Research
Current Research Projects
The main topics of the theory-driven empirical social research that the staff of the Chair of General Sociology is involved in are current and socially relevant questions on the migration and integration of ethnic minorities, families, the labor market, and education. The research itself is connected to the Mannheim Centre for European Social Research, where all research projects are based.
Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Survey in Four European Countries DE
Directors Frank Kalter, Irena Kogan Researchers Cooperation partners
Anthony Heath (Oxford, UK), Miles Hewstone (Oxford, UK),
Jan Jonsson (Stockholm, SE), Matthijs Kalmijn (Tilburg, NL),
Education Acquisition with a Migration Background in the Life Course
Directors Frank Kalter Researchers Andreas Horr, Angelina Springer Cooperation partners
Preschool Education and Educational Careers among Migrant Children
Directors Hartmut Esser Researchers Oliver Klein, Franziska Schmidt Cooperation partners
Birgit Becker (Frankfurt) Friendship and Identity in School
Directors Frank Kalter Researchers David Kretschmer, Sebastian Pink
German Center for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM)—Start-up Project
Directors Frank Kalter, Andreas Blätte (Duisburg),
Herbert Brücker (Bamberg), Naika Foroutan (Berlin),
Ruud Koopmans (Berlin), Andreas Pott (Osnabrück)
Researchers
Selected Publications
2025
- Arikan, Z., Dollmann, J. & Jacobsen, J. (2025). What is a good way to ask about racist experiences? Exploring the difference between direct and indirect measures. Survey Research Methods : SRM, 19(1), 55–62. https://doi.org/10.18148/srm/2025.v19i1.8286
- Brücker, H., Kosyakova, Y., Rother, N., Zinn, S., Liebau, E., Wenke, G., Schwanhäuser, S. & Siegert, M. (2025). Exploring integration and migration dynamics: the research potentials of a large-scale longitudinal household study of refugees in Germany. European Sociological Review, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1093/esr/jcaf032
- Dollmann, J. (2025). Ethnische Diskriminierung im deutschen Bildungssystem: Ein ausgeprägtes Phänomen und dennoch nicht die Erklärung für ethnische Unterschiede im Bildungserfolg. Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie : KZfSS, 77(1), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11577-025-00991-5
- Emmer, C., Neumer, A., Kalter, F. & Mata, J. (2025). Long-term discrimination effects on adolescent health behaviors and well-being in four countries. Health Psychology, 44(9), 854–865. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0001496
- Esser, H. (2025). Kognitive Differenzierung und Kollateral-Stratifikation : Effekte des stringenten Ability-Tracking auf die (Ent-)Kopplung kognitiver und sozialer Einflüsse auf die Leistungen in der Sekundarstufe. Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie : KZfSS, 77(2), 215–246. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11577-025-01000-5
- Kühne, S., Jacobsen, J., Legewie, N. & Dollmann, J. (2025). Attitudes toward AI usage in patient health care: Evidence from a population survey vignette experiment. Journal of Medical Internet Research : JMIR, 27(Article e70179), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.2196/70179
- Weißmann, M. & Roth, T. (2025). Conflict and support during apprenticeship training in Germany: consequences for apprenticeship success and further employment in the company. Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training, 17(Article 27), 1–43. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40461-025-00201-8
2024
- Dollmann, J., Arnold, L. & Horr, A. (2024). CILS4NEPS – Unlocking research potential through more participants, more schools and international comparison: Harmonized data for research on education, school-to-work transition and integration processes for adolescents in Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and England. Jahrbücher für Nationalökonomie und Statistik = Journal of Economics and Statistics, 245(1/2), 215–234. https://doi.org/10.1515/jbnst-2024-0016
- Dollmann, J., Kogan, I. & Weißmann, M. (2024). When your accent betrays you: the role of foreign accents in school-to-work transition of ethnic minority youth in Germany. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies : JEMS, 50(12), 2943–2986. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2024.2305278
- Kalter, F. & Foroutan, N. (2024). Outgroup mobility threat – how much intergenerational integration is wanted? Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies : JEMS, 50(1), 149–172. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2023.2263830
- Kogan, I., Weißmann, M. & Dollmann, J. (2024). Police discrimination and police distrust among ethnic minority adolescents in Germany. Frontiers in Sociology, 9(Article 1231774), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2024.1231774
