SOEP-Core - 2024: Report of survey methodology and fieldwork

Weitz, Jennifer; Ruland, Michael; Sandbrink, Katharina; Liebich, Lennard; Büchner, Theresa Research Report SOEP-Core - 2024: Report of survey methodology and fieldwork SOEP Survey Papers, No. 1498 Provided in Cooperation with: German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) Suggested Citation: Weitz, Jennifer; Ruland, Michael; Sandbrink, Katharina; Liebich, Lennard; Büchner, Theresa (2025) : SOEP-Core - 2024: Report of survey methodology and fieldwork, SOEP Survey Papers, No. 1498, Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW), German SocioEconomic Panel (SOEP), Berlin This Version is available at: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/321995 Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen: Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden. Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen. 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If the documents have been made available under an Open Content Licence (especially Creative Commons Licences), you may exercise further usage rights as specified in the indicated licence. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ Jennifer Weitz, Michael Ruland, Katharina Sandbrink, Lennard Liebich, Theresa Büchner (infas) Series B - Survey Reports (Methodenberichte) SOEP-Core – 2024: Report of Survey Methodology and Fieldwork 1498 2025 Running since 1984, the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) is a wide-ranging representative longitudinal study of private households, located at the German Institute for Economic Research, DIW Berlin. The aim of the SOEP Survey Papers Series is to thoroughly document the survey’s data collection and data processing. The SOEP Survey Papers is comprised of the following series: Series A – Survey Instruments (Erhebungsinstrumente) Series B – Survey Reports (Methodenberichte) Series C – Data Documentation (Datendokumentationen) Series D – Variable Descriptions and Coding Series E – SOEPmonitors Series F – SOEP Newsletters Series G – General Issues and Teaching Materials The SOEP Survey Papers are available at http://www.diw.de/soepsurveypapers Editors: Dr. Jan Goebel, DIW Berlin Dr. Christian Hunkler, DIW Berlin Prof. Dr. Philipp Lersch, DIW Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Dr. Levent Neyse, DIW Berlin and Berlin Social Science Center (WZB) Prof. Dr. Carsten Schröder, DIW Berlin and Freie Universität Berlin Prof. Dr. Sabine Zinn, DIW Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Please cite this paper as follows: Jennifer Weitz, Michael Ruland, Katharina Sandbrink, Lennard Liebich, Theresa Büchner (infas). 2025. SOEPCore – 2024: Report of Survey Methodology and Fieldwork. SOEP Survey Papers 1498: Series B. Berlin: DIW/SOEP. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. © 2025 by SOEP ISSN: 2193-5580 (online) DIW Berlin German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) Mohrenstr. 58 10117 Berlin, Germany Contact: [email protected] SOEP-Core – 2024: Report of Survey Methodology and Fieldwork Jennifer Weitz, Michael Ruland, Katharina Sandbrink, Lennard Liebich, Theresa Büchner (infas) Bonn, 2025 Report to Project Sozio-oekonomisches Panel (SOEP) DIW Berlin Mohrenstraße 58 10177 Berlin 7710/7712 Bonn, April 2025 Wz, Rm, Ak, LI, Mt Submitted by infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft GmbH (infas Institute for Applied Social Sciences) Kurt-Schumacher-Straße 24 53113 Bonn Germany Contact Dr. Jennifer Weitz Head of Department Social Research Phone +49 (0)228/38 22-538 Fax +49 (0)228/310071 Email [email protected] Authors Jennifer Weitz, Michael Ruland, Katharina Sandbrink, Lennard Liebich, Theresa Büchner infas is certified to ISO 20252 “Market, opinion and social research”. The contents of this report, in total or in part, may be published, copied, printed or saved in information storage and retrieval systems, processed or distributed with our written consent only. infas is member of ADM and ESOMAR. Preliminary Remark The SocioEconomic Panel (SOEP) is conducted by infas Institute for Applied Social Sciences on behalf of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin). This wave report documents the main steps of the empirical implementation and execution of the 41th survey wave for all subsamples of the main study including the IABSOEP-Migration Sample and the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Refugee Survey 2024 , which were conducted in a mixedmode design. All survey documents used are documented in the appendix. The tables in the report are based on the survey data as of 26.02.2025. infas Institute for Applied Social Sciences Contents 1 Introduction 10 2 Main study 12 2.1 Panel Samples (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) 15 2.1.1 Gross Sample 17 2.1.2 Design 20 2.1.3 Results 38 2.2 Refreshment Samples S, M10 54 2.2.1 Gross Sample 55 2.2.2 Design 57 2.2.3 Results 59 2.3 Refreshment Sample M8d 74 2.3.1 Gross Sample 75 2.3.2 Design 76 2.3.3 Results 77 2.4 Interviewer Monitoring 86 2.5 Data Checking, Processing and Delivery 87 2.5.1 Data Cleaning and Data Processing 87 2.5.2 Data Delivery 89 3 IAB-BAMF-SOEP Refugee Survey 91 3.1 Panel Samples (M3-M6, M9) 92 3.1.1 Gross Sample 93 3.1.2 Design 97 3.1.3 Results 106 3.2 Interviewer