Study title

Role of Science in Finnish Worldviews and Everyday Thinking 2019-2020

Dataset ID Number

FSD3526

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3526

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Haimila, Roosa (University of Helsinki. Faculty of Theology)
• Taira, Teemu (University of Helsinki. Faculty of Theology)

Abstract

The survey studied the role of science in Finnish worldviews and everyday thinking. Main themes of the survey included how those who value science approach fundamental questions about the nature of the universe and human existence and how science informs their worldviews. The study was funded by the Finnish Cultural Foundation.

First, the respondents' beliefs were charted with questions on the origins of human consciousness, evolution, the origin of the universe, and the reason for the existence of suffering. Scientific views were measured with several statements, for example, whether the respondents felt that science helped them to understand the world, whether science gave their lives meaning, and whether science informed their moral values. The respondents were also asked how science influenced their views on death and immortality, and whether they felt that science connected them to the rest of humanity and the universe.

The respondents' worldviews were explored with questions on, for example, the fairness of the world, destiny, and life after death. The respondents were also asked to respond to statements about nature in relation to topics such as the formation of the Earth, the origin of living beings, natural selection, and the forces affecting the world. Finally, the respondents responded to a measure that measured scientific belief which the researchers had translated into Finnish (for more information on the measure, see Farias, M., Newheiser, A.-K., Kahane, G., & de Toledo, Z. 2013. Scientific faith: Belief in science increases in the face of stress and existential anxiety. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 49 (6), 1210 - 1213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2013.05.008). The measure consisted of statements such as science provides us with a better understanding of the universe than does religion, we can only rationally believe in what is scientifically provable, and the scientific method is the only reliable path to knowledge.

Background variables included the respondent's gender, age group, years of full-time education, spirituality, religious affiliation, belief in God, religious beliefs, possible previous or current work experience at a research institute, and the field of research worked in.

Keywords

beliefs; moral values; natural environment; science; spirituality (mental qualities); world view

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Humanities (Fields of Science Classification)
• Religion and values (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Individual datasets

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

The dataset is (C) available only for research including master's theses.

Data Collector

• Haimila, Roosa (University of Helsinki. Faculty of Theology)

Time Period Covered

2019 – 2020

Collection Dates

2019-12-11 – 2020-02-21

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

People aged over 18 who reside in Finland and have an interest in science and research

Time Method

Cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Non-probability: Availability

An invitation to participate in the study was sent to mailing lists for the personnel of eight Finnish universities or research institutes, as well as six other organisations in the higher education sector. In the last three days of recruitment, the study was advertised on social media, for example, on the Facebook pages of bodies that popularise science and promote a scientific worldview, as well as on the discussion forums of Tiede ("Science") magazine.

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Web-based (CAWI)

Research Instrument

Semi-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

The data deposited at FSD did not include responses to open-ended variables.

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

Haimila, Roosa (University of Helsinki) & Taira, Teemu (University of Helsinki): Role of Science in Finnish Worldviews and Everyday Thinking 2019-2020 [dataset]. Version 1.0 (2021-12-30). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3526

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

Haimila, Roosa & Muraja, Elisa (2021). A Sense of Continuity in Mortality? Exploring Science-Oriented Finns' Views on Afterdeath. OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying, E-pub ahead of Print, 1-28.

Haimila, Roosa (2020). Does a Science-Oriented Worldview Entail Unbelief? Meaning, Morality, and Continuity from Scientific Research in Self-Reports of Finnish Unbelievers and Believers. Secular Studies 2(2), 83-116.