300270 Refugees in Germany (LEH: Soziologische Methoden quantitativ) (LEH) (SoSe 2026)

In recent decades, the number of forcibly displaced persons worldwide has continued to grow, having doubled in the past ten years (UNHCR 2025). While most forced migrants are displaced within their home countries or to neighboring states, Germany remains one of the primary countries of asylum in Europe.

An increasing body of social science research addresses topics related to forced migration, as well as the integration and inclusion processes of forced migrants in host societies. Public interest in evidence-based policy advice on these issues has also grown rapidly. Since 2016, the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP), in cooperation with the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), has surveyed large samples of forced migrants. This provides unique opportunities to investigate escape routes to Germany and the living conditions of refugees in the host country, including housing, employment, income, social contacts, health, and attitudes. The samples include significant numbers of forced migrants from the Middle East and Africa, and, since 2023, also from Ukraine.

This seminar (LEH) empirically investigates the lives of forced migrants in Germany using quantitative survey data. Individual research projects may focus on testing migration and integration theories or aim to provide empirically informed insights for social reporting and policy advice. The seminar is structured into two weekly meetings: one dedicated to theories and previous empirical findings across key areas of migration and integration research, and the other focused on the implementation of applied research in these fields.

Reviewing the current state of research, the seminar will address, among other topics, conceptual debates on forced migration, integration, and inclusion. We will also examine both individual and contextual factors that help to explain forced migration. Furthermore, the seminar will discuss theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence regarding integration and inclusion in host societies.

During the first half of the semester, participants will develop individual research questions—either individually or in small groups—which they will pursue empirically in the second half of the semester using SOEP data. The seminar teaches skills in the analysis of quantitative data, particularly survey data of the SOEP. This includes descriptive analyses, measurement models, and especially regression models. Analyses are conducted using the statistical software Stata; alternatively, participants may use R.

By the end of this seminar, students should be able to 1) critically apply theoretical frameworks from migration and integration research to develop empirically testable hypotheses, 2) independently access, prepare, and analyze SOEP survey data using quantitative methods, and 3) design and conduct an original empirical research project on forced migration and integration, presenting findings according to social science standards.

Requirements for participation, required level

While no prior knowledge is required, familiarity with Stata (or R) and an understanding of topics in refugee research would be advantageous.

Bibliography

Brücker, Herbert et al. 2016. Forced migration, arrival in Germany, and first steps toward integration. DIW Economic Bulletin 6: 541-556. https://hdl.handle.net/10419/148611

Brücker, Herbert et al. 2023. Ukrainian refugees: Nearly half intend to stay in Germany for the longer term. DIW Weekly Report 28. https://doi.org/10.18723/diw_dwr:2023-28-1

UNHCR. 2025. Global Trends: Forced Displacement in 2024. https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics