Surveying Diversity: Methodological Issues and Best Practices |
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| Coordinator 1 | Dr Lisa de Vries (Bielefeld University) |
| Coordinator 2 | Mrs Zaza Zindel (German Centre for Integration and Migration Research; Bielefeld University) |
Diversity is a critical topic across society, encompassing dimensions such as age, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. As societies develop more complex and heterogeneous, inclusive research that adequately captures this diversity is essential. The task of surveying a “super-diverse” society, in which individuals embody multiple intersecting identities and experiences, presents unique challenges for survey design, data collection, and analysis.
This complexity not only opens new directions for survey research but also introduces significant methodological challenges. Traditional survey instruments may struggle to capture the full range of social diversity, and classic sampling techniques may fail to reach specific subpopulations. Furthermore, data security and research ethics become increasingly complex in this context. Addressing these challenges requires innovative approaches to sampling, questionnaire design, and data integration. Advances in technology and new data sources offer promising opportunities to better reflect the diversity of modern societies in research.
This session invites researchers and professionals from survey institutes, census bureaus, and related fields to discuss recent developments, as well as both methodological and practical challenges of surveying increasingly diverse populations. Given the societal relevance and its relatively recent emergence in survey research, we are open to a wide range of contributions that capture diversity in survey research. We especially welcome contributions that provide insights and perspectives from different communities (e.g., LGBTQI+, ethnic or religious minorities, or people with disabilities).
Relevant topics include (but are not limited to):
• Measurement instruments that reflect the complexity of a diverse society (e.g., intersectionality, multidimensional scales, tailored question formats)
• Sampling strategies that capture the full range of societal diversity, including hard-to-reach or underrepresented groups
• Balancing the need for detailed demographic information with concerns about respondent burden, privacy, and research ethics
• Integrating diversity across all survey stages, from question development to data analysis (e.g., participatory research