Integration Survey

This study aims to present causes and factors that promote or impede the integration of the foreign population in Germany. For this reason, approx. 2,400 immigrants of Italian and Turkish origin were asked about their living conditions, behaviours and attitudes.

With the permanent settlement of the groups that immigrated as former “guest workers” and their descendants, insights into forms of, and determining factors for, integration of the foreign population are becoming increasingly important. However, there is a frequent lack of suitable data to provide empirically substantiated answers to questions much discussed by society such as: How far has the integration of persons with a migration background (immigrants) progressed with regard to educatio and the labour market, and how can we explain the gap – if any – between the foreign and the German population? What is the situation with regard to the interest and participation of immigrants in the political and social domain? Are the numbers of interethnic marriages and friendships increasing, and are there differences in this regard between the various nationalities? These questions are especially urgent when it comes to the “second” or “third generation” of immigrants, since the integration or segregation of this group will be decisive in shaping society in Germany the decades ahead.

For these reasons, in July 2000 the market and opinion research institute BIK Aschpurwis und Behrens, Hamburg, was commissioned to conduct a widespread survey of immigrants of Italian and Turkish origin in the 18-30 age segment as well as a German control group (each with approx. 1,200 respondents). The survey data were delivered to the BiB in late March 2001.

The survey recorded items concerning living conditions, behaviour and attitudes. In terms of themes, the core focus was on educational, vocational, social, linguistic and identification-related integration; the type and extent of contacts to the ethnic community and its institutions; attitudes towards life in Germany and political participation, and family living conditions and attitudes. Due to the thematic breadth of the survey and the large number of respondents, the data allow us to make informed statements on the integration patterns of the groups studied.

The data of the Integration Survey can be accessed at GESIS under the study number ZA4821.