The Family barometers series was launched by the Population Research Institute, a subdivision of the Finnish Family Federation, in 1996. The annual surveys revolve round family life, but each barometer has also its own theme. These have included assistance between different generations, sufficiency of public support and services, the division of domestic responsibilities, work-life balance, parenting, child-rearing, and children's pastimes and hobbies.
The study charted Finnish views on family policy and included themes such as family benefits, taxation, parenting, gender roles and work-life balance. Data collection was funded by Alli Paasikivi Foundation (80%) and Suomen kotien kukkasrahasto foundation (20%). Many of the questions in this survey have also been presented, for instance, in the previous Family Barometer (FSD2793).
The respondents' views were surveyed on how tax income should specifically be allocated if it was used to support families with children (e.g. on day care services, child health care), and the importance of various measures that could be taken to improve the circumstances of families with children. Views were surveyed on the ideal number of children, plans to have more children, and reasons for not planning to have more children (e.g. own health, uncertain employment situation). The respondents were also asked whether their plans related to having a child would change if family benefits and services were improved.
Opinions were surveyed on the level of child benefit and child home care allowance as well as the length of parental leave and part-time child care leave. Other questions related to part-time child care leave charted whether the respondents had been on the leave with their youngest child and for how long, whether spouse had been on the leave, reasons for being on the leave a longer or shorter time than desired, and reasons for not taking the leave (e.g. negative attitude of employer, new job). The respondents were asked the age at which a child is ready to be cared for outside the home, and to what extent they agreed with a number of statements relating to gender roles and significance of children and family.
Views were investigated on the reasons for the fact that many Finns either postponed parenthood or did not have children at all. Finally, the respondents were asked which potential changes to family leave they found acceptable and how the state had succeeded in improving the well-being of families and children.
Background variables included, among others, the respondent's date of birth, gender, mother tongue, region of residence, marital status, household composition, level of education, economic activity and occupational status, political party choice, self-perceived social class, and personal gross annual income. Further background variables included the spouse's year of birth and education, the mother tongues of the members of the household, household size, number and ages of children in the household, gross annual income of the household, and the respondent's/family's financial situation.
The respondents were members of TNS Gallup Finland's panel. The aim was to draw a sample from the panel that was as representative of the target population as possible. The number of persons selected for the study was 5,036, out of whom 2,619 responded. The overall response rate was affected by the low response rate among young men (29%).