Study title

Identity Horizons of Finnish Higher Education Students 2015

Dataset ID Number

FSD3266

Persistent identifiers

https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3266
https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd3266

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Helve, Helena (University of Tampere. School of Social Sciences and Humanities)
• Svynarenko, Arseniy (Finnish Youth Research Society. Finnish Youth Research Network)

Other Identification/Acknowledgements

• Sinisalo-Juha, Eeva (University of Tampere. School of Social Sciences and Humanities)
• Côté, James (The University of Western Ontario. Department of Sociology)
• Mizokami, Shinichi (Kyoto University)
• Nakama, Reiko (Hyogo University of Teacher Education)
• Roberts, Sharon E. (Renison University College at the University of Waterloo)
• IS1311 - Intergenerational Family Solidarity across Europe (INTERFASOL)

Abstract

This survey studied the identity, values, attitudes, experiences, and expectations of Finnish higher education students between 18 and 24 years of age. The themes of the survey included, among others, self-esteem, personality traits, and local and global identity. Most of the themes were studied using standardised measures. The survey was carried out as part of the international project "The role of identity horizons in education-to-work transitions - A cross-cultural study of students in higher education in Finland, Japan and Northern America". The project surveyed the identities and values of young people and their significance in the transition from higher education to work life.

First, the respondents were asked about their regional identity (for example, whether they identified as Europeans, Finnish citizens, or cosmopolitans). Next, the respondents' identities were examined by charting their experiences and thoughts using the Identity Issues Inventory and Identity Resolution Index by James Côté. The respondents were presented with a set of attitudinal statements concerning, for example, self-confidence, social behaviour and roles, beliefs and values, perception of own skills, and adulthood. The respondents also responded to attitudinal statements from the MAPS20 Self-esteem scale (for example, whether the respondents perceived themselves as fun to be with and popular with persons their own age).

The survey also carried a set of attitudinal statements that examined the respondents' identity by using the Identity Horizons Scale to chart, for example, career plans and opinions on additional education, and the Identity Styles Inventory (5th version) to chart beliefs, attitudes and ways of dealing with issues (for example, whether the respondents thought that it is better to have a firm set of beliefs than to be open-minded and whether the respondents waited as long as possible before making a decision). The next set of attitudinal statements surveyed the respondents' opinions on their ability to affect the future by their own actions (for example, whether the respondents thought that luck plays an important role in their life) using the Internal Locus of Control from the MAPS20. The respondents' views on their personality traits were surveyed with attitudinal statements from the Ten-item Personality Inventory concerning whether the respondents thought of themselves as, for example, critical and quarrelsome, dependable and self-disciplined, or sympathetic and warm. Additionally, the respondents were presented with attitudinal statements from the MAPS20 Purpose in Life Scale about the purpose and meaning in life (for example, whether life seemed exciting versus completely routine to the respondents and whether the respondents thought of themselves as irresponsible or responsible persons).

The survey also carried a set of attitudinal questions from the Proactive Personality Scale concerning the extent to which the respondents took action to influence their environments (for example, whether the respondents were constantly trying to find ways to make their life better and whether the respondents thought they excel at identifying opportunities). The development of the respondents' identity was charted by using a set of attitudinal statements from the Dimensions of Identity Development Scale concerning the respondents' clarity on their plans for the future (for example, whether the respondents had plans for what they are going to do in the future and whether their future plans gave them self-confidence). Further statements from the MAPS20 Ego Strength surveyed the respondents' will power (for example, whether the respondents enjoyed difficult and challenging situations). Finally, the respondents were presented with Helena Helve's attitudinal statements concerning, among others, income distribution, disparity, internationalism, democracy, work ethics, equality, and environmental protection.

Background variables included, among others, age, gender, country of citizenship, NUTS3 region, and the highest level of education of the respondent and the respondent's parents.

The data are based on James Côté's comparative study on identity and the measures used in it (see Côté, J. E., Mizokami, S. Roberts, S. E., Nakama, R., Meca, A. and Schwartz, S .J. (2015) The Role of Identity Horizons in Education-to-Work Transitions: A Cross-Cultural Validation Study in Japan and the United States. Identity An International Journal of Theory and Research Volume 15, 2015 -Issue 4 (pp. 263-286)); and Helena Helve's study on values of young people (see Helve, H. (2013) From higher education to working life: work values of young Finns in changing labour markets. In Helve Helena, Evans Karen (eds.) Youth and work transitions in changing social landscapes. London and U.S.A.: Tufnell Press, pp. 119-137); and attitudinal statements in Helena Helve's study on the change of values (see Helve, H. 2002. Arvot, muutos ja nuoret. Yliopistopaino, University of Helsinki).

