BIE_F_02 Supraregional and Regional Importance of Social Cohesion: Conceptions and Measurements of Relevant Constructs

Objective / Research Questions

The project first examines the dimensions and possible explanatory concepts of societal and social cohesion on the basis of existing surveys, which have been collected not only at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on Conflict and Violence (IKG) but also at other institutions (for example at the Bertelsmann Foundation). Supraregional, regional, and explicitly small-scale studies will be taken into account. The systematic and complete coverage of both central explanatory concepts of social cohesion as well as the dimensioning in terms of “constructive” and “destructive” cohesion are in the foreground. The processing of the individual data sets and the compilation of the individual measurements and scales, as well as the comparison of the results in the sense of an inventory, characterize the first work steps. A systematic evaluation of relevant concepts that have not yet been considered in this research context (especially sensitivity to injustice) is to be undertaken. Beyond the context of the Bielefeld section, the analyses will support the content-related and methodological work on setting up the Zusammenhaltspanels (Cohesion Panel) in the Data Centre in Bremen. Since the data material to be evaluated also partly goes beyond the German context, a European (international) perspective will be included in the individual research steps.

In a subsequent work phase, selected concepts will be tested in smaller qualitative- and quantitative-oriented studies with regard to their measurement accuracy (reliability and validity) for different survey modes (written, oral, telephone, and online). These pretests will provide essential information for further use in planned studies of the RISC sections. The suitability for the monitoring planned in RISC over time (Cohesion Panel) as well as the conceived regional studies are also in the foreground here. Finally, all suitable instruments will be compiled in the form of an online scale manual, and recommendations will be worked out as to what extent the examined instruments are suitable for use in further surveys – depending on the different modes.

In line with the framework application (the five sources of social cohesion), this project will mainly deal with the investigation of socioeconomic factors (the first source) as well as social relations and practices (the second source) and thereby develop reliable and valid measurements for relevant explanatory factors of social cohesion.

Thematic reference to social cohesion

Der thematische Bezug ergibt sich durch die Analyse der einzelnen Dimensionen des konstruktiven und destruktiven Zusammenhalts. Es werden vornehmlich Konstrukte, wie gruppenbezogene Menschenfeindlichkeit, soziale Deprivation, Populismus, Demokratiefeindlichkeit oder Perspektiven von Ungerechtigkeitssensibilität erfasst, die in einem negativen Zusammenhang zum gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt stehen. Des Weiteren werden Konstrukte wie Toleranz, Integrationsbereitschaft oder politische Partizipation und solche Perspektiven von Ungerechtigkeitssensibilität untersucht, die in einem positiven Zusammenhang zum gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt stehen. Das Projekt leistet in der Gesamtkonzeption des FGZ einen empirisch-analytischen Beitrag und steht in engem Zusammenhang mit dem Zusammenhaltspanel des Datenzentrums Zusammenhalt.