Surveys in migration research

Abstract

Besides qualitative research and administrative data, surveys constitute a “classic” source that migration scholars have built their analyses on for decades. However, while collecting high-quality survey data is a difficult undertaking under the best of circumstances, it comes with additional challenges within the field of migration research. This chapter provides an overview of critical issues associated with this type of research. It first addresses the difference between the inclusion of migrants in general population surveys and data collection through surveys specifically targeting individuals with migratory experience. However, the contribution then mainly focuses on the latter type of research and selects key elements scholars need to consider when engaging in it. Namely, these are the availability and selection of appropriate sampling frames, the mode in which surveys are conducted, and the crucial role of questionnaire translation in cross-national and cross-cultural settings.