- Kretschmer, D., Lämmermann, K. & Leszczensky, L. (2024). How gendered religious norms contribute to the emerging gender gap in Muslim youths' interreligious friendships. International Journal of Intercultural Relations : IJIR, 98(Article 101919), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2023.101919
- Mayer, S. J., Dollmann, J., Jacobsen, J. & Walter, L. (2024). Armed conflict as a threat to social cohesion: Large-scale displacement and its short- and long-term effects on in-group perceptions. Research & Politics : R&P, 11(2), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1177/20531680241258309
2023
- Dollmann, J., Jonsson, J. O., Mood, C. & Rudolphi, F. (2023). Is ‘immigrant optimism’ in educational choice a problem? Ethnic gaps in Swedish upper secondary school completion. European Sociological Review, 39(3), 384–399. https://doi.org/10.1093/esr/jcad023
- Dollmann, J., Mayer, S., Lietz, A., Siegel, M. & Köhler, J. (2023). DeZIM.panel – data for Germany’s post-migrant society. Jahrbücher für Nationalökonomie und Statistik = Journal of Economics and Statistics, 243(1), 93–108. https://doi.org/10.1515/jbnst-2022-0025
- Kretschmer, D., Gereke, J., Winter, F. & Zhang, N. (2023). No differential effects of classroom ethnic composition on native and immigrant friendship segregation: comment on Smith et al., 2016. American Journal of Sociology : AJS, 129(2), 570–585. https://doi.org/10.1086/727823
- Mayer, S., Nguyen, C. G., Dollmann, J. & Veit, S. (2023). The hidden majority/
minority consensus: Minorities show similar preference patterns of immigrant support as the majority population. The British Journal of Sociology : BJS, 74(4), 711–716. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-4446.13013 - Pink, S. & Schmidt, J. (2023). Das Wetter ist politisch – Starkregen, Hochwasser und Flut vor der Bundestagswahl 2021. Zeitschrift für Politikwissenschaft : ZPol = Journal of Political Science, 33(1), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41358-023-00342-w
- Weißmann, M. & Roth, T. (2023). Pre-existing company contacts and premature termination of apprenticeship training in Germany. Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, 87(Article no. 100839). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rssm.2023.100839
2022
- Dollmann, J. (2022). The political integration of immigrants: How pre- and postmigration contexts matter. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 23(3), 1091–1125. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-021-00867-5
- Jankowski, M., Kurella, A.-S., Stecker, C., Blätte, A., Bräuninger, T., Debus, M., Müller, J. & Pickel, S. (2022). Die Positionen der Parteien zur Bundestagswahl 2021: Ergebnisse des Open Expert Surveys. Politische Vierteljahresschrift : PVS, 63(1), 53–72. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11615-022-00378-7
- Kretschmer, D. & Leszczensky, L. (2022). In-group bias or out-group reluctance? The interplay of gender and religion in creating religious friendship segregation among Muslim youth. Social Forces : SF, 100(3), 1307–1332. https://doi.org/10.1093/sf/soab029
- Leszczensky, L. & Kretschmer, D. (2022). Religious friendship preferences of Muslim and non-Muslim students in German schools: Bright boundaries everywhere or contingent on the proportion of Muslim classmates? Social Networks, 68, 60–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socnet.2021.04.005
- Leszczensky, L., Pink, S., Kretschmer, D. & Kalter, F. (2022). Studying youth' group identities, intergroup relations, and friendship networks: The friendship and identity in school data. European Sociological Review, 38(3), 493–506. https://doi.org/10.1093/esr/jcab052
- Roth, T. & Weißmann, M. (2022). The role of parents' native and migrant contacts on the labour market in the school-to-work transition of adolescents in Germany. European Sociological Review, 38(5), 707–724. https://doi.org/10.1093/esr/jcac022
2021
- Dollmann, J. (2021). Ethnic inequality in choice‐ and performance‐driven education systems: A longitudinal study of educational choices in England, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden. The British Journal of Sociology : BJS, 72(4), 974–991. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-4446.12854
- Dollmann, J. & Kogan, I. (2021). COVID-19–associated discrimination in Germany. Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, 74(Article 100631), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rssm.2021.100631
- Foroutan, N. & Kalter, F. (2021). Integration in Vielfalt – Anerkennung, Chancengleichheit und Teilhabe in der Postmigrantischen Gesellschaft. Deutschland & Europa, 2021(82), 72–79.
