Every year since 1986, the SOM Institute carries out a nationwide survey, National SOM (Riks-SOM), in which people are asked questions about politics, society, their use of media, public service, the environment, risks, new media technology and their leisure-time activities. Since 1992 a corresponding survey is carried out in Göteborg and its surrounding communities: Western SOM (Väst-SOM). Starting in 1996, a local study, Community SOM (Kom-SOM), is carried out in different municipalities surrounding Göteborg as well as town districts in the city of Göteborg. The results from these surveys shed light on three levels of society: the national, the regional and the municipal. The 1998 questionnaire consists of five parts: Mass media; Politics and society; Traffic and environment; Living conditions, leisure and housing; and background questions. The 1998 municipal survey was carried out in collaboration with the Gothenburg Region Association of Local Authorities and Statistics Sweden.
Persson, Jonas (1999) Storstadsregionens kontraster. Kommunundersökningarna i göteborgsregionen 1996-1998. Göteborg: SOM Insititute.
Nilsson, Lennart & Persson, Jonas (1999) Kommunundersökningen 1998 -:Tjörn. Göteborg: SOM Insititute.
Data referring to any type of mass media. For example, printed or online newspapers, magazines, television and the radio. Use note: Social media are indexed with 'Information society'.
Data on party political attitudes, political engagement and participation in the political process, voting behaviour, satisfaction with government. Use note: For data on specific political doctrines, use 'Political ideology'.
Recreation patterns, leisure time activities and hobbies. Includes sports spectatorship, competition sports, and travel for leisure. Use note: For data on exercise for keeping fit, use 'Physical fitness and exercise'.
THE EXTENT TO WHICH MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL POPULATION TAKE AN INTEREST IN POLITICAL MATTERS, FOR EXAMPLE, BY WATCHING TELEVISION, LISTENING TO THE RADIO, READING THE NEWSPAPER OR DISCUSSING POLITICAL ISSUES
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF (REGULAR) READERS OF A NEWSPAPER; ALL, OR A SECTION, OF SUCH READERS CONSIDERED COLLECTIVELY
ANY SYSTEM THAT TRANSPORTS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN VEHICLES OTHER THAN THEIR OWN, E.G. BUSES, TRAINS. IT COVERS SYSTEMS RUN BY PRIVATE ENTERPRISES AS WELL AS THOSE RUN BY THE STATE.
LONG-LASTING, AFFECTIVE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL IDENTIFICATION WITH A SPECIFIC POLITICAL PARTY.
SERVICES SUPPLIED TO THE PUBLIC AS A WHOLE; SERVICES OR SUPPLIES, SUCH AS ELECTRICITY, WATER OR TRANSPORT, CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO THE COMMUNITY, USUALLY CONTROLLED BY A (NATIONALIZED OR PRIVATE) MONOPOLY AND SUBJECT TO PUBLIC REGULATION
INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES, EITHER INDEPENDENTLY OR FROM WITHIN A POLITICAL PARTY/ORGANIZATION
POLICY FOCUSING ON CONCERNS AND ISSUES WITHIN A PARTICULAR COUNTRY.
ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT DURING A PERSON'S TIME AWAY FROM THEIR USUAL OCCUPATION
REFERS TO ATTEMPTS TO EXERT INFLUENCE ON THE FORMATION OR IMPLEMENTATION OF PUBLIC POLICY. LOBBYING AS AN ACTIVITY IS CARRIED OUT BY A VARIETY OF ACTORS RANGING FROM INTEREST GROUPS THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS DIVISIONS OF LARGE FIRMS TO FOREIGN EMBASSIES.