Integration Through social Contacts (2004)

Intercultural leisure activities and forms of contact.

Topics: 1. Evaluation of the individual events: type of event currently attended (music event, sports festival, parish festival, village parliament, 72-hour campaign, youth festival at the Hahn or youth centre); nationality (local, ethnic German or other nationality); length of stay in Germany; events already attended or intended to visit (music event, sports, parish festival, village parliament, 72-hour action, youth festival at the Hahn); reasons for the current event visit; type of people the respondent would like to meet at the event (more locals, more Aussiedler or nationality does not matter); new people already met; type of new people (locals, Aussiedler, foreigners); respondent likes the event.

2. Forms of contact and social relations: estimated percentage of ethnic German immigrants in Sohren; percentage of ethnic German immigrants in the neighbourhood; personal contact to ethnic German immigrants/local residents; since when contact; place or opportunity to get to know each other; ethnic German immigrants/local residents count among acquaintances, friends/clique, (living) partners; acceptance of people from different groups in the clique or as permanent relationship partners.

3. Leisure time in the youth house: frequency of visits to the youth house; satisfaction with the offer in the youth house; meeting of Aussiedler/ local youths in the youth house.

4. Values and preferences: consumption and possessions play an important role in the German society; importance of brand clothing, mobile phones, cars, jewellery, computers and internet; must master my life on my own; kind of life planning; car repair in the workshop, myself or with friends; willingness to help with building a house for family or friends; importance of different life goals and values; importance of these life goals and values for Aussiedler youth/ local youth.

5. Religion: male image?; religious community; religion still has personal significance; attitude towards the institution church; frequency of church attendance; belief in a life after death; greater interest by young people in religion and belief than would appear to be the case (religious spiral of silence).

6. Future perspective and local ties: future confidence; well-being in Sohren/ in the place of residence; intention to stay in the place of residence; responsible for well-being in the place of residence.

7. Politics and participation: political interest; preference for more local political topics or more general political topics; forms of political participation.

8. Relationship between Germans and foreigners: dispute between native and foreign youth; entry is made in the case of suggestions for improvement in the relationship between the two groups.

Aussiedler were also asked: place of residence has become a new home; identity; self-assessment of German language skills; participation in German courses.

Demographics: sex; age; highest school leaving certificate or school attendance with pupils; completed vocational training; job or unemployment.

Interviewer rating: assessment of the respondents´ knowledge of German.