Since 2020, the Qualitative Panel has been investigating conceptions of social cohesion across different social milieus and examining how these are reflected in everyday practices of life conduct. The longitudinal design of the study makes it possible to observe changes over time – both as future expectations and as responses to societal transformations.
We conduct in-depth interviews with 90 households from five regions in Germany on a regular basis. Participants come from diverse social, economic, and cultural backgrounds and hold differing views on what constitutes successful social cohesion. When these divergent ideas and practices encounter one another, they may generate societal conflict.
Follow-up interviews allow us to observe participants’ behavior and attitudes over extended periods. We focus on the interplay between individual life domains and broader societal conditions, examining how work and life experiences, as well as social, political, and economic developments, affect respondents.
Upcoming waves will concentrate on social media use and political participation. With regard to media use, we analyze threats to cohesion arising from misinformation, polarization, and discrimination, while also examining the positive effects of media on opinion formation and social relationships. In the area of political participation, we analyze the different ways in which people engage with society – through elections, civic engagement, or protest – and also explore why and under what conditions some withdraw from political participation.
The findings of the project are discussed with practice partners and citizens. Staged readings in theaters aim to illustrate societal lines of conflict. In addition, a book project will present the key findings in a format accessible to nonacademic audiences.
The Qualitative Panel is a collaborative project between the FGZ sections in Bremen and Göttingen. From 2025 to 2027, the FGZ section in Hamburg will also be involved in the project (project page on the FGZ website).
