4th Annual Meth@Mig Workshop
The Agenda for our Workshop is now available under the tab Program.
The IMISCOE Standing Committee “Methodological Approaches and Tools in Migration Research” (Meth@Mig) in collaboration with the Junior professorship “Intercultural Praxis with a focus on Digital Culture” at Chemnitz University of Technology[i] organize the
4th Annual Meth@Mig Workshop
Between Data and Dialogue: Focusing on Participants in Migration Research
to be held on April 3-4, 2025
at Chemnitz University of Technology
(Chemnitz, Germany)
Keynote speaker:
Tuba Bircan
(Vrije Universiteit Brussel)
In migration research, as in social research more generally, the role of participants is critical in shaping both the data collected and the knowledge generated from it. Depending on the methodological approach and research question, participants may be seen as mere providers of information, or be involved as more active contributors and co-creators of knowledge. How researchers engage with participants profoundly influences the results, ethical considerations, and validity of studies. This also holds true with respect to long-established qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-mode approaches, but also considering methods building on artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and digital behavioral data, where the continuum may run from the collection of digital traces of individuals that are not even aware of being studied to their voluntary, informed data donations.
Therefore, this workshop will focus on the role that participants may play in any stage of the research cycle, spanning from a project's design phase to the dissemination of its results. This workshop aims to facilitate a discussion on how different methodologies influence the role of participants and gain insight into the ethical challenges that arise when involving or excluding them at different stages.
The workshop will consist of brief oral presentations of accepted contributions, but the focus will be on open exchange and discussion of the presented work and positions. This format will, therefore, leave ample room for discussion amongst the workshop participants. To stimulate debate, Tuba Bircan (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) will kick off the event with a keynote speech (detailed information can be found under the Keynote tab).
The workshop is structured around four sessions:
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Session 1: The Researcher’s Lens – Reflexivity, Identity, and Representation
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Session 2: Navigating Power Dynamics in Migration Research
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Session 3: Participation, Collaboration, and Co-Creation in Migration Research
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Session 4: Ethical Responsibilities in Migration Research
The detailed agenda can be found under the Program tab.
The in-person workshop is organized by IMISCOE’s Standing Committee on Methodological Approaches and Tools in Migration Research (Meth@Mig) in collaboration with the Junior professorship “Intercultural Praxis with a focus on Digital Culture” at Chemnitz University of Technology and will be held on April 3 and 4, 2025 in Chemnitz (Germany), the European Capital of Culture 2025. There are no participation fees, but attendees must bear their travel and accommodation costs.
Organizing Committee:
Yolanda López García, Chemnitz University of Technology, Germany
Agata Górny, Centre of Migration Research, University of Warsaw, Poland
Steffen Pötzschke, GESIS – Leibniz-Institute for the Social Sciences, Germany
Sebastian Rinken, Institute for Advanced Social Studies, Spanish Research Council, Spain
Justyna Salamońska, Department of Management in Networked and Digital Societies, Kozminski University, Poland
Laila Omar, ACRPS – Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, Doha, Qatar
Evren Yalaz, GRITIM-UPF, Spain
Carmen Pereyra, Chemnitz University of Technology, Germany
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[i] Chemnitz University of Technology and Meth@Mig/IMISCOE do not create a separate legal entity (ohne Begründung einer eigenen Rechtsperson).
Keynote speech by Tuba Bircan (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)
Bridging Algorithmic Insight and Participant Agency in Migration Research
This keynote addresses the methodological innovations that unfold when advanced computational methods are combined with participant agency in migration research. As large-scale data analysis expands through machine learning, natural language processing, and social network analysis, the risk of reducing individuals to mere data points grows. The presentation advocates an approach that preserves the breadth of quantitative methods while ensuring that migrants’ perspectives remain central, thus combining algorithmic precision with the nuanced insights that emerge from lived experiences.