- Kaiser, A. K., Kretschmer, D. & Leszczensky, L. (2021). Social network-based cohorting to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in secondary schools: a simulation study in classrooms of four European countries. The Lancet Regional Health. Europe, 8(Article 100166). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2021.100166
- Kalter, F. & Foroutan, N. (2021). Race for second place? Explaining East-West differences in anti-muslim sentiment in Germany. Frontiers in Sociology, 6(Article 735421), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2021.735421
- Kogan, I., Dollmann, J. & Weißmann, M. (2021). In the ear of the listener: The role of foreign accent in interethnic friendships and partnerships. International Migration Review : IMR, 55(3), 746–784. https://doi.org/10.1177/0197918320988835
- Plenty, S., Bracegirdle, C., Dollmann, J. & Spiegler, O. (2021). Changes in young adults' mental well-being before and during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic: Disparities between ethnic groups in Germany. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 15(Article 69), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-021-00418-x
2023
- Berbée, P., Brücker, H., Garloff, A. & Sommerfeld, K. (2023). Aufnahme von Geflüchteten schafft neue Jobs. ZEW policy brief, 2023–03. Mannheim.
2022
- Berbée, P., Brücker, H., Garloff, A. & Sommerfeld, K. (2022). The labor demand effects of refugee immigration: Evidence from a natural experiment. ZEW Discussion Papers, 22–069. Mannheim.
2025
- Dollmann, J., Jacobsen, J. & Mayer, S. (2025). Introduction. In J. Dollmann, J. Jacobsen & S. Mayer (eds.), Special issue: Civil society activation and public support for refugees in times of high immigration: Trends across time, groups, and countries (S. 3–6). Baden-Baden: Nomos-Verl.-Ges. https://doi.org/10.5771/0038-6073-2025-1-2-3
- Dollmann, J., Jacobsen, J., Nguyen, C. G. & Mayer, S. J. (2025). Faktoren der Rückkehrbereitschaft nach gewaltsamer Vertreibung: Eine empirische Untersuchung ukrainischer Geflüchteter. In J. Oltmer, M. Berlinghoff, F. Düvell, B. Etzold, C. Lang & A. Pott (eds.), Report Globale Flucht 2025 : Im Aufrtrag des Projekts “Flucht- und Flüchtlingsforschung: Vernetzung und Transfer” (FFVT) (S. 106–114). Frankfurt am Main: Fischer Taschenbuch Verl.
2024
- Dollmann, J. (2024). Migration und Bildung. In A. Röder & D. Zifonun (eds.), Handbuch Migrationssoziologie (S. 1–23). Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-20773-1_10–1
2023
- Dollmann, J., Jacobsen, J. & Mayer, S. (2023). Die Unterstützung ukrainischer Geflüchteter in Deutschland. In J. Oltmer, M. Berlinghoff, F. Düvell, U. Krause & A. Pott (eds.), Report Globale Flucht 2023 : im Auftrag des Projekts “Flucht- und Flüchtlingsforschung: Vernetzung und Transfer” (FFVT) (1. Aufl., S. 243–254). Frankfurt a. M.: Fischer Taschenbuch Verl.
