Study title

Rural Finland 2020: Swedish-Speaking Finns

Dataset ID Number

FSD3832

Persistent identifiers

https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3832
https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd3832

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 Finnish citizens' perceptions of the different regions of Finland and this part includes the Swedish-speaking population 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. Then, they were asked how different environments are related to their lives and how much time they spend in these different environments and places. Further questions were asked about the elements of a good life and how important respondents perceive certain things to be in terms of a good life and how they are implemented in their own case.

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.

Finally, statements were made on current issues related to the countryside. In addition, questions were asked about entrepreneurship in rural areas and whether the respondent was or was about to become an entrepreneur in a rural area.

Background variables were, among others, regional information, year of birth, gender, education, occupational status, gross household income, which political party they would vote for, household size, number and age of children, and type of residence.

Keywords

countryside; quality of life; rural areas; rural development; rural economics; rural environment; rural migration; rural planning; rural policy; social skills

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

Finns aged 15 or over. Respondents are Taloustutkimus panel respondents.

Time Method

Longitudinal: Trend/Repeated cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Probability

The data was collected from respondents to the Taloustutkimus internet panel. The panel consists of Finnish respondents aged 15 or over.

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.

Weighting

The data set contains the weight variable PAINO. FSD has no further information on how the weight variable was constructed.

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: Swedish-Speaking Finns [dataset]. Data version 1.0 (2025-02-21). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd3832; URN: https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3832

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