Monitoring 125 3.3 Data Delivery 126 Attachment 128 List of Figures Figure 1 The Mixed-mode Design (A-R, M1, M2, M7) 20 Figure 2 Contact Strategy in 2024 for Subsamples A-R, M1, M2, M7 and CAPIStarters M8a, M8b, M8c 29 Figure 3 Completion of Household Interviews in the Field (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) 39 Figure 4 Completion of Household Interviews in the Field (S) 61 Figure 5 Completion of Household Interviews in the Field (M10) 61 Figure 6 Completion of Household Interviews in the Field (M8d) 78 Figure 7 Completion of Household Interviews in the Field (M3-M6, M9) 106 List of Tables Table 1 Overview of Subsamples (A-S, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8d, M10) 13 Table 2 Summary Fieldwork (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) 15 Table 3 Panel Status of Households Before the Start of the 2024 Main Study Survey Wave by Subsample (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) 17 Table 4 Gross Sample by Household Size and Subsample (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a, M8b, M8c) 18 Table 5 Gross Sample by Federal State and Subsample (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a, M8b, M8c) 18 Table 6 Gross Sample by Municipality Size and Subsample (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a, M8b, M8c) 19 Table 7 Overview of Survey Instruments (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) 23 Table 8 Overview of Communication/Survey Documents (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) 32 Table 9 Characteristics of the Interviewer Staff (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) 37 Table 10 Participation at Household Level by Type of Household (HAAPOR Codes) (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) 39 Table 11 Participation at Household Level by Subsample (HAAPOR Codes) (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a, M8c) 41 Table 12 Number of Interviewer Contacts by Field Result (HAAPOR Codes) (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) 42 Table 13 Results for Contact Data Update in Advance Letter at Household Level (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) 42 Table 14 Results for Letter for Non-contacts at Household Level (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) 43 Table 15 Results for PAPI Conversion-letter at Household Level (A-R, M1, M2, M7) 43 Table 16 Results for Follow-up Letter CAWI-Starters (M8a, M8b, M8c) 44 Table 17 Participation at Individual Level by Subsample (PAAPOR Codes) (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a, M8b, M8c) 45 Table 18 Partial Unit Non-response by Subsample (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a, M8b, M8c) 46 Table 19 Partial Unit Non-response by Household Size (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8aM8c) 46 Table 20 Results for Switch to PAPI at Individual Level (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8aM8c) 47 Table 21 Results for Switch to CAWI at Individual Level (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8aM8c) 47 Table 22 Results for Conversion Letter at Individual Level (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) 48 Table 23 Number of Interviews by Subsample and Questionnaire (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a, M8b, M8c) 48 Table 24 Response Rates by Questionnaire (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) 49 Table 25 Interview Length by Questionnaire (in Minutes) (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) 50 Table 26 Interviewing Modes by Questionnaire (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c)51 Table 27 Interviewing Languages by Questionnaire (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8aM8c) 52 Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 13 Table 1 Overview of Subsamples (A-S, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8d, M10) Identifier Subsamples Year of initial survey Households in the gross sample 2024* A Residents in the Federal Republic of Germany 1984 846 B Foreigners in the Federal Republic of Germany 1984 100 C German residents in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) 1990 551 D Immigrants 1994/1995 92 E Refresher 1998 36 F Refresher 2000 1,116 G High income 2002 382 H Refresher 2006 336 J Refresher 2011 1,114 K Refresher 2012 613 L1 Cohorts 2010 786 L2/L3 Family types I/II 2010/2011 1,806 IAB-SOEPM1 Migration 2013 835 IAB-SOEPM2 Migration 2015 284 IAB-SOEPM7 Migration 2020 428 IAB-SOEPM8a Migration 2020 734 IAB-SOEPM8b Migration 2022 2,315 IAB-SOEPM8c Migration-Refresher 2023 977 IAB-SOEPM8d Migration-Refresher 2024 7,430 IAB-SOEPM10 Migration Refresher 2024 33,287 N PIAAC 2017 1,540 O Social-City 2018 490 P Top shareholder 2019 1,185 Q Queer 2019 398 R Refresher 2022 5,655 S Refresher 2024 42,509 All subsamples total 105,835 Source: infas *The samples S, M10 and M8d were refresher samples in 2024 and therefore have a significantly larger gross sample compared to the panel samples. – IAB-SOEP migration samples M7 and M8a: These migrant samples were drawn in 2020. The target group of the M7 subsample consists of migrants from the EU countries Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania and is intended to reflect migration dynamics in the period from 2016 to 2018. M8a consists of