Study title

Factors Affecting Progress of Studies 1998

Dataset ID Number

FSD1116

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD1116

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Lempinen, Petri (Student Research Foundation (Otus))
• Suomela, Sanna (Student Research Foundation (Otus))
• Vesikansa, Sanna (Student Research Foundation (Otus))

Abstract

The survey studied factors affecting the progress of the respondents' studies at the university, and graduating time. The respondents were first asked when they had matriculated, what they had done before the current studies, how many times they had applied for a place to study, and whether the study place had been their first choice. With the respondents' current studies in mind, there were questions on what was the respondents' major subject, were they full or part-time students, and what their main expectations were concerning university studies. The respondents' views on factors affecting studying were canvassed by asking them to assess several propositions on studying dealing with the selection of courses available, the length of the academic year, the number of examination days, practising abroad, the relation between amount of work and study weeks, teaching methods, library services, tutoring, the speed of graduation, the relationship between work and studying, and the ways of studying and learning. In addition, the respondents were asked how many study weeks they intended to take this year, how many they had already taken, what kind of an examination they intended to take, and how much time they thought it would take to get a university degree.

In relation to income, it was asked whether the respondents received a study grant, housing allowance or housing subsidy, with what other means they financed their studies, and how much student loan they had. Some questions focused on whether the respondents had worked during their studies, and if so, how much, and how the work had affected the proceeding of studies. In conclusion, the respondents were asked to estimate to what extent various factors in different phases of life, like working, sickness, having a child, personal relationships, difficulties in finding accommodation, being conscripted in the army, or activities in voluntary organisations had eventually slowed down the pace of their studies.

Background variables included the respondent's year of birth, sex, marital status, and education of parents.

Keywords

academic achievement; educational grants; higher education institutions; tertiary education; undergraduates; university courses

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Youth (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Higher and further education (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

• Student Research Foundation

Data Producers

• Student Research Foundation
• Ministry of Education

Time Period Covered

1998

Collection Dates

1998-04-01 – 1998-05-15

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

Students in all Finnish universities and institutes of higher learning who started their studies in the years 1993 and 1996

Time Method

Cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Probability: Simple random

The student registers of universities and institutes of higher learning were asked to draw two separate samples of those who had started their studies in 1993 and 1996. Every 10th of those who started in 1993 and every 13th of those who began in 1996 were picked in a systematic sample. A more dense sample was drawn in some smaller institutions. In Sibelius Academy and University of Art and Design the sample interval was 4, in the Academy of Fine Arts and Theatre Academy of Finland, 2. The sample contained students in their second and fifth year of studies.

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Paper

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

FSD1115 Student Barometer 1997

FSD1117 Euro Student 2000: Finland

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

Lempinen, Petri (Student Research Foundation (Otus)) & Suomela, Sanna (Student Research Foundation (Otus)) & Vesikansa, Sanna (Student Research Foundation (Otus)): Factors Affecting Progress of Studies 1998 [dataset]. Version 1.0 (2002-01-23). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD1116

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

Vesikansa, Sanna & Lempinen, Petri & Suomela, Sanna (1998). Tehokkaaseen opiskeluun - norminopeutta vai mielekästä oppimista. Helsinki: Opiskelijajärjestöjen tutkimussäätiö Otus rs. Työpapereita; 14/1998.