Study title

Politics and Young People 1988

Dataset ID Number

FSD2046

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2046

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Jääsaari, Johanna (University of Helsinki. Department of Political Science)
• Martikainen, Tuomo (University of Helsinki. Department of Political Science)

Other Identification/Acknowledgements

• Miettinen, Jorma (MTV Ltd)
• Äijälä, Tauno (MTV Ltd)

Abstract

The survey charted young adults' attitudes towards politics, their opinions on the principal matters in politics, and their views on the current political questions.

The respondents' interest in politics was queried, as well as how much they thought politics influences various things, and to what extent they trust in decision-makers' ability to solve young people's problems. Some questions covered how firm the respondents considered their political views and party preference to be. The respondents were asked to place different political parties and themselves on the left-right axis. They indicated whether it was easy for them to choose between political parties, what is their attitude towards given parties, and on what basis they select their party. In addition, the respondents were given a list of various things (e.g. Finnishness, scientific achievements of the Finns, Finnish social security and health care system) and asked to choose which items on the list make them feel proud about Finland. They were also presented with a set of attitudinal statements on topics such as voting, entrepreneurship, the Government, Parliament, social differences, political parties, politicians, unemployment, welfare state, law, refugees, immigrants, development aid, nuclear power, the EC, income taxation, and traditional Finnish values. In relation to voting and elections, the respondents' views were probed on what basis election candidates were assessed, how citizens should relate to elections and voting, what kind of voting habits the respondents' parents had, whether the respondents had used their right to vote, whether they were going to use that right in the future, and whether our political system works or not.

Background variables included the respondent's gender, municipality of residence, age, marital status, number of children, type of accommodation, socio-economic status, education level, mother tongue, parents' and spouse's occupation and education level, membership in various organisations or associations (e.g. sports clubs, youth organisations, student associations), place of birth, annual gross income, and annual household gross income. Those who were employed were asked about their occupational status, students were asked about their educational institution and main subject, and those who were unemployed were in turn asked about the duration of unemployment during the past two years and occupational status before unemployment. In addition, views were queried on how important it is to work hard and to get by on the salary one receives from work. Further background variables investigated when R had moved to the capital area, from where R had moved, whether R would like to have a life that resembles that of R's parents' in the future, to what extent R follows different things on the media (e.g. technology, public figures, science), how much R spent money on various things on a monthly average (e.g. movies, food, clothes), whether R exercised regularly, which TV or radio channels R usually follow at home, how often R does various things (e.g. meets friends, visits the library, goes to a discotheque), and where R would like to travel to. Finally, views were charted on which party R would vote for in parliamentary elections, and which party R voted for in the 1987 municipal elections.

Keywords

Finnishness; attitudes; businesses; decision making; economic policy; elections; immigrants; political participation; political parties; politicians; politics; social status; social welfare philosophy; urban population; voting; young adults

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Political behaviour and attitudes (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Youth (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Community, urban and rural life (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

• Gallup Finland

Data Producers

• MTV Ltd
• University of Helsinki. Department of Political Science

Time Period Covered

1988

Collection Dates

1988

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland, Helsinki, Espoo, Kauniainen, Vantaa

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

People living in the capital area of Finland aged 18-30

Time Method

Longitudinal: Trend/Repeated cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Probability

Deming zone selection. A sample of 705 persons was collected using random start sampling.

Collection Mode

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: English and Finnish.

FSD translates quantitative data into English on request, free of charge. More information on ordering data translation.

Number of Cases and Variables

239 variables and 704 cases.

Data Version

1.0

Related Datasets

FSD2044 Politics and Young People 1995

FSD2047 Politics and Young People 1999

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

Some variable frequencies do not correspond with the frequencies in the questionnaire deposited at the FSD. Some variables have apparently been recoded as well, and others have information that is missing from the data deposited at the FSD.

In variable q2, response category 5 'Can't say' (ca. 1% of the respondents) has apparently been classified into response category 3 'Not very much'.