migrants from nonEU countries who arrived in Germany between 2017 and 2018. Respondents of Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 14 M8a received permission to take up employment from the federal employment agency in the period from 01.01.2019 - 30.01.2020. – IAB-SOEP migration sample M8b: This migrant sample was drawn in 2022. It consists of migrants from non-EU countries who arrived in Germany between 2019 and 2020. Respondents of M8b received permission to take up employment from the federal employment agency in the period from 01.03.2020 - 30.01.2021. – IAB-SOEP migration samples M8c and M8d: These migrant samples were drawn in 2023 (M8c) and 2024 (M8d) respectively. They consist of migrants from non-EU countries who arrived in Germany in 2020 or later. – IAB-SOEP migration sample M10: This sample was drawn in 2024 on the basis of a residents' registration sample 300 municipalities. It consists of adult persons who are EU nationals that live in Germany but do not have a German citizenship. – Subsample N: The Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) was commissioned by the OECD to examine the basic competencies needed to participate successfully in society and in working life. The first survey was conducted in 2011/2012 and consisted of adults from age 16 through 65 that lived in Germany (on the reference date of 1 December 2011). The cooperation project PIAAC-L of GESIS (Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences) aimed at transforming the PIAAC study into a longitudinal survey with three repeat waves. In 2017, households from this study were integrated into the SOEP. – Subsample O: In cooperation with the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR), new households were recruited in 2018 in areas participating in the so-called "Socially Integrative City" (‘Soziale Stadt’) program and combined into subsample O. – Subsample P: The "top shareholder" subsample P consists of households containing individuals whose own company shares of high value. The primary objective for drawing this sample was to put the federal government's Poverty and Wealth Report on a more solid empirical footing. – Subsample Q: In 2019, the SOEP was expanded to include the so-called LGB sample (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual). This subsample Q supplements the SOEP with data on the living conditions of homoand bisexual individuals. – Subsample R: In 2022 the SOEP was refreshed by subsample R by additional households. R is a nationwide representative random sample drawn from the registers of residents' registration offices. – Subsample S: This sample was drawn in 2024 on the basis of a residents' registration sample in 300 municipalities. S is a nationwide representative random sample. The following chapters provide an insight into the preparations for the 41th survey wave. In addition to the study design, including the incentive concept and the corresponding survey instruments, this also includes key data on interview Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 15 training, contact strategies and tracking measures to find households that have moved away or not been reached. The panel samples (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) are discussed first in Chapter 2.1, followed by the refreshment samples S and M10 (Chapter 2.2), as well as the refreshment sample M8d (Chapter 2.3). In each case, a brief overview of the study implementation for the respective subsample(s) is given first. In order to gain an impression of the sample sizes, the gross sizes of the panel samples are then presented so that the initial situation of the addresses to be processed in 2024 is known. The implemented survey design is then presented, including the survey instruments used, the contact strategy applied and the interviewer deployment. Finally, the field results are presented. Following that, for the whole of the main study, in Chapter 2.4 quality control is discussed as well as data checking, processing and delivery in Chapter 2.5. 2.1 Panel Samples (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) The main study panel sample survey began in February 2024 and ended in December 2024. 22,609 households were contacted during this period, and 13,155 households took part. The interviews were conducted in the following modes: – Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) – Computer Assisted Self-administered Interview (CASI) – Computer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) – Paper And Pencil Interview (PAPI) – Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) Within the participating households, a total of 17,187 individual interviews were conducted with adults and 1,210 interviews with adolescents. In addition, parents provided information on 2,076 children. Table 2 presents the key parameters of the 2024 survey, which will be discussed in more detail in the following chapters. Table 2 Summary Fieldwork (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) Main Study 2024: Subsamples A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c Mode Mixed-Mode design: CAPI, CAWI, CASI, CATI, PAPI Implementation period August 2023 until March 2025 Fieldwork phase February 2024 (CW 09) – December 2024 (CW 52) Target Population Households with follow-up concept of