Study title

Municipal Website Services for Immigrants in Different Languages 2021

Dataset ID Number

FSD3805

Persistent identifiers

https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3805
https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd3805

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Paavilainen, Kaisa (University of Eastern Finland)

Abstract

The dataset maps the accessibility and usability of municipal websites in mainland Finland for immigrants. Background information in the dataset was collected from Statistics Finland's population database.

The first part of the study mapped the content of the websites of municipalities in mainland Finland. Regarding website content, the study investigated whether the sites provide information on topics such as housing and construction, youth affairs, or the COVID-19 situation. Next, the presence of a dedicated section for immigrants on the municipal websites was examined, along with the types of information provided in that section. The analysis examined, for example, whether the immigrant sections included information about healthcare, public transportation, or housing services. Additionally, it was assessed whether the section mentioned services not provided by the municipality and what language the immigrant section was written in. After this, the features of Finnish-language web pages intended for immigrants were evaluated, such as whether the website has clear headings or whether its content has been simplified into plain language. Finally, it was examined whether information related to the municipality's social and health services is provided on a separate social and health website. Finnish-language social services websites were also assessed based on their features, such as the clarity of the language and the findability of information.

The background variables of the dataset include the name of the municipality, the total number of residents, the number and percentage of residents who speak foreign languages, as well as the languages spoken by foreign-language residents and the number of speakers of each language.

Keywords

access to facilities; immigrants; internet; language; refugees; social adjustment

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Migration (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Media, communication and language (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Minorities (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Individual datasets

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

The dataset is (A) openly available for all users without registration (CC BY 4.0).

Data Collector

• Paavilainen, Kaisa (University of Eastern Finland)

Time Period Covered

2021

Collection Dates

2021-06-04 – 2021-07-26

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Media unit

Universe

Sections on early childhood education, schooling, and social and health services on the websites of Finnish municipalities. (excluding the Åland Islands)

Time Method

Cross-section

Data Sources

Population data from Statistics Finland as of 31 December 2020

Sampling Procedure

Total universe/Complete enumeration

The sampling was initiated by mapping the population data of Statistics Finland, which had been finalized on 31 December 2020. This included the population of municipalities in mainland Finland, the number and percentage of residents with a foreign mother tongue, as well as the ten most common mother tongues in each municipality.

After this, the websites of all municipalities in mainland Finland were examined using a standardized metric created in the study, which served as the basis for compiling the dataset.

Collection Mode

Compilation/Synthesis

Research Instrument

Structured questionnaire

Data collection guidelines: Secondary data collection guide

Response Rate

100

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

Statistics Finland does not provide data for privacy reasons if a specific mother tongue is recorded for fewer than ten residents in a municipality. Therefore, the dataset does not include such languages or the number of speakers in those municipalities. The dataset also excludes individuals who do not have an official municipality of residence in Finland (e.g., undocumented persons, asylum seekers awaiting a decision, and short-term residents from other EU and EEA countries).

In the Finnish Social Science Data Archive, the variable k9_avo_A has been deleted from the dataset, as it contained no observations.

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

Paavilainen, Kaisa (University of Eastern Finland): Municipal Website Services for Immigrants in Different Languages 2021 [dataset]. Data version 1.0 (2025-08-11). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd3805; URN: https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3805

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.

Other Material

See downloadable files at the top of the page.

More information about sampling and data collection (available in Finnish).

Related Materials

Paavilainen, Kaisa (2022) Kuntien verkkosivujen suomenkieliset ja erikieliset palvelut maahanmuuttajille. Pro gradu -tutkielma. Itä-Suomen yliopisto. http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:uef-20220556.

Related Publications

Paavilainen, Kaisa (2022) Kuntien verkkosivujen suomenkieliset ja erikieliset palvelut maahanmuuttajille. Pro gradu -tutkielma. Itä-Suomen yliopisto. http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:uef-20220556.