A core theme will be the demonstration of how iterative collaboration with diverse participants, including both migrant communities and broader stakeholders (such as policymakers, NGOs, and service providers), enhances data annotation, model calibration, and result interpretation. Rather than confining these insights to peripheral roles, the talk explores tools for transparency and interpretability, such as explainable AI frameworks, that empower participants and stakeholders to interrogate and validate emerging findings. These interactions not only improve accuracy and rigour but also reinforce ethical accountability, since neither the data collection process nor the resulting analyses can be fully understood in isolation from the people and communities they affect.
Balancing computational scale with the richness of human narratives requires vigilant attention to data governance. The keynote will explore how to uphold privacy, maintain informed consent, and protect individual rights, even when dealing with extensive datasets derived from digital-trace sources. Practical measures will be proposed for creating robust security protocols that integrate participant feedback, thereby bolstering trust throughout the research cycle. Emphasis will also be placed on integrating qualitative inputs and community-based knowledge to supplement and challenge purely algorithmic results, so that a study’s generalisability does not undermine the uniqueness of personal stories.
This talk advocates for incorporating participant agency into each stage of research, from conceptualisation to dissemination and hence it will illustrate how migrant communities can serve as co-creators rather than passive providers of information. The final objective is to reveal how embedding ethical and participatory considerations in the design of computational studies elevates both scientific credibility and social impact. Through case illustrations and theoretical insights, this presentation aims to set forth a rigorous yet inclusive vision for computational migration research that resonates more deeply with those whose experiences underpin the very data we rely upon.
Tuba's scholarly interests cover a wide range from migration, refugees, gender, inequalities, equal opportunities, multilateralism, social and public policies to new methodologies, use and governance of Big Data and AI for global challenges. She has more than 15 years of experience in quantitative and mixed research methods and empirical evidence-based policy-making. Learn more about Tuba Bircan here.
Agenda
Thursday, April 3
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11:00 - 11:30 |
Registration |
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11:30 - 11:45 |
Welcome & Introduction |
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Yolanda López García (Chemnitz University of Technology) |
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11:45 - 12:45 |
Keynote: |
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Bridging Algorithmic Insight and Participant Agency in Migration Research by Tuba Bircan (Free University of Brussels) |
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12:45 - 13:15 |
Keynote: Q+A and discussion |
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13:15 - 14:15 |
Lunch break |
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14:15 - 15:45 |
Session 1: |
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The Researcher’s Lens - Reflexivity, Identity, and Representation |
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(Institute for Advanced Social Studies, Spanish Research Council)
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Nothing about us without us: Insider Perspective in Refugee Research Shaden Sabouni (University of Fulda)
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Self-reflexivity, mistakes, and giving back in migration research Virginia Signorini (Independent Researcher)
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(To what extent) Can migration research (in a qualification project) be organised in a participatory way? Experiences from a research project Lisa Gulich (Goethe University Frankfurt)
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Are members of ethnic minorities more likely to participate in a survey when being approached by co-ethnic interviewers? Anja Stichs (Research Center of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees)
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De-centering knowledge production in migration research through participatory filmmaking. What is data, what becomes output? Johanna Bastian (DeZIM/HU Berlin); Anna Shostak (University of Wrocław) & Edward Omeni (DeZIM)
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Between Data and Dialogue: A Biographical Approach to Understanding Transnational Migration Mimoza Dushi (University of Pristina)
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15:45 - 16:15 |
Coffee break |
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16:15 - 17:45 |
Session 2: |
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Navigating Power Dynamics in Migration Research |
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Chair: Laila Omar (Doha Institute for Graduate Studies)
