Exploring Finland’s Model for Leisure Activities (HSM): Children’s Experiences and Evaluation of the Model
This Fulbright-supported research aims to better understand the experiences of children and young people with Finland's Model for Leisure Activities (HSM) and to highlight possible gaps or missed opportunities that children and youth from marginalized groups may encounter.
Introduction
Through a collaboration with the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture and a partnership with two top research universities in Finland the aim of this study is to better understand the experiences of young people who participate in activities provided through the Finnish Model for Leisure Activities.
Data will be sought from youth, coaches, HSM personnel (both coordinators and outsourced program providers), and parents of students in the program from around Finland. This study will collect data through qualitative methods, including focus groups, individual interviews, observations, ethnographic field notes, and visual methods such as students drawing pictures about their experiences of both good and bad experiences when participating in out-of-school activities. These drawings will help open conversation, especially with the younger participants in the HSM program. These methods have been successfully used in the UK by researchers examining the Youth Sports Trust Program (Youth Sports Trust, 2023). Parents/caregivers and coaches will be interviewed to gain a holistic understanding of the program. The immigration status or language skills of the participants will be recorded and analyzed as a factor to compare experiences of minority students, refugees, or students with special needs with the rest of the student population to see if the program is being equitably provided. This collaborative research project aims to understand a program that serves the vast majority of the schools in Finland and will be a catalyst for ongoing collaboration.
The research questions
The Research Questions that guide this study are:
- What are the overall experiences of students participating in the HSM program?
- How do the experiences of minority students, students with disabilities, immigrants, and other marginalized population in the HSM program compare to those of non-minority (native Finns)/able-bodied students?
- What barriers or challenges are encountered by minority students, students with disabilities, immigrants, and other marginalized population in accessing or participating in the HSM program?
This research is supported by the Finnish Fulbright Foundation.
Project name
Exploring Finland's Model for Leisure Activities (HSM): Children's Experiences and Evaluation of the Model (Original title: Beyond PISA: A Culturally Responsive Approach to Finnish Physical Activity and Education)
Time
01/2025-05/2025
Funder
Fulbright Finland Foundation
Collaborators
- Fulbright Finland Foundation
- Ministry of Education and Culture
- University of the Arts Helsinki
- University of Jyväskylä
Contact
-
Risto Marttinen
Visiting Professor, Tutkimusinstituutti, Research Instituteristo.marttinen@uniarts.fi
Introduction
Through a collaboration with the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture and a partnership with two top research universities in Finland the aim of this study is to better understand the experiences of young people who participate in activities provided through the Finnish Model for Leisure Activities.
Data will be sought from youth, coaches, HSM personnel (both coordinators and outsourced program providers), and parents of students in the program from around Finland. This study will collect data through qualitative methods, including focus groups, individual interviews, observations, ethnographic field notes, and visual methods such as students drawing pictures about their experiences of both good and bad experiences when participating in out-of-school activities. These drawings will help open conversation, especially with the younger participants in the HSM program. These methods have been successfully used in the UK by researchers examining the Youth Sports Trust Program (Youth Sports Trust, 2023). Parents/caregivers and coaches will be interviewed to gain a holistic understanding of the program. The immigration status or language skills of the participants will be recorded and analyzed as a factor to compare experiences of minority students, refugees, or students with special needs with the rest of the student population to see if the program is being equitably provided. This collaborative research project aims to understand a program that serves the vast majority of the schools in Finland and will be a catalyst for ongoing collaboration.
The research questions
The Research Questions that guide this study are:
- What are the overall experiences of students participating in the HSM program?
- How do the experiences of minority students, students with disabilities, immigrants, and other marginalized population in the HSM program compare to those of non-minority (native Finns)/able-bodied students?
- What barriers or challenges are encountered by minority students, students with disabilities, immigrants, and other marginalized population in accessing or participating in the HSM program?
This research is supported by the Finnish Fulbright Foundation.