BRE_F_03 Segmentation and Reciprocal Evaluations of Social Milieus

Objectives / Research Questions

The main topics of the research project are social relationships and the perception of different social classes and milieus. The project investigates these relationships in different contexts. To what extent do social milieus meet and interact in neighbourhoods, voluntary associations, businesses, families, friendships, schools, civil society organizations, and media discourses, and to what degree do they seal themselves off from each other? Which milieus are particularly isolated? And how is knowledge about other social milieus structured through social contacts or contact barriers? Similar research questions have been examined with regard to interethnic relationships and their effects on xenophobia, but so far hardly with regard to the relationships between social milieus.

Employing network analysis and a mixed methods research design, members of different milieus are asked about their relationships and contacts in family, friendship, and neighbourhood, in work contexts and leisure activities. The aim is to analyse both offline and online contacts and the use of social networks on the internet. This survey will be complemented by a sociospatial “deep drilling” in selected districts (urban/rural spaces, East/West Germany, etc.).