Social Transformation Processes

Our society is undergoing several fundamental transformation processes at the same time. The digitalization of the living and working environment offers a multitude of opportunities and risks for people and at the same time the possibility of new or intensifying lines of tension in society. Climate change is associated with fundamental transformations in the relationship between the state and the individual as well as tensions in the social discourse on the right responses to the challenges of climate change. Finally, demographic change poses major challenges for the reproduction and care situation of families and society. In all three areas, we conduct research on attitudes, behavior, and political discourses.

Our current research focuses are:

• Algorithms: We research mechanisms of socio-technical systems to understand the social change they bring about. We analyze how distortions in the digital world (e.g., gender bias or the preference for certain types of information) come about as well as how algorithms and AI could be used to counteract structural inequality and injustice or misinformation.
• Discourses in online platforms: We examine discourses on current social issues in online platforms. The focus is particularly on problematic aspects of communication such as hate speech or incivility and their influence on the quality of discourse.
• Climate: We investigate the relationship between climate change and society with a special focus on politics.
• Reproductive behavior of families: We analyze the desire to have children, the timing of the desire to have children, and the contraceptive practices of people in Germany and in international comparison.