From Narrative Interviews to Quantitative Data

A Computational Approach to Analyzing Qualitative Interviews

Data-Method-Monitoring Cluster

Project head: Dr. Jannes Jacobsen

Project team members: Rahaf Gharz Addien

This research project aims to develop and test innovative methodologies that integrate computational analysis techniques, such as machine learning, with qualitative research approaches. The study focuses on the integration experiences of refugees who arrived in Germany after 2015, examining their social and personal transformations and the broader impact of integration on their lives.

Beyond methodological advancements, the project seeks to understand integration from the refugees’ own perspectives by exploring their perceptions, social dynamics, and personal changes. To achieve this, the research is based on a large dataset of semi-structured interviews, which will be collected using a chatbot-based approach and analyzed through computational methods.

By combining qualitative insights with advanced computational analysis, this project aims to offer a deeper, more nuanced understanding of refugee integration in Germany, while also expanding the methodological toolkit of integration research.

Funding: Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Institutional funding)