Study title

Rural Finland 2020: Political Decision-Makers, Rural Development Specialists, the Media

Dataset ID Number

FSD3830

Persistent identifiers

https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3830
https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd3830

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Ovaska, Ulla (Natural Resources Institute Finland)
• Pyysiäinen, Jarkko (Natural Resources Institute Finland)
• Vihinen, Hilkka (Natural Resources Institute Finland)

Abstract

The Rural Finland survey explores the meaning and future of rural areas. The aim of the survey is to provide information on how Finns perceive the countryside. The study is a continuation of the surveys conducted in the Landmarks Programme of the Finnish Innovation Fund (Sitra) in 2009 and 2011. The aim of this part of the survey is to explore the perceptions of business decision-makers, policy-makers, journalists and rural experts about different areas of Finland.

First, respondents were asked what kind of images they had of the countryside and the city. They were also asked how different areas correspond to their perception of the countryside. In addition, they wanted to know how strong the rural/urban identity was perceived by the respondents. Next, the respondents were asked what the countryside means to them today and what the countryside is likely to mean in 10 years' time. They were also asked to assess how the meaning of rural areas will change in the future.

Then respondents were presented with future scenarios for the countryside and asked which of them best reflected their hopes for the future of the countryside and how they thought things would be in 2035. They were also asked about climate change and its relationship to rural areas and trends in rural development.

Further statements were made on current rural issues and the most urgent rural development needs. Businesses and entrepreneurship were addressed by asking respondents to assess the development of business opportunities in different sectors in rural areas and by making statements on the overall development of entrepreneurship. In addition, specific statements were made on rural entrepreneurship and respondents were asked whether they were or were about to become entrepreneurs in rural areas.

Background variables were, among others, regional information, year of birth, gender, education, occupation status, gross household income, which political party they would vote for, the number of employees in the company, the company's industry, the type of media they represent and their role in the media they represent.

Keywords

climate change; countryside; entrepreneurs; rural areas; rural development; rural economics; rural environment; rural migration; rural planning; rural policy

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Agriculture and forestry (Fields of Science Classification)
• Agriculture and rural industry (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Housing (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Rural Finland

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

The dataset is (B) available for research, teaching and study.

Data Collector

• Taloustutkimus

Funders

• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

Time Period Covered

2020

Collection Dates

2020-01-29 – 2020-03-04

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

Business decision-makers (CEOs, development managers, CFOs and other similar positions (industry, construction, trade and services)), public decision-makers (MPs, mayors and chairpersons of city/municipal councils, regional governors and councillors, MEPs), representatives of the media (editors, news managers, regional editors, managing editors, political journalists, journalists (newspapers, television, radio)) and rural experts (experts, researchers, civil servants, third sector actors who work on and follow rural issues)

Time Method

Longitudinal: Trend/Repeated cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Non-probability: Purposive

Non-probability: Availability

The decision-makers were selected from different levels of government in order to provide the sample with a diverse perspective on decision-making issues. The sample included Members of the European Parliament, Members of Parliament, mayors of municipalities, regional councillors and chairmen of municipal councils.

The experts selected for the study were those actively involved in regional research, regional development and/or rural policy or other similar activities. Those who have published on the subject or are actively involved in networks and structures in the field were selected for the study.

Media representatives and entrepreneurs/business decision-makers are panelists for Taloustutkimus.

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Web-based (CAWI)

Telephone interview

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

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

All open-ended variables, postcode variables and other variables containing identifying information have been removed from the data for identification reasons at FSD.

The variables related to questions T8 to T12 were missing from the data submitted to FSD.

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

Ovaska, Ulla (Natural Resources Institute Finland) & Pyysiäinen, Jarkko (Natural Resources Institute Finland) & Vihinen, Hilkka (Natural Resources Institute Finland): Rural Finland 2020: Political Decision-Makers, Rural Development Specialists, the Media [dataset]. Data version 1.0 (2025-01-22). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd3830; URN: https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3830

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

Information about Rural Finland -survey: Maaseutupolitiikka. Maaseutubarometri. Website. [Cited 31.1.2025].

Related Publications

Pyysiäinen, Jarkko & Vihinen, Hilkka (2020) Maaseutubarometri 2020: Tutkimusraportti osa 1. Luonnonvarakeskus. https://www.maaseutupolitiikka.fi/uploads/MANE-raportit/Maaseutubarometri-taitettu-diasetti-osa-1-julkaisu-FINAL-17062020-paivitetty.pdf

Vihinen, Hilkka & Ovaska, Ulla (2020) Maaseutubarometri 2020: Tutkimusraportti osa 2. Luonnonvarakeskus. https://www.maaseutupolitiikka.fi/uploads/MANE-raportit/Maaseutubarometri-2020-tutkimusraportti-osa-2-FINAL.pdf

Ovaska, Ulla & Vihinen, Hilkka (2020) Maaseutubarometri 2020: Tutkimusraportti osa 3. Luonnonvarakeskus. https://www.maaseutupolitiikka.fi/uploads/MANE-raportit/Maaseutubarometri-2020-tutkimusraportin-osa-3-FINAL.pdf