In variable q4, response category 5 'Can't say' (ca. 2% of the respondents) has apparently been classified into response category 3 'Not very much'.

In variable q6, response category 5 'Can't say' (ca. 1% of the respondents) is missing, and it is not possible to deduce whether it has been classified into any other response category.

In variable q7, response category 5 'Can't say' (ca. 2% of the respondents) has apparently been classified into response category 3 'Not very firm'.

In variable q9, response category 5 'Can't say' (ca. 6% of the respondents) has apparently been classified into response category 3 'Difficult most of the time'.

The frequencies for variables q21_a, q22_a, q22_b, q22_e, q22_h, q61, q65, and q66 are missing from the data deposited at the FSD.

Variables q21_b - q21_g have been recoded by combining both ends (1 + 2 = 1, 3 + 4 = 4) in the data deposited at the FSD. These variables cannot be converted back to their original form.

The frequency for variable q23_a does not correspond with the information in the publication based on the survey.

Variable q31_2 'Age' (age groups) was structured wrongly in the data deposited at the FSD. The variable has been corrected in the dataset the FSD distributes.

Variables q32 'Do you have children?' and q33 'How many children do you have?' do not correspond with each other. In variable q32, 68 respondents have indicated that they have children, and in variable q33, 75 respondents have indicated the number of children. The FSD does not possess certain information on which of the two variables is correct.

The variable indicating post code has been removed from the data.

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

Jääsaari, Johanna (University of Helsinki) & Martikainen, Tuomo (University of Helsinki): Politics and Young People 1988 [dataset]. Version 1.0 (2005-05-09). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2046

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

Martikainen, Tuomo & Pekonen, Kyösti (1996). Nuoret ja urbaani politiikka : tutkimus pääkaupunkiseudun nuorten aikuisten poliittisesta suuntautumisesta. Helsinki : Helsingin kaupunki. - (Helsingin kaupungin tietokeskuksen tutkimuksia; 1996:11)

Jääsaari, Johanna & Martikainen, Tuomo (1991). Nuorten poliittiset valinnat : tutkimus nuorten aikuisten poliittisesta suuntautumisesta pääkaupunkiseudulla. Helsinki : Gaudeamus, 1991.

Hellsten, Villiina & Martikainen, Tuomo (2001). Nuoret ja uusi politiikka : tutkimus pääkaupunkiseudun nuorten poliittisista suuntauksista. Helsinki : Helsingin kaupunki. - (Helsingin kaupungin tietokeskuksen tutkimuksia; 2001:3)

Related Publications

Martikainen, Tuomo & Pekonen, Kyösti (1996). Nuoret ja urbaani politiikka: tutkimus pääkaupunkiseudun nuorten aikuisten poliittisesta suuntautumisesta. Helsinki: Helsingin kaupunki. Helsingin kaupungin tietokeskuksen tutkimuksia; 1996:11.

Jääsaari, Johanna & Martikainen, Tuomo (1991). Nuorten poliittiset valinnat: tutkimus nuorten aikuisten poliittisesta suuntautumisesta pääkaupunkiseudulla. Helsinki: Gaudeamus, 1991.

Hellsten, Villiina & Martikainen, Tuomo (2001). Nuoret ja uusi politiikka: tutkimus pääkaupunkiseudun nuorten poliittisista suuntauksista. Helsinki: Helsingin kaupunki. Helsingin kaupungin tietokeskuksen tutkimuksia; 2001:3.

Martikainen, T. & Fredriksson, S. (2006). Political choices among young adults in the Helsinki metropolital area in 1988-2004. Kvartti. Helsinki Quarterly 4, s. 55-59

Martikainen, T. & Fredriksson, S. 2006. Vaalit ja politiikka: pääkaupunkiseudun nuorten aikuisten poliittiset valinnat 1988-2004. Helsinki: Helsingin kaupungin tietokeskus. Tutkimuksia 5/2006