Study title

Finnish Experiences of Indoor Air Quality Problems 2014

Dataset ID Number

FSD3075

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3075

Data Type

Qualitative

Authors

• Finell, Eerika (University of Helsinki. Department of Social Psychology)
• Finnish Literature Society (SKS). Folklore Archives

Abstract

The forty texts in the data deal with the participants' personal experiences of indoor air quality problems in Finland and the impact of poor indoor air quality on the lives of the participants and people close to them. The data were collected in 2014 by researcher Eerika Finell in collaboration with the Finnish Literature Society (SKS).

The majority of texts begin with memories of the time when the participants first encountered indoor air quality problems as well as the place where it happened. The participants discuss their experiences and the impact of poor indoor air quality on their health and describe symptoms, such as respiratory tract diseases, caused by mold or other pollutants in buildings.

The texts also describe support and treatment received for problems caused by poor indoor air quality. The participants also discuss deficiencies in social and structural attitudes towards indoor air quality concerns. The structure of the texts was not controlled, and some texts also contain pictures and drawings.

Background information includes the participant's occupation, year of birth, region of residence (NUTS3) and gender. The participants could decide for themselves which background information to share.

The dataset is only available in Finnish.

Keywords

air pollution; allergies; building standards; buildings; diseases; housing conditions; mould in buildings; public health risks; respiratory tract diseases; well-being (health)

Topic Classification

• Medical and health sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Working conditions (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Specific diseases, disorders and medical conditions (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

• Finell, Eerika (University of Helsinki. Department of Social Psychology)
• Finnish Literature Society (SKS). Folklore Archives

Collection Dates

2014-01 – 2014-11

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Media unit: Text

Universe

Finnish persons with experiences of indoor air quality problems

Time Method

Cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Non-probability: Availability

Instructions for writing were accessible for anyone on the Finnish Literature Society's (SKS) web page. An invitation to participate was also sent to members of the SKS's regular participation network. Participation was possible through a web form on SKS's web site, or by e-mail or mail.

Collection Mode

Self-administered writings and/or diaries

Research Instrument

Data collection guidelines: Self-administered writings guide

Data Files

40 texts in odf, html and pdf formats. Length of the texts varies from 1 to 34 A4 pages.

Data File Language

The data files of this dataset are available in the following languages: Finnish.

Qualitative data are available in their original language only and are not translated.

Data Version

1.0

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

Identifiers were removed from the data. These include possible mentions of the writer's name and other direct identifiers regarding the participant or third persons as well as indirect identifiers regarding third persons or other sensitive content, such as names of blogs. The names of third persons were replaced with pseudonyms if the names were used repeatedly. Anonymisations performed at FSD were marked with [[double square brackets]].

Texts without permission for archiving are not included in the data. The complete data can be accessed in the Finnish Literature Society's (SKS) Folklore Archives.

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

Finell, Eerika (University of Helsinki) & Finnish Literature Society (SKS): Finnish Experiences of Indoor Air Quality Problems 2014 [dataset]. Version 1.0 (2016-04-19). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3075

Deposit Requirement

Notify FSD of all publications where you have used the data by sending the citation information to user-services.fsd@tuni.fi.

Special Terms and Conditions for Access

The data may contain identifiers that have not been anonymised (e.g. person names, information on place of residence, names of work places and such). When publishing quotations from the data, users need to consider very carefully in each specific case what information needs to be removed or altered according to research ethical guidelines.

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

Finell, E., Seppälä, T. & Suoninen, E. (2018). "It was not me who was sick, it was the building". A qualitative study on rhetorical identity management strategies of indoor air sufferers in workplaces. Qualitative Health Research, 28, 1366-1377 .

Finell, E. & Seppälä, T. (2018).Indoor air problems and experiences of injustice in the workplace: a quantitative and a qualitative study. Indoor Air, 28, 125-134.