Study title

Finnish Science Barometer 2010

Dataset ID Number

FSD2606

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2606

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Kiljunen, Pentti (Yhdyskuntatutkimus)

Abstract

The survey studied Finnish public opinion on science and research, scientific-technical development, and sources of scientific information.

The respondents rated their interest in following various subject areas in the media (e.g. culture and arts, sports, economy, politics, science and research), and interest in specific scientific and research issues (e.g. new scientific innovations, medicine, information technology, space research or history research). The importance of various sources of information on science and scientific development was surveyed. The respondents were asked to name one present-day and one former prominent Finnish scientist, as well as an invention or accomplishment of Finnish science.

One question explored trust in various institutions: Parliament, the church, trade unions, the media, armed forces, universities, the European Union, main research funders etc. Views were probed on how well certain aspects of science (for instance, quality of research, ethical issues, science funding, usefulness of science to everyday life) have been taken care of in Finland. The respondents were asked whether science can solve certain problems or help mankind (e.g. find a cure for cancer, raise the standard of living, eradicate hunger from the world, promote peace, happiness, security or democracy, decrease unemployment).

The survey also carried a number of attitudinal statements on science and research. Statements covered, for instance, co-operation between universities and businesses, scientific information in the media, alternative medicine, relationship between science and religion, vivisection, genetic engineering, use of scientific information in decision-making, science funding and its allocation, science and research policy, impact of scientific and technological development, university policy, arts and humanities, ethics.

Background variables included the respondent's gender, age group, size of the municipality of residence, region, basic and vocational education, field of education, economic activity and occupational status.

Keywords

attitudes; research; science; scientific research

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Biotechnology (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Information technology (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Educational policy (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Finnish Science Barometers

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

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

Data Collector

• Yhdyskuntatutkimus

Data Producers

• Tieteen tiedotus ry

Time Period Covered

2010

Collection Dates

2010-06-14 – 2010-09-01

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

People aged 18 - 70 living in Finland (excluding the Åland Islands)

Time Method

Longitudinal: Trend/Repeated cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Probability: Simple random

Simple random sampling. A sample of 5,000 persons was randomly selected from the population register.

The first postal round, sent to the 5,000 sampled persons, yielded 968 adequately filled questionnaires. The number of obtained responses was lower that the set objective of one thousand respondents. Therefore, a reminder letter was sent to 1,000 persons of the original sample, regardless of whether they had responded earlier or not. The second round yielded 63 adequately filled questionnaires. As the reminder was not sent to all persons in the sample, the response rate is not reported (though calculated directly it is 20,6% of the whole sample).

Sampling compared to the previous rounds of this survey series: this round had a larger sample while more resources had been devoted to follow-up procedures for non-respondents in the previous rounds.

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: 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

143 variables and 1031 cases.

Data Version

2.0

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

The data are fairly representative of the population in terms of key demographic, social and regional factors. In terms of education, the highly educated are slightly overrepresented. In terms of gender, women are slightly overrepresented.

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

Kiljunen, Pentti (Yhdyskuntatutkimus): Finnish Science Barometer 2010 [dataset]. Version 2.0 (2018-07-20). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD2606

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

Tiedebarometri 2010. Tutkimus suomalaisten suhtautumisesta tieteeseen ja tieteellis-tekniseen kehitykseen. Helsinki: Tieteen tiedotus ry, 2010. Saatavissa: http://www.yhdyskuntatutkimus.fi/tb4/tiedebaro4.htm [viitattu 5.9.2023]

Related Publications

Tiedebarometri 2010. Tutkimus suomalaisten suhtautumisesta tieteeseen ja tieteellis-tekniseen kehitykseen (2010). Helsinki : Tieteen tiedotus ry. http://www.yhdyskuntatutkimus.fi/tb4/tiedebaro4.htm [viitattu 23.2.2024]

Summary of the Finnish Science Barometer 2010. A study of the Finns' attitudes towards science and their opinions on scientific and technological progress. Helsinki: Finnish Society for Scientific Information. http://www.yhdyskuntatutkimus.fi/tb4/english4.htm [cited 5.9.2023]