Study title

Ninth-Graders' Connection with Nature 2019

Dataset ID Number

FSD3402

Persistent identifiers

https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3402
https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd3402

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Kulha, Saija (Tampere University. Faculty of Education and Culture)
• Huttunen, Sari (Tampere University. Faculty of Education and Culture)

Abstract

This survey charted Finnish ninth-graders' connectedness to nature. The data for this dataset were collected as part of research that charts ninth-graders' connection with nature through a questionnaire (the Nature Relatedness Scale) and writings on happiness. The responses in this quantitative dataset can be connected to the qualitative dataset FSD3403 Ninth-Graders' Views on Happiness 2019, which is also archived at FSD. The responses can be connected to the texts in the qualitative dataset with a unique personal code number that was given to each respondent. The qualitative dataset containing the written texts is only available in Finnish.

The ninth-graders' connection to nature was measured with the Finnish translation of the 21-item Nature Relatedness Scale. A Nature Relatedness Score, indicative of the strength of the respondent's connection to nature, can be calculated based on the responses to the scale. The dataset includes the respondents' Nature Relatedness Scores, calculated by the researcher, as well as both the original and reversed numerical scoring scale for the reverse scored items (2, 3, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15 and 18) in different variables (e.g. original numerical scoring scale in variable q2: 1 = strongly disagree and 5 = strongly agree, reversed numerical scoring scale in variable k_q2: 1 = strongly agree and 5 = strongly disagree).

The survey examined the ninth-graders' personal relationship with nature with questions on, for example, whether they enjoyed being outdoors even in unpleasant weather, thought that their connection to nature and the environment was part of their spirituality, and thought their relationship with nature was an important part of who they were. Environmental concern was surveyed with questions relating to, for example, whether the respondents thought that humans have the right to use natural resources in any way they want, always thought about how their actions affect the environment, and thought that conservation is unnecessary because nature is strong enough to recover from any human impact. Furthermore, the respondents' affiliation with animals was charted with questions focusing on, for example, whether they thought that some species are just meant to die out or become extinct, took notice of wildlife wherever they were, and thought a lot about the suffering of animals. Additionally, the survey included a question on how satisfied the ninth-graders were in their life in general on a scale from 4 to 10 (in school grades).

The data do not contain any background variables.

Keywords

adolescents; conservation of nature; happiness; natural environment; satisfaction; wildlife; youth

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• General health and well-being (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Natural landscapes (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Youth (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

• Kulha, Saija (Tampere University)
• Huttunen, Sari (Tampere University)

Time Period Covered

2019

Collection Dates

2019-09-20 – 2019-10-31

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland, Northern and Eastern Finland, Western Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

Ninth-graders in Finland

Time Method

Cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Non-probability: Availability

Emails regarding the research were sent to several lower secondary school principals and teachers. The schools that responded to the emails and were chosen for the research were located in Western, Northern and Eastern Finland. For each school, one contact person was named, and they chose which classes would participate in the research. Depending on the contact person's (=teacher's) lessons and workload, one to three classes participated from each school.

A link and a QR code to the electronic questionnaire were sent to the contact persons in each school. The questionnaire was open for two weeks, during which the contact persons conducted the data collection during their chosen lesson.

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

Related Datasets

FSD3403 Ninth-Graders' Views on Happiness 2019

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

Kulha, Saija (Tampere University) & Huttunen, Sari (Tampere University): Ninth-Graders' Connection with Nature 2019 [dataset]. Version 1.0 (2020-10-26). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3402

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 Materials

Nisbet, E. K. L., Zelenski, J. M. & Murphy, S. A. (2009). The Nature Relatedness Scale: Linking individuals' connection with nature to environmental concern and behaviour. Environment and Behavior 41, 715-740.

Huttunen, Sari & Kulha, Saija (2020). "Luonto vain jotenkin antaa minulle iloa ja energiaa silloin, kun olen vähän allapäin.": Yhdeksäsluokkalaisten luontosuhde ja sen ilmeneminen heidän kertomuksissaan onnellisuudesta. Kasvatustieteen pro gradu -tutkielma. Tampereen yliopisto. http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202002142105

Related Publications

Huttunen, Sari & Kulha, Saija (2020) 'Luonto vain jotenkin antaa minulle iloa ja energiaa silloin, kun olen vähän allapäin.': Yhdeksäsluokkalaisten luontosuhde ja sen ilmeneminen heidän kertomuksissaan onnellisuudesta. Kasvatustieteen pro gradu -tutkielma. Tampereen yliopisto. http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202002142105

Nisbet, E. K. L., Zelenski, J. M. & Murphy, S. A. (2009). The Nature Relatedness Scale: Linking individuals' connection with nature to environmental concern and behaviour. Environment and Behavior 41, 715-740.