the Taloustutkimus panel members, to be representative of the 18-70-year-old Finnish population (excluding the Åland Islands) in terms of age, gender, province of residence, education, and economic activity/occupational status. Invitations were sent to the selected population in three phases: 14th, 22nd and 28th of January 2014. The participants completed an interactive online questionnaire using a secure connection provided by Taloustutkimus. During data collection, four reminder e-mails were sent to selected groups of non-respondents and to persons who had completed only a part of the questionnaire (on 17th, 20th, 24th and 27th of January 2014). By 30 January 2014, 2,052 persons had sent acceptable responses. During the analysis of results, Taloustutkimus weighted the data to be representative of Finnish population aged 18-70 in terms of age, gender, region of residence, education, economic activity and occupational status, industry of employment, and political party allegiance (i.e. what party would vote for in parliamentary elections)