Periodic Reporting for period 3 - FUMI (Future Migration as Present Fact)
Reporting period: 2022-07-01 to 2023-12-31
The springboard for the project is a striking statistic: half of all young adults in West Africa say that wish to leave their own country and settle elsewhere. Yet, the vast majority never depart. If migration is desired, but never materializes, what are the consequences? The project breaks with traditional approaches by shifting the object of study from observed migration in the present to imagined migration in the future. Although such future migration might never occur, it materializes in thoughts, feelings, communication, and behaviour at present. Framing the issue in this way renews research on the precursors of migration and opens up a new chapter about the links between migration and development.
To understand how young adults think about migration, we need to situate migration within their lives and dreams more broadly. Our research thus takes a step back from the usual focus of migration research. FUMI invests in theoretical and methodological innovation that is attuned to poorly understood aspects of global migration challenges. We aim to have a lasting impact on how scientists, policy makers, and people in general think about migration.
The project is guided by three objectives: (1) to develop a theory of distinctions in ways of relating to future migration, (2) to document how development processes affect ways of relating to future migration, and (3) to document how migration as a future prospect affects individual behaviour and societal development.
To understand how young adults think about migration, we need to situate migration within their lives and dreams more broadly. Our research thus takes a step back from the usual focus of migration research. FUMI invests in theoretical and methodological innovation that is attuned to poorly understood aspects of global migration challenges. We aim to have a lasting impact on how scientists, policy makers, and people in general think about migration.
The project is guided by three objectives: (1) to develop a theory of distinctions in ways of relating to future migration, (2) to document how development processes affect ways of relating to future migration, and (3) to document how migration as a future prospect affects individual behaviour and societal development.
The first major task of the project was the recruitment of the core team, members alongside the PI: two highly qualified postdoctoral researchers specialized in ethnography and survey methods, respectively. Substantial resources were invested in formulating the vacancy announcements, disseminating the calls widely, and targeting it to selected research environments globally. For each position we received more than 50 applications. The applications were screened in several rounds, and for the position focused on survey methods, short-listed applicants were required to complete a test. For each position, six candidates were interviewed by a hiring committee. The preferred candidate for each position accepted the offer and started in April and October 2020, respectively. In a project of this nature, recruiting is a task that merges scientific and managerial dimensions and is essential for the outcome of the research.
The second major task was the development of the project’s theory frame. This task began during the first reporting period and extends into the second period. The theory frame evolves in parallel with the empirical research in the sense that it both informs and is informed by it. For instance, the draft theory frame guides how we collect specific ethnographic and survey data, and the analysis of data will, at a later stage, contribute to revising the theory frame. During the first reporting period work on the theory frame included a systematic mapping and ordering of concepts.
The third major task was the preparation and execution of ethnographic fieldwork. This task began during the first reporting period and extends into the second period. We developed a detailed ethnographic field guide that included a newly developed approach to combining (A) the structure required by data protection concerns with (B) the improvisation and flexibility required by ethnographic methodology. The field guide also included interview guides. Initial ethnographic fieldwork was carried out in Ghana in September–October 2021 and in Cape Verde in November–December 2021.
The fourth was the preparation and execution of survey data collection. This task, too, began during the first reporting period and extends into the second period. A key part of the preparation was to recruit subcontractors for data collection in each country. A call for tenders were prepared, tenders were reviewed, shortlisted candidates were interviewed, and contracts were signed. In terms of methodology, we explored potential data collection strategies within the general format of a survey and carried out exploratory survey development fieldwork in Ghana in September–October 2021. At the end of the reporting period, we had a draft of the survey instrument and a detailed development schedule in place for pilot-testing in February–March 2022.
The second major task was the development of the project’s theory frame. This task began during the first reporting period and extends into the second period. The theory frame evolves in parallel with the empirical research in the sense that it both informs and is informed by it. For instance, the draft theory frame guides how we collect specific ethnographic and survey data, and the analysis of data will, at a later stage, contribute to revising the theory frame. During the first reporting period work on the theory frame included a systematic mapping and ordering of concepts.
The third major task was the preparation and execution of ethnographic fieldwork. This task began during the first reporting period and extends into the second period. We developed a detailed ethnographic field guide that included a newly developed approach to combining (A) the structure required by data protection concerns with (B) the improvisation and flexibility required by ethnographic methodology. The field guide also included interview guides. Initial ethnographic fieldwork was carried out in Ghana in September–October 2021 and in Cape Verde in November–December 2021.
The fourth was the preparation and execution of survey data collection. This task, too, began during the first reporting period and extends into the second period. A key part of the preparation was to recruit subcontractors for data collection in each country. A call for tenders were prepared, tenders were reviewed, shortlisted candidates were interviewed, and contracts were signed. In terms of methodology, we explored potential data collection strategies within the general format of a survey and carried out exploratory survey development fieldwork in Ghana in September–October 2021. At the end of the reporting period, we had a draft of the survey instrument and a detailed development schedule in place for pilot-testing in February–March 2022.
The main progress beyond the state of the art has so far been in the elaboration of the theory frame. We have identified valuable distinctions in ways of relating to future migration and formulated new concepts to describe them. We have also further developed analytical approaches to the understanding migration aspirations beyond the individual.
By the end of the project we expect to have fully developed a theory of distinctions in ways of relating to future migration, to have documented how development processes affect ways of relating to future migration, and to have documented how migration as a future prospect affects individual behaviour and societal development. In addition, we expect to have made significant methodological advances.
By the end of the project we expect to have fully developed a theory of distinctions in ways of relating to future migration, to have documented how development processes affect ways of relating to future migration, and to have documented how migration as a future prospect affects individual behaviour and societal development. In addition, we expect to have made significant methodological advances.