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Navigating Power Imbalances and Othering: Ethical and Methodological Challenges in Research with First-Generation Migrants in Germany Janine Brill & Veronika Karnowski (Chemnitz University of Technology)
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Positionality and Power Relations in Multiperspective Research with Migrant and Refugee Youth in State Care Susanne Siebholz & Luisa Burgmer (Chemnitz University of Technology)
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Grounded Narrative Approach and the Role of Co-Analysis in Researching (with) Young Adults from Immigrant Backgrounds Anna Gruszczynska-Thompson (Durham University / Leysin American School)
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Fact from fiction?! On the methodological challenges and potentials of conducting qualitative social research with interpreters Natalie Bella (Institute for Employment Research; Fulda Graduate Centre for Social Sciences) & Stefan Röhrer (Institute for Employment Research)
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Navigating Integration Challenges of Ukrainian Refugees in Secondary Cities of Central and Eastern Europe: A Methodological Perspective Jana Papcunová (Institute of Social Sciences, Centre of Social and Psychological Sciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences)
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Insider perspectives on the lived experiences of African migrants at a British university: ethics on the go Victoria Odeniyi (University of the Arts London)
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Too much to ask? Methodological and ethical trade-offs in conjoint experiment on anti-immigrant sentiment Sebastian Rinken (Institute for Advanced Social Studies, Spanish Research Council)
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18:30 |
Workshop Dinner at Turm-Brauhaus (Neumarkt 2 09111 Chemnitz. self-paid). |
Friday, April 4
Venue
The workshop will take place at the "Altes Heizhaus" at the Technical University of Chemnitz. For directions and additional information, please visit the Altes Heizhaus location page.
Accommodation
For your convenience, an allocation of rooms is available for workshop attendees at Hotel an der Oper, just a 4-minute walk from the workshop venue. Take advantage of a special workshop rate when booking. This rate is available until 28 February 2025.
Here are some additional hotel options close to the event venue:
- Hotel Sächsischer Hof – Approx. 3-minute walk
- Congress Hotel Chemnitz – Approx. 10-minute walk
- Super 8 by Wyndham Chemnitz – Approx. 15-minute walk
For the best availability and rates, we recommend reserving early!
About Chemnitz
Chemnitz (known as Karl-Marx-Stadt between 1953 and 1990) is located in Eastern Germany and is the third-largest city in the Free State of Saxony after Leipzig and Dresden. The city is famous for its art collections (Kunstsammlungen), the industrial museum that reflects its history of a flourishing industry, the Kaßberg – one of Germany’s largest residential Wilhelminian/Art Nouveau neighborhoods – and not least its 7.10-metre head of Karl Marx, the Karl Marx Monument. There is much more to discover in Chemnitz, because the city is European Capital of Culture in 2025.
What to do in Chemnitz?
Museums
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The Art Collections (Kunstsammlungen) Chemnitz: are located in the König-Albert-Museum at Theaterplatz -> Website
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Museum Gunzenhauser: shows one of the biggest private collections and the world's most comprehensive bundle of papers by Otto Dix -> Website
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Chemnitz Industrial Museum: tells the story from the beginnings of Saxon industrial history to today’s development -> Website
Must See
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Red Tower: the oldest surviving building in the city having an iconic shape - of the well-known washing-up liquid (Fit)
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Karl Marx monument: a 40-tonne colossus in the shape of Karl Marx’ head, also called the “NISCHL”.
Our recommendations regarding Chemnitz - the European Capital of Culture 2025
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March -November. Open-Air Railway Museum. Biggest railway museum in Europe.
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April 4-6. European Arts & Crafts Days. Workshop and studio open day. Visitors can watch the artists do the magic.
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April 5 - December 31. Garage Trail. A discovery tour through the garages of Chemnitz. Participation analogue and digital.
You can find the full programme here.
How to get to Chemnitz
Chemnitz is located in eastern Germany, in the state of Saxony, and it is the third-largest city in the state, following Leipzig and Dresden. The city can be easily accessed from four airports: Prague, Berlin, Leipzig, and Dresden. There are train connections from these airports to the city center of Chemnitz. The nearest and most convenient airports are Dresden, Leipzig and Prague.
