Work Group Socialization Research: News
05.12.2025Project updates: Completion of the first main phase of data collection
The first main phase of data collection for the TraNa project has been successfully completed. Katarzyna Jendrzey worked in Wrocław and other regions in southwestern Poland, conducting dozens of interviews with children, who gave us exciting insights – into their experiences with migration and into where and how they position themselves in the world. The next step is now to evaluate the data before we continue with the next round of data collection at the beginning of next year.
We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to all the children who were willing to talk to us, who were so open, and who shared their experiences and knowledge with us.
A big thank you also goes to all participating schools and to the parents who supported us in the survey. Without this commitment, the successful completion of this data collection phase would not have been possible.
03.12.2025Workshop on the public visibility of female scientists at the intersection of migration and childhood research
On December 1, 2025, Dr. Jessica Schwittek (UDE) and Dr. Seyran Bostancı (DeZIM) hosted an online workshop on the public visibility of female scientists at the intersection of migration and childhood research. With expert input, a practical exercise session led by media trainer and journalist Monika Wimmer, and an intensive exchange of ideas, the workshop highlighted opportunities, obstacles, and concrete strategies for scientific communication – from developing clear core messages to better understanding media logic. The strong response to the workshop demonstrates the high demand for practical formats, and a continuation of the event series is planned. Many thanks to InZentIM for its financial support!
03.11.2025 Erasmus Teaching Mobility: Exchange with the University of Groningen
In October, working group member Jessica Schwittek visited the University of Groningen as part of an Erasmus Teaching Mobility program. Together with Dr. Laura Kapinga, she taught a Qualitative Research Methods course at University College Groningen (UCG) and presented the methodological approach of the TraNa project.
In addition, plans for future cooperations between UCG and UDE were initiated. Many thanks to our colleagues and students at UCG for the inspiring exchange!
26.09.2025Ad-Hoc Group at the DGS Congress
At the 42nd Congress of the German Sociological Association on the Duisburg campus of the UDE, Work Group member Jessica Schwittek and Julia Hahmann from the RheinMain University of Applied Sciences formed an ad hoc group: “Friendships in Transition, Transitions of Friendship.”
The lively discussion brought together different perspectives and opened up new approaches the topic. A detailed report on the successful event is now available on Soziopolis.
01.09.2025Visitor from Poland via Erasmus
On August 28, 2025, Dr. Adrian Madej from the University of Wroclaw visited Essen. In a joint block seminar, he discussed research projects with students and also presented his current project on “Schulhaus-Romanen” (schoolhouse novels). For this project, students write novels, in collective writing processes, on topics of their choice, which are then published. Adrian also introduced the seminar participants to the University of Wrocław and promoted it as an exciting place for an Erasmus stay. We can only confirm this and warmly invite students who are considering a stay abroad to contact us. Whether for a shorter or longer stay, Wrocław is a wonderful place to live and study.
05.08.2025Participation at the 5th ISA Forum of Sociology in Rabat
Our team was represented at the 5th ISA Forum of Sociology in Rabat, Morocco, where we gave three presentations and also co-organized our own section. This gave us the opportunity to present our current research projects and findings to an international audience of experts. The intensive exchange with scientists from all over the world was extremely enriching: we were able to take away many new ideas and impulses for our ongoing work and projects, deepen existing networks, and initiate new collaborations.
30.06.2025Knowing Justice in the Anthropocene: ISA Forum of Sociology – July 6-11, 2025
The Work Group Socialization Research will be represented at the 5th ISA Forum of Sociology with three presentations. Additionally, Alexandra König and Jessica Schwittek are organizing a session. The Forum will take place from July 6-11, 2025 in Rabat, Morocco.
Transnational Life – Imposition or Gain for Children?
Alexandra König, Katarzyna Jendrzey, & Jessica Schwittek
Time: Tuesday, 08.07.2025: 19:15 - 19:30
https://isaconf.confex.com/isaconf/forum2025/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/157510
Young People As Addressees of Vietnamese Migrant Organisations in Germany
Jessica Schwittek
Time: Wednesday, 09.07.2025: 13:30 - 13:45
https://isaconf.confex.com/isaconf/forum2025/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/157523
Session 550: Researching Young People’s Place(s) in the World: Geographical, Temporal and Affective Self-Positionings
Organizers: Alexandra König & Jessica Schwittek
Time: Friday, 11.07.2025: 13:00 - 14:45
https://isaconf.confex.com/isaconf/forum2025/meetingapp.cgi/Session/20621
Stayer Children’s (Self-)Positioning in Transnational Spaces: Methodological and Ethical Reflections on Data Collection
Katarzyna Jendrzey
Time: Friday, 11.07.2025: 13:00 - 13:15
https://isaconf.confex.com/isaconf/forum2025/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/157221
You can find an overview of the entiere program and presentations here: https://isaconf.confex.com/isaconf/forum2025/meetingapp.cgi
27.05.2025New journal publication out now!
Jessica Schwittek on the radio!
