Methodology of longitudinal and comparative research into social and cultural change

The aim is to combine the complementary expertise, which is present in Flanders and some neighbouring countries, on the domains of the theory and methodology of longitudinal and comparative research into social and cultural change. The co-operation will be more intensified than in the past, and will improve the knowledge base and expertise for analysing the many large comparative datasets that will be open in the near future. The co-operation will also facilitate stimulate joint research and joint international publications of group-members. This methodology is of highest relevance in the context of current and planned European social surveys.

The co-operation on the postdoctoral level includes the following aspects

Theoretical foundation and operationalization of core concepts about social change

Research into the comparability of concepts and scale constructions using latent class analysis (LCA) and structural equation modelling (SEM), with a special focus on equivalence

Modelling of measurement error with LCA and SEM, study of question wording and context effects

Study of interviewer performance and interviewer-respondent interaction in view of the optimalization of the training program (interviewer quality) with a special focus on interviewing in multicultural situations, and the use of computer assisted methods (CATI, CAPI and internet)

The study of panel attrition and the modelling of nonresponse

Evaluation of LCA and SEM in trend studies and multigroup comparisons

The analysis of trend components (cycles, cohort, period)

Applications of multi-level analysis in comparative research

Applications of quasi-experimental designs with panel data

Critical reflection on the boundaries of survey research

Participating Research Units

Unit Data Collection and Analysis, Department of Sociology, K.U. Leuven

Institute of Political Sociology and Methodology, Faculty of Social and Political Siences, K.U. Brussel

Centre of Demograph, Centre of Sociology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Bevolkings- en sociaal-wetenschappelijke methodologie, Universiteit van Gent

Centre of Lanour Psychology, K.U. Leuven

Vakgroep Methoden en Technieken van Onderzoek, WORC, KU Tilburg (Analyse van sociale verandering)

Sociaal-culturele ontwikkelingen in Nederland (SOCON), KU Nijmegen

Unit Research Methodology and Data Collection, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Population Research Centre, Universiteit van Groningen

International Research Group on Methodology and Comparative Survey Research (IRMCS) Uv Amsterdam

Zentral Archiv für Empirische Sozialforschung, Univerzität zu Köln

Gallup Research Centre, University of Nebraska (USA)