Personal profile
Description of research and teaching
I am an Associate Professor (Title of Docent) at the Faculty of Educational Sciences. I have previously worked as a University Researcher and Post-Doctorial Researcher in the Strategic Research Council founded DigiConsumers research consortium. I have also worked as post-doctoral researcher at the Faculty with an independent research grant (Eino Jutikkala Fund of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters). My research field is in educational and developmental psychology, and my research work has focused on the themes of life course transitions to adutlhood, financial literacy and financial independence, and agency.
Education information
PhD (psychology), 2015, Department of Psychology, University of Jyväskylä. Doctoral dis. accepted with distinction.
M.Soc.Sc. (sociology), 2008, Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of Jyväskylä.
Education/Academic qualification
Educational Psychology, Associate Professor (Title of Docent), Department of Education
Award Date: 13 Jun 2022
PhD (psychology), Psykologian laitos, Jyväskylän yliopisto
Award Date: 24 Aug 2015
External positions
Post-doctoral researcher, University of Jyväskylä
Sept 2015 → Jun 2018
Fields of Science
- 516 Educational sciences
- 515 Psychology
- 5141 Sociology
- 5144 Social psychology
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Career Considerations in Emerging Adulthood
Nuckols, J. A. & Ranta, M., 2025, Flourishing and Floundering Financially in Emerging Adulthood: A Handbook. LeBaron-Black, A. B., Kelley, H. & Sorgente, A. (eds.). Oxford University Press USA, p. 146–162 17 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Scientific › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Did financial identity moderate young adults' social media use and financial well-being during COVID-19?
Ranta, M., Li, L. & Serido, J., 1 Jan 2025, Young People in Digital Environments: Agency, Opportunities and Risks. Wilska, T.-A. & Nyrhinen, J. (eds.). Edward Elgar, p. 121-140 20 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Scientific › peer-review
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Emerging Adults’ Financial Identity
Serido, J., Ranta, M. & Shim, S., Feb 2025, Flourishing and Floundering Financially in Emerging Adulthood: A Handbook. LeBaron-Black, A. B., Kelley, H. & Sorgente, A. (eds.). Oxford University Press USA, p. 179–193 15 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Scientific › peer-review
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Entrepreneurial Intentions Among Immigrant-Origin and Native Youth: Exploring the Roles of a Sense of Belonging, Acculturation Attitudes, and Self-Esteem
Abdulhamed, R., Lonka, K. & Ranta, M., Jan 2025, In: Education Sciences. 15, 1, 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Financial Identity Scale: Testing the International Validity of Its Variable-Centered and Person-Centered Models
Sorgente, A., Lanz, M., Bhatia, S., Crespo, C., Dunai, J., Fonseca, G., Lep, Ž., Martos, T., Negru‑Subtirica, O., Portugal, A., Ranta, M., Relvas, A. P., Sallay, V., Singh, N., Sirsch, U., Vosylis, R., Zupančič, M., Shim, S. & Serido, J., 11 Aug 2025, In: Journal of Family and Economic Issues. 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Open AccessFile
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Finnish Educational Transitions Studies
Salmela-Aro, K. (Principal Investigator), Ranta, M. (Participant), Sortheix, F. (Participant), Tuominen, H. (Participant), Marttinen, E. (Participant) & Mannerström, R. (Participant)
Project: Research project
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DigiConsum: Digitaalisiksi kuluttajiksi oppimassa. Kuinka parantaa nuorten taloustaitoja teknologisoituvassa kulutusyhteiskunnassa? (DigiConsumers)
Lonka, K. (Project manager), Abdulhamed, R. (Participant), Halonen, N. (Participant), Kruskopf, M. (Participant), Lammassaari, H. M. W. (Participant), Leiman, K. (Participant), Loehr, J. (Participant), Nissinen, T. S. (Participant), Ranta, M. (Participant) & Vedenpää, I. E. A. (Participant)
01/09/2022 → 31/08/2025
Project: Research Council of Finland: Strategic Research Council funding (SRC)
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Learning to be digital consumers. How to improve young people’s financial skills in a technologically driven consumer society?
Lonka, K. (Project manager), Makkonen, J. (Project manager), Wilska, T.-A. (Project manager), Ahonen, A. K. (Principal Investigator), Kalmi, P. (Principal Investigator), Abdulhamed, R. (Participant), Kruskopf, M. (Participant), Lammassaari, H. M. W. (Participant), Leiman, K. (Participant), Ranta, M. (Participant), Rautakorpi, M. K. (Participant), Vedenpää, I. E. A. (Participant), Abdulhamed, R. (Participant), Halonen, N. (Participant), Kruskopf, M. (Participant), Lammassaari, H. M. W. (Participant), Leiman, K. (Participant), Nissinen, T. S. (Participant), Ranta, M. (Participant), Talvio, M. (Participant) & Vedenpää, I. E. A. (Participant)
Suomen Akatemia Projektilaskutus
01/06/2019 → 28/02/2023
Project: Research Council of Finland: Strategic Research Council funding (SRC)
Activities
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DigiConsumers seminar VI
Lonka, K. (Speaker: Presenter), Ranta, M. (Speaker: Presenter), Abdulhamed, R. (Speaker: Presenter), Vedenpää, I. E. A. (Speaker: Presenter), Talvio, M. (Speaker: Presenter) & Leiman, K. (Attendee)
13 Aug 2025 → 15 Aug 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Organisation and participation in conferences, workshops, courses, seminars
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DigiConsumers -tutkimusseminaari
Lonka, K. (Speaker: Presenter), Ranta, M. (Speaker: Presenter), Lammassaari, H. M. W. (Attendee), Vedenpää, I. E. A. (Attendee) & Leiman, K. (Attendee)
9 Aug 2023 → 11 Aug 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Organisation and participation in conferences, workshops, courses, seminars
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Frontiers in Psychology (Journal)
Ranta, M. (Member of editorial board)
2022 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editor of research journal
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University of Minnesota, College of Education and Human Development, Family Social Science
Ranta, M. (Visiting researcher)
26 May 2022 → 31 Jul 2022Activity: Visiting an external institution types › Academic visit to other institution
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EARLI 2021 Conference 23.-27.8.2021
Kortesalmi, M. M. (Speaker), Autio, M. (Speaker) & Ranta, M. (Speaker)
24 Aug 2021Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
Press/Media
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Magazine interview, Affärsmagasinet Forum
10/03/2020
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Newspaper article interview, Helsingin Sanomat
09/01/2020
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media