Keywords

education; expectation; identity; personal identity; personality; self-esteem; students (college); tertiary education; undergraduates

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Humanities (Fields of Science Classification)
• Higher and further education (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Youth (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Cultural and national identity (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

• Helve, Helena (University of Tampere. School of Social Sciences and Humanities)
• Svynarenko, Arseniy (Finnish Youth Research Society. Finnish Youth Research Network)
• Sinisalo-Juha, Eeva (University of Tampere. School of Social Sciences and Humanities)

Time Period Covered

2015

Collection Dates

Spring 2015 ( 2015 )

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

Students in higher education aged 18-24 residing in Finland

Time Method

Cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Non-probability: Availability

All persons in the target group were given a chance to respond to the survey. The invitation to participate in the survey was sent to all Finnish higher education institutions.

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Computer-assisted (CASI)

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 and English.

FSD translates quantitative data into English on request, free of charge. More information on ordering data translation.

Number of Cases and Variables

263 variables and 730 cases.

Data Version

1.0

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

The variables in the data are named after the sets of questions so that all questions belonging to one set have the same letters in their name. The variable names and corresponding scales are specified in chronological order in the following list. III48 - Identity Issues Inventory; ISRI - Identity Stage Resolution Index; MSI - Self-esteem from the MAPS20; IHS - Identity Horizons Scale - Post-Secondary Student Version; MILC - Internal Locus of Control from the MAPS20; TIPI - Ten-item Personality Inventory; ISI - Identity Styles Inventory (5th version); MPILS - Purpose in Life Scale from the MAPS20; PPS10 - Proactive Personality Scale; DIDS - Dimensions of Identity Development Scale; MES - Ego strength from the MAPS20; AK - Values and nationality (Arvot ja kansalaisuus).

To prevent identification of individuals, variable q6 denoting ethnic identity was reclassified as 1. Finnish and 2. other.

The data do not contain the responses to the last question in the survey (the respondents were asked to evaluate the actions of people as acceptable or not acceptable based on a short story).

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

Helve, Helena (University of Tampere) & Svynarenko, Arseniy (Finnish Youth Research Society): Identity Horizons of Finnish Higher Education Students 2015 [dataset]. Data version 1.0 (2019-08-13). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd3266; URN: https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3266

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

Helve, H., Cote, J., Svynarenko, A., Sinisalo-Juha, E., Mizokami, S., Roberts, S. & Nakama, R. (2017). Identity Horizons Among Finnish Postsecondary Students: A Comparative Analysis. Identity, 17:3, 2017: 191-206, Taylor & Francis Online.doi.org/10.1080/15283488.2017.1340164

Helve, Helena (2019). Perspectives on Adolescence, Identity Formation and Transitions. The Japanese journal of adolescent psychology. 2019 Volume 31 Issue 1 Pages 1-17. https://doi.org/10.20688/jsyap.31.1_1

Pätsi, Susanna (2021). Korkeakouluopiskelijan koulutustasotoiveeseen yhteydessä olevat tekijät. Oulu: Uulun yliopisto. Luonnontieteiden kandidaatin tutkielma. URN:NBN:fi:oulu-202104147544

Vilppo, Oona (2023). Minäpystyvyys ja tulevaisuususko : Kvantitatiivinen tutkimus korkeakouluopiskelijoiden tulevaisuudennäkymistä. Yhteiskuntatutkimuksen kandidaatintutkielma. Tampere: Tampereen yliopisto. https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202305115610

Helve, H.M.(2023) Values and Solidarity of Young Finnish Millennials and Generation X. Youth 2023, 3, 401-413. https://doi.org/10.3390/youth3010027

Keppola, Tiia (2024). Ekstroversion yhteys itsearvioituun työelämävalmiuteen korkeakouluopiskelijoilla. Yhteiskuntatieteiden kandidaatintutkielma. Tampere: Tampereen yliopisto. https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202405075558

Helve, Helena (2024). Nuorten kausityöläisten kokemuksia koronasta Lapin matkailukeskuksissa: hermeneuttisfenomenologisia tulkintoja. Teoksessa Honkatukia, Päivi, Kellio, Jenni ja Määttä, Mirja (toim.): Elämää korona-ajassa - Poikkeusolot nuorten aikuisten kokemana. S. 219-244. Tampere: vastapaino.