Dresden
The train station at Dresden Airport is situated in the basement of the terminal building. The suburban train (S-Bahn) S2 operates with a frequency of every half hour. The journey from Dresden Airport to Dresden main station typically takes around 21 minutes. From Dresden main station, you can then transfer to regional train lines 30 and 3, which offer direct connections to Chemnitz. The duration of the journey to Chemnitz varies depending on the specific line, taking approximately one to one and a half hours. The distance between Dresden airport a Chemnitz is 82 kilometers.
Public Transport from the Airport
Leipzig
Leipzig/Halle Airport is located 117 km away from Chemnitz and provides convenient access to Leipzig Central Station via suburban train (S-Bahn) lines S5 and S5X. These trains operate every half hour, and the journey from the airport to Leipzig Central Station takes around 14 minutes. From Leipzig Central Station, you can then take the regional train 6, which runs on an hourly basis, to reach Chemnitz in approximately one hour.
Public Transport from the Airport
You also have the possibility to consider taking a flight to either Prague or Berlin. These airports boast great connectivity and present a highly feasible alternative.
Prague
Prague's international airport is located 146 kilometers away from Chemnitz city center. Public transport bus lines at Václav Havel Airport provide frequent connections to the center of Prague, with buses running at intervals of a few minutes. The bus stops are conveniently located directly in front of the terminals. For a quick journey to the center of Prague using public transport, it is recommended to take bus line 119 (Terminal 1/Terminal 2 - Nádraží Veleslavín) and transfer to metro line A. From Prague main station, you can reach Chemnitz by taking the EuroCity train via Dresden, with a travel time of approximately two and a half hours. Once you arrive at Dresden main station, you can conveniently transfer to regional train lines 30 and 3, which provide direct connections to Chemnitz. The duration of the journey to Chemnitz varies depending on the specific line, typically taking around one to one and a half hours. Another option is a direct bus connection, which typically takes approximately three hours to reach Chemnitz.
Starting in April 2025, a new bus connection by the Mittelsachsen Transport Association (VMS) is planned between Chemnitz and Prague. The bus is scheduled to run twice daily: in the mornings and at midday from Prague to Chemnitz, and at midday and in the evenings in the opposite direction. The launch of this service is set for April, aiming to facilitate travel to the European Capital of Culture 2025.
Public Transport from the Airport
Berlin
Berlin-Brandenburg Airport is well connected to the rail networks. There is a frequent service of Airport Express and regional trains, with a combined frequency of four departures per hour from Terminal 1/ Terminal 2 station to Berlin Central Station. Additionally, suburban trains (S-Bahn) S9 and S45 also operate from Terminal 1/ Terminal 2, providing a convenient connection to Berlin Central Station. From Berlin Central Station, there are direct connections to Chemnitz multiple times a day. The train journey typically takes approximately two and a half hours. Alternatively, Chemnitz can be reached by trains via Dresden or Leipzig. The international airport is situated at 240 kilometers from Chemnitz.
Frankfurt
You can also reach Chemnitz by train from Germany's largest airport, Frankfurt Main Airport, with a transfer at Leipzig Central Station.
Within Germany, trains are a reasonable alternative. Additionally, for local transportation, the nationwide 58€ ticket is an option. Read more
Contact and Organization
Organizing Committee:
Yolanda López García, Chemnitz University of Technology, Germany
Agata Górny, Centre of Migration Research, University of Warsaw, Poland
Steffen Pötzschke, GESIS – Leibniz-Institute for the Social Sciences, Germany
Sebastian Rinken, Institute for Advanced Social Studies, Spanish Research Council, Spain
Justyna Salamońska, Department of Management in Networked and Digital Societies, Kozminski University, Poland
Laila Omar, ACRPS – Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, Doha, Qatar
Evren Yalaz, GRITIM-UPF, Spain
Carmen Pereyra, Chemnitz University of Technology, Germany
E-Mail: methatmig_2025@phil.tu-chemnitz.de
Visit the Meth@Mig website and follow them on Bluesky: @methatmig.bsky.social and Twitter/X
Junior professorship on Instagram and Bluesky @digitalculture-tuc.bsky.social
