Authors

• Grönlund, Kimmo (Åbo Akademi University. Social Science Research Institute)
• Herne, Kaisa (University of Tampere. School of Management)
• Himmelroos, Staffan (Åbo Akademi University. Social Science Research Institute)
• Strandberg, Kim (Åbo Akademi University. Social Science Research Institute)
• Setälä, Maija (University of Turku. Department of Political Science)
• Bäck, Maria (Åbo Akademi University. Social Science Research Institute)
• Leino, Mikko (Åbo Akademi University. Social Science Research Institute)

Keywords

attitudes, bilingualism, deliberation, language policy, national language education, official languages, public opinion

Abstract

The study, which included three separate surveys as well as group deliberation sessions, charted Finnish opinions on the role of the Swedish language in Finland. This final survey in the study was used as a control and the results of the actual study were compared with it.

The respondents were asked to what extent they agreed with a number of statements about Swedish and the Swedish-speaking population in Finland. The statements covered the status of Swedish in the Finnish society, compulsory Swedish at school, advantages of a bilingual society, and views on Swedish-speaking Finns.

The control survey also included questions about political views, such as interest in politics, importance of different areas of politics, frequency of discussing political and social issues with other people, and civic engagement. The respondents were also asked how often they followed politics through media, how much they trusted different institutions, and what their opinions on democracy, voting, political system, and their own political knowledge and competence were. In addition, personal characteristics and social trust were surveyed.

Finally, the respondents were asked whether they had Swedish-speaking relatives, friends or co-workers and how well they were able to speak Swedish. A number of questions investigating factual knowledge of the role of the Swedish language in Finland were presented.

Background variables included the respondent's gender, year of birth, region of residence, household composition, marital status, and type of municipality of residence.