- Ellwardt, L., Leszczensky, L. & Pink, S. (2023). Software für die quantitative Analyse sozialer Netzwerke. In C. Stegbauer & R. Häußling (eds.), Handbuch Netzwerkforschung (Aktualisierte und erweiterte Neuauflage, S. 1–12). Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-37507-2_47–1
- Kogan, I., Weißmann, M. & Dollmann, J. (2023). Defying discrimination? Germany’s ethnic minorities within education and training systems. In L. H. Yang & M. A. Eger (eds.), Migration stigma : understanding prejudice, discrimination, and exclusion (S. 99–119). Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/15529.003.0009
- Roth, T. & Weißmann, M. (2023). Ethnic differences in social capital mobilization at the transition to vocational training in Germany. In S. Weinert, G. J. Blossfeld & H.-P. Blossfeld (eds.), Education, competence development and career trajectories : analysing data of the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) (S. 369–401). Cham: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-27007-9_17
- Weißmann, M., Dollmann, J. & Kogan, I. (2023). Educational and school-to-work pathways of majority and ethnic minority youth in Germany: direct links and detours. In M. Darmody & E. Smith (eds.), Post-school pathways of migrant-origin youth in Europe (S. 82–104). London ; New York, NY: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
2022
- Dollmann, J. & Weißmann, M. (2022). „Ethnic Choice Effects“: Welche Rolle spielt die räumliche Verfügbarkeit anspruchsvoller Bildungsalternativen? In H. Kruse & J. Teltemann (eds.), Differenz im Raum : Sozialstruktur und Grenzziehung in deutschen Städten (S. 141–167). Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-35009-3_5
- Foroutan, N. & Kalter, F. (2022). Integration. In B. Schmidt-Lauber & M. Liebig (eds.), Begriffe der Gegenwart : ein kulturwissenschaftliches Glossar (S. 153–162). Wien; Köln: Böhlau Verlag.
- Foroutan, N. & Kalter, F. (2022). Integration. In B. Schmidt-Lauber & M. Liebig (eds.), Begriffe der Gegenwart : ein kulturwissenschaftliches Glossar (S. 153–162). Bonn: Bundeszentrale für Politische Bildung.
- Kalter, F. (2022). Integration in migration societies. In K. Gërxhani, N. de Graaf & W. Raub (eds.), Handbook of sociological science : contributions ti rigorous sociology (S. 135–153). Cheltenham, UK ; Northampton, MA, USA: Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781789909432.00016
- Lorenz, R., Beck, J., Horneber, S., Keusch, F. & Antoun, C. (2022). Chapter 10, Google trends as a tool for public opinion research: An illustration of the perceived threats of immigration. In S. Pötzschke & S. Rinken (eds.), Migration research in a digitized world : using innovative technology to tackle methodological challenges (S. 193–206). Cham: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-01319-5_10
2025
- Springer, A. (2025). Does recognition of foreign qualifications pay off? : The German case. [Doctoral dissertation, Universität Mannheim].
2024
- Kretschmer, D. (2024). Gender(ed) segregation? Gender, gender-related norms, and the interreligious and cross-gender friendships of Muslim youth in Germany. [Doctoral dissertation, Universität Mannheim].
2025
- Dollmann, J., Jacobsen, J. & Mayer, S. (2025). Civil society activation and public support for refugees in times of high immigration: Trends across time, groups, and countries. Soziale Welt : SozW, 76, 1–2, Special Issue. https://doi.org/10.5771/0038-6073-2025-1-2
2021
- Soiné, H., Arnold, L., Dollmann, J., Kriegel, L. & Weißmann, M. (2021). Junge Erwachsene und die Pandemie: Erkenntnisse der CILS4COVID-Befragung. https://doi.org/10.25521/mzesfokus.2021.166
2025
- Weißmann, M. (2025). Better off without trying? Ethnic differences in labour market outcomes of different secondary education trajectories in Germany. 10th International NEPS Conference, Bamberg, Germany.
2023
- Kogan, I., Dollmann, J. & Weißmann, M. (2023). The role of regional accent and dialect in ethnic minorities' youth transitions. AMLI2023, Approaches to Migration, Language, and Identity, Zürich, Switzerland.
2021
- Dollmann, J., Kogan, I. & Weißmann, M. (2021). When your accent betrays you : the role of foreign accents in school-to-work transition of ethnic minority youth in Germany. 18th IMISCOE Annual Conference, Belval, Luxembourg, Online.