Study title

Finnish Science Barometer 2016

Dataset ID Number

FSD3137

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3137

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 2016 version also measured opinions on education budget cuts introduced by the Finnish government.

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: the 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 also 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 various 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, and science in social media.

The 2016 survey also introduced a new question that investigated the respondents' views on education budget cuts introduced by the Finnish government and the effect of these cuts on science.

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

Keywords

research; science; scientific development; scientific progress; scientific research; technology and innovation

Topic Classification

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

2016

Collection Dates

2016-05-31 – 2016-08-08

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 7,000 persons was randomly selected from the population register. The gross sample was increased by 1,000 persons compared to earlier studies in the series in order to reach the goal of 1,000 respondents in a single postal round. The first round yielded 1,056 adequately filled questionnaires, which is slightly more than in the previous study (2013, 971 responses), but quite close to the average number of responses throughout the series. As the reminder was not sent to all persons in the sample, the response rate is not reported.

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

2.0

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 2016 [dataset]. Version 2.0 (2018-07-13). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3137

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

Kiljunen, Pentti (2016). Tiedebarometri 2016. Tutkimus suomalaisten suhtautumisesta tieteeseen ja tieteellis-tekniseen kehitykseen [verkkodokumentti]. Helsinki: Tieteen tiedotus ry. Raportin pdf-versio 19.10.2016 http://www.tieteentiedotus.fi/files/Tiedebarometri_2016.pdf [viitattu 12.12.2016].

Related Publications

Kiljunen, Pentti (2016). Tiedebarometri 2016. Tutkimus suomalaisten suhtautumisesta tieteeseen ja tieteellis-tekniseen kehitykseen [verkkodokumentti]. Helsinki: Tieteen tiedotus ry. Raportin pdf-versio 19.10.2016 http://www.tieteentiedotus.fi/files/Tiedebarometri_2016.pdf [viitattu 12.12.2016].

Summary of the Finnish Science Barometer 2016. 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/tb6/english6.htm [cited 5.9.2023]