Jessica Schwittek was invited to participate as an expert on Radio Emscher-Lippe in a program on “Boomer sayings.” In the discussion about typical statements of the so-called boomer generation, she analyzed from a childhood sociology perspective how social ideas of childhood and upbringing have changed over time – and what this means for today's approach to different generational perspectives.
The program was broadcast on 20.5.2025 on several local stations in the Ruhr region, and an excerpt can be heard here.
26.05.2025TraNa project updates: Our data collection has begun!
In Poland, we have already conducted the first interviews with children, who have given us exciting insights into where and how they see themselves in the world. The conversations with the children gave us not only new impulses but also even more motivation for our upcoming interviews. Additionally, they provided a valuable opportunity to successfully test and further refine our methodological approach.
09.05.2025New contribution from Jessica Schwittek on the topic of scientific communication
A new contribution from Karin Kämpfe, Jessica Schwittek, and Christoph T. Burmeister with the title "Verkürzungen, Verklärungen und andere Verlegenheiten – Zum dilemmatischen Verhältnis von Wissenschaft und Medien in der Kindheitsforschung" was published in the latest Special Issue of the Zeitschrift für Soziologie der Erziehung und Sozialisation (ZSE). Find out more here: https://www.beltz.de/fachmedien/erziehungswissenschaft/zeitschriften/zeitschrift_fuer_soziologie_der_erziehung_und_sozialisation/aktuelle-ausgabe.html
09.05.2025New Special Issue from Alexandra König on the topic "Cultural Spaces for Girls"
Friederike Schmidt and Alexandra König have published a new Special Issue on the topic "Mädchenkulturelle Räume" (Cultural Spaces for Girls) Find out more about this Issue here: https://www.beltz.de/fachmedien/erziehungswissenschaft/zeitschriften/zeitschrift_fuer_soziologie_der_erziehung_und_sozialisation/aktuelle-ausgabe.html
04.04.2025New position for Alexandra König
Alexandra König was elected as a member of the board of directors of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Educational Research (IZfB): https://www.uni-due.de/izfb/
31.03.2025New article from Jessica Schwittek and Katarzyna Jendrzey
Jessica Schwittek and Katarzyna Jendrzey have published an article entitled „Kindheitsforschung in internationalen und mehrsprachigen Kontexten“ [English: “Childhood research in international and multilingual contexts”]. The text has been published in the current edition of the anthology “Methoden der Kindheitsforschung” (Ed. Friederike Heinzel). In the article, they discuss methodological challenges from both the DoDzi project and a project on young refugees in Germany.
More on the anthology: https://www.beltz.de/fachmedien/sozialpaedagogik_soziale_arbeit/produkte/details/55303-methoden-der-kindheitsforschung.html
27.02.2025The TraNa team in Wrocław!
To kick off the project, the entire TraNa team spent three intensive and productive days in Wrocław.
On Sunday, we had an intensive exchange of analytical concepts within the TraNa team and planned the next steps. Monday was spent in an interdisciplinary seminar with exciting presentations by members of our team as well as by researchers from the University of Wrocław and international guests. On Tuesday, we met with local teachers to explore access points for our field research.
We left Wrocław with inspiring ideas and excitement about our upcoming research!
Group photo from left to right: Katarzyna Jendrzey, Dorota Michułka, Sabina Świtała, Magdalena Rembowska-Płuciennik, Alexandra König, and Jessica Schwittek
20.02.2025New article from Katarzyna Jendrzey in "Families, Relationships and Societies"
How are migrating mothers represented in children's and young adult literature, and to what extent is their migration presented as a deviation from or legitimate form of motherhood and family life? Katarzyna Jendrzey has published an article on this topic in Families, Relationships and Societies: “Representation of Migrating Mothers in Children's and Young Adult Literature on Transnational Families.” The article, which was written as part of the DoDzi project, can be found here: https://doi.org/10.1332/
29.01.2025Special Issue in "Families, Relationships and Societies"
Alexandra König and Jessica Schwittek, together with Viorela Ducu, have published the Special Issue “Living apart together: Growing up in transnational families” in Families, Relationships and Societies, featuring exciting international contributions. Click here for the editorial: https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journals/frs/aop/article-10.1332-20467435Y2024D000000053/article-10.1332-20467435Y2024D000000053.xml
24.01.2025Day of Educational Research
The work group Socialization Research will participate in the Tag der Bildungsforschung (Day of Educational Research) 2025, hosted by the IZfB. We are looking forward to presenting our latest research project, TraNa. The event will take place from 9:00 - 15:00 on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, in the Glass Pavilion (R12 S00 H12).
17.01.2025Podcast episode with Jessica Schwittek
Jessica Schwittek was a guest on the podcast “MeltingPod - Migration im Dialog.” In the episode from January 15, she presents the finished project DoDzi and its newly begun follow-up project, TraNa. Jessica Schwittek discusses compelling topics such as "stayer children," methodological challenges, and transnational families from a child perspective.