Surveying Syrian Refugees in the Netherlands

The Netherlands Institute for Social Research/SCP has a longstanding tradition of conducting both qualitative and quantitative research among ethnic minorities, migrants and refugees (see for example, Dagevos & Gijsberts, 2007; Dourleijn et. al 2011; Gijsberts & Dagevos, 2009; Huijnk, Gijsberts & Dagevos, 2014). As a result, it has accumulated extensive methodological knowledge and experience in conducting research among such hard-to-survey populations (e.g., Kappelhof, 2015).

In 2016, The Netherlands Institute for Social Research/SCP was asked by the Dutch ministries of Social Affairs and Employment, and Security and Justice to conduct a study among refugees –mainly from Syria- who received a (temporary) residence permit in 2015 as a result of being designated refugee status. The aim of the study is to map and monitor their socio-economic and socio-cultural integration for a period of five years as well as observe changes. This study includes the use of registry data sources, a longitudinal survey with two measurements, a survey among their children and qualitative research.

This presentation will briefly describe the design of the overall study and the definition of the target population. It will then zoom in on the survey design were we will –among other things- discuss the sample design, methodological choices (and trade-offs) concerning mode of interviewing, contact strategies, questionnaire design, questionnaire content, translation, etc. We will also give an initial assessment of the success of the survey design in achieving its intended goal to obtain a representative sample based on fieldwork results as well as discuss the next steps, such as retention methods, in this ongoing study.