FSD3398 Finnish Science Barometer 2019

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Study title

Finnish Science Barometer 2019

Dataset ID Number

FSD3398

Persistent identifier

urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3398

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

  • Kiljunen, Pentti (Yhdyskuntatutkimus)

Abstract

The survey studied Finnish public opinion on science and scientific-technical development. The study was commissioned by Tieteen tiedotus ry.

First, the respondents were asked how actively they followed news on various topics (e.g. culture and art, sports, environment, politics) in mass media. Interest in various topics related to science and research (e.g. scientific and medical development, environmental research, history and culture research, education sciences) was also charted. Additionally, the importance of various sources of information on science and scientific development was surveyed (e.g. newspapers, TV and radio, scientific publications, the Internet and social media, seminars and lectures). Next, the respondents were asked whether they can name one present-day and one former prominent Finnish scientist, as well as an invention or accomplishment of Finnish science.

Next, trust in various institutions was examined: 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 (e.g. quality of research, level of technology and medicine, ethical issues, science funding, usefulness of science to society and everyday life) have been taken care of in Finland. The respondents were also asked whether they thought that science can solve certain problems or considerably help mankind (e.g. find a cure for cancer, raise the standard of living, stop or delay climate change, eradicate hunger from the world, decrease unemployment, promote peace and democracy).

The survey also carried various attitudinal statements on science and research. The statements covered, for instance, relationships between religion and science, animal testing, science funding, alternative medicine, scientific information in the media, co-operation between universities and businesses, use of scientific information in decision-making, impact of scientific and technological development, climate change, competition in science, artificial intelligence, and nutrition. Finally, the respondents' opinions on immunization were charted with questions relating to, for example, the effectiveness and safety of vaccines, the reliability of information given by authorities, and the right to choose or decline immunization for themselves or their children.

Background variables included, among others, gender, age, number of inhabitants in municipality of residence, NUTS3 region of residence, level and field of education, occupational status and political party preference.

Keywords

immunization; institutions; mass media; research; science; scientific development; scientific progress; technology and innovation

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: postal survey
  • Kantar TNS Oy: TNS Gallup Channel panel data

Data Producers

  • Tieteen tiedotus ry

Time Period Covered

2019

Collection Dates

2019-04-05 – 2019-08-26

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

Probability: Multistage

The data include the responses of 2,209 persons in total. Contrary to the earlier studies in the series, the data consist of two separate sets of data. The basic data consist of, as before, questionnaires mailed in the post (N=1,063). The target population was the entire population of Finland aged 18-70 (excluding the Åland Islands). The sample was randomly selected from the population register with the permission of the Population Data Services Agency (VRK). Data collection took place between 3 June - 26 August 2019. As with the earlier studies in the series, the study was conducted by Yhdyskuntatutkimus.

The second set of data consists of an online survey collected through the Gallup Channel by Kantar TNS Oy. Its data matrix includes 1,146 respondents. Data collection took place between 5 April - 11 April 2019. The data collected through the online survey included a small number of respondents under the age of 18 and over the age of 70. In the research report published by Tieteen tiedotus ry, analysis of the combined data is limited to the target group of the Science Barometers. The size of the sample including that age group in most of the analysis is 2,125 persons. The online survey accounts for almost exactly half of the total amount at 1,062 persons. The archived data include the responses from all participants (2,209 persons).

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Paper

Self-administered questionnaire: Web-based (CAWI)

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

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

The data include a variable which helps identify the different variables from the two separate sets of data. The online survey was conducted by Kantar before the final questionnaire was finished, so the data was collected with a questionnaire from 2016. That is why the new variables q9_35, q9_36, q9_40-q9_43 and question set q10 are included only in the postal survey. Additionally, only the online survey includes the variables q9_16_16, q9_24_16, q9_27_16, q9_33_16, q9_38_16, q9_40_16, q9_41_16, q9_42_16 and q9_43_16. The background variables bv5 and bv7 are included only in the postal survey and variables bv10, bv11 and bv12 are included only in the online survey.

The data do not include the open-ended responses to questions 4 and 5.

Weighting

The data include a weight variable (analyysipaino) bv9, which affects only the data collected through the online survey. The variable weights the data from the online survey to be representative of the postal survey according to central background variables.

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 2019 [dataset]. Version 1.0 (2020-02-17). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD3398

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.

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Tiedebarometri 2019, Tutkimus suomalaisten suhtautumisesta tieteeseen ja tieteellis-tekniseen kehitykseen[verkkodokumentti]. Helsinki: Tieteen tiedotus ry, Lempäälä: Yhdyskuntatutkimus Oy. http://www.tieteentiedotus.fi/files/Tiedebarometri_2019.pdf

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Hautamäki, Jarkko (2023). Suomalaisten suhde instituutioihin ja tieteeseen. Kandidaatintyö. Oulu: Oulun yliopisto, matemaattisten tieteiden tutkimusyksikkö.

Summary of the Finnish Science Barometer 2019. A study of the Finns' attitudes towards science and their opinions on scientific and technological progress. Helsinki: Finnish Society for Scientific Information. https://www.tieteentiedotus.fi/files/Sciencebarometer_2019_23122019.pdf [cited 5.9.2023]

Study description in machine readable DDI-C 2.5 format

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