Study title

Upper Secondary Students' Experiences of Economics Course YH2 2012-2013

Dataset ID Number

FSD3099

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3099

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Sutela, Inkeri (University of Helsinki)

Abstract

This study charted Finnish-speaking upper secondary school students' opinions on the Economics course YH2 and the textbooks used during the course, as well as views on how the course relates to such themes as sustainable development and economic growth.

First, the respondents' general interest in matters such as the economy, domestic and international news and party politics were examined. Next, the respondents were asked how useful, practical or interesting they thought the course was in general.

They were asked to evaluate the effect of the course on making the students think about sustainable development and understanding it. The respondents were also asked if it was possible to combine economic growth and ecologically sustainable development, and they were asked to give reasons for their opinion. Next, the respondents were presented with a set of statements regarding economic growth, market economy and sustainable development, such as "Economic growth is a good thing", "Consumer choices direct industry to act more ethically", "It is possible to sustain economic growth in the long run", and "Wealth is a consequence of being diligent, creative, smart and industrious". Opinions on economic decision-making carried out by economists and politicians were also examined, e.g. with regard to whether or not politicians should consider the opinions of experts when making decisions related to the economy.

Questions about teaching and the textbook used during the course charted their practicality, and it was asked whether or not topics were discussed from varying perspectives. Finally, the respondents were asked if the economics course should contain more topics concerning ethics in economic life, the global/national perspective or the individual's perspective.

Background variables included the respondent's gender, type of the municipality in which the respondent's school is located and the textbook used during the course.

Keywords

civic education; economic policy; educational courses; national economy; political ethics; students; sustainability; textbooks; upper secondary schools

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Political behaviour and attitudes (CESSDA Topic 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

• Sutela, Inkeri (University of Helsinki)

Time Period Covered

2012

Collection Dates

2012-01-01 – 2013-02-28

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

Students of Finnish-language upper secondary schools who were taking or had recently taken the Economics YH2 course at the time of the survey

Time Method

Cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Non-probability: Purposive

During the school year 2011-2012, the data collector approached upper secondary schools where she knew teachers of history or social studies (civics). With this method, only responses from upper secondary schools that used the textbook "Uusi Forum" were received, so in 2012-2013 she contacted schools that used the textbook "Linkki" (with the help of the book's publisher). Students from ten upper secondary schools responded to the survey.

The students responded to the survey in relation with the economics course YH2. An electronic link to the questionnaire was provided to the students by the teacher; the questionnaire was not publicly available. Responding to the survey was voluntary in some upper secondary schools, which may have caused self-selection bias. In total, 213 students responded to the survey.

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Web-based (CAWI)

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

1.0

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

Variable [q2] queried the name of the respodent's school and was thus removed from the data to prevent identification; the type of the municipality of the respondent's school was categorised into variable [q2luok] according to the statistical grouping of municipalities 2014 (urban/semi-urban/rural + the capital region). Variable [q20] "Name, if you allow us to contact you with further questions regarding your answers" was removed because it contained direct identifiers.

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

Sutela, Inkeri (University of Helsinki): Upper Secondary Students' Experiences of Economics Course YH2 2012-2013 [dataset]. Version 1.0 (2017-07-05). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3099

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

Sutela, Inkeri (2015). Konkretian vaikeus. Lukion taloustieto, talouskasvu ja kestävä kehitys lukiolaisten silmin - onko oppikirjalla väliä? Nuorisotutkimus 1/2015.

Sutela, Inkeri (2015). Lukiolaisten näkemyksiä talouspolitiikasta ja taloustiedon kurssista. Kasvatus 46 (2), 143-159