The University of Helsinki Citizen Barometer is an online panel, which means that the same people are followed over time, regularly answering survey questions. Participants in the Citizen Barometer receive an invitation to an online survey by e-mail, about 3-7 times per year. The surveys are short and generally take 3-10 minutes to answer. The panel consists of two parts: (1) a randomly recruited panel with ca. 2800 Finnish citizens, aged 18-80, and (2) a self-recruited panel of approximately 5,000 participants. In February 2025, a new recruitment will be conducted for the randomly recruited panel.
Launched in 2023, the Citizen Barometer seeks to make a significant contribution to research at the University of Helsinki and to generate valuable insights for societal stakeholders. By taking the pulse of attitudes and public opinion, researchers, decision-makers, and the media alike can be provided with reliable and relevant data. The Citizen Barometer is maintained by the Helsinki Institute for Social Sciences and Humanities (HSSH), and is led by Åsa von Schoultz, Professor of Political Science.
Panel studies such as the Citizen Barometer are particularly important for research and provide a unique opportunity for following the same people over an extended period of time. Thus attitudes, for example, can be studied before and after specific world events, and opinion shifts can be mapped throughout different life stages and periods.
Participation in the Citizen Barometer is voluntary and can be terminated at any time. We have a strict protocol for the processing of personal data. All survey responses are processed in pseudonymised form, and all e-mail addresses and other personal data are protected in accordance with the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).