all household members (nationwide) Sample Panel sample: − all households from previous waves without panel refusal − minus revocations in the meantime Gross sample (household level) Total n = 22,078, of which: n = 14,960 repeater n = 7,118 temporary dropout n = 531 new households (split) Survey instruments – Household questionnaire (CAPI, CASI, CAWI, CATI, PAPI) – Screening questionnaire (CAPI, CASI, CAWI, CATI) – Individual questionnaire (CAPI, CASI, CAWI, CATI, PAPI) – Biography questionnaire (CAPI, CASI, CAWI, CATI) – Youth questionnaire (CAPI, CASI, CAWI, CATI) – Competency/cognition tests (CAPI, CASI) Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 16 Main Study 2024: Subsamples A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c – Integrated child questionnaire (CAPI, CASI, CAWI, CATI) – Gap questionnaire (CAPI, CASI, CAWI, CATI, PAPI) – Deceased individual question (CAPI, CASI, CAWI, CATI, PAPI) – Drop-off working time (PAPI) Foreign language instruments The questionnaires were used in the languages German, English, Polish, Bulgarian and Russian (excluding the competency tests and the PAPI instruments, which were only available in German). Questionnaire durations – Household questionnaire: Ø 18.3 min. – Screening questionnaire Ø 0.6 min. – Individual questionnaire: Ø 38.7 min. – Biography questionnaire: Ø 21.5 min. – Youth questionnaire: Ø 21.3 min. – Competency/cognition tests – Lust auf DJ Ø 24.0 min. – WST Ø 3.5 min. – ZZT Ø 3.9 min – Child questionnaire: Ø 8.8 min. – Gap questionnaire: Ø 1.7 min. – „Deceased individual" questionnaire Ø 4.5 min. Completed interviews Household Level: Households with interview: 13,155 (58.2 percent) Interviewed households with household questionnaire and at least one individual questionnaire: 11,861 (52.7 percent) Completed individuals born 2006 or earlier: 17,187 (40.4 percent) Incentive − Gross samples A-R, M1, M2, M7: mailing of incentive with advance letter (up to cohort 2006: 5 euro) − Completed samples A-R, M1, M2, M7: incentivization of all respondents (up to cohort 2006: 10 euro or cohorts 2007-2012: 5 euro) − Completed samples M8a, M8b, M8c: incentivization of all respondents (up to cohort 2006: 30 euro or cohorts 2007-2012: 5 euro) Tracking Proactive tracking techniques: − Panel maintenance between survey waves (New Year’s Card to household, birthday card to adults in households) − Advance letter to the individuals in the panel sample − Thank-you letter sent to all participants with incentive − free hotline − Study-specific e-mail address − Study website Address research via information − Of the interview households/household members − Of the interviewers − Address factory of the Deutsche Post − registration office tracking − Telephone number research − Online address portal Interviewer deployment 883 interviewers from the face-to-face field 44 interviewers from the CATI field Interviewer training (digital or presence) CAPI: − 12 trainings for interviewers with experience in the SOEP survey − 13 trainings for interviewers without experience in the SOEP survey CATI: − 2 trainings for interviewers with experience in the SOEP survey Source: infas Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 17 2.1.1 Gross Sample The gross sample for the 2024 survey is based on the results of the previous year's wave. In principle, all active participants (households and household members) from the previous wave as well as the temporary dropouts from this wave - i.e. those who suspended their participation in 2023 - are asked again in 2024 to participate in the study. Households or individuals who indicated in 2023 that they are no longer willing or able to support the study in the subsequent waves, on the other hand, will no longer participate in the study and do therefore not receive another invitation. As a result, 22,078 households form the gross sample for the 2024 survey wave (see Table 3). Of these, 14,960 belong to the repeatedly surveyed households. Per design, households of the refreshment sample from 2023 (M8c) were only deployed in 2024 if they participated in 2023. Due to the dynamic panel concept, in which individuals who have moved out of a panel household continue to be interviewed as part of the study, the size of the gross sample also increases over the course of a wave. At the end of the fieldwork for this 2024 survey wave, 531 new households were added. Table 3 Panel Status of Households Before the Start of the 2024 Main Study Survey Wave by Subsample (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) Household Level Total Main study IAB-SOEP Migration Sample A-R M1, M2 M7 M8a, M8b M8c abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample* 22,078 100.0 16,577 100.0 1,085 100.0 424 100.0 3,023 100.0 969 100.0 Participating households from previous wave 14,960 67.8 11,513 69.5 607 55.9 153 36.1 1,718 56.8 969 100.0 Temporary dropouts 7,118 32.2 5,064 30.5 478 44.1 271 63.9 1,305 43.2 - - Source: infas, own calculation *Addresses at the beginning of the field The following tables provide information on the key household characteristics of the gross sample, differentiated according to the various subsamples. Table 4 provide information on household size, i.e. the number of members living in a household at the time of the interview. In subsamples A-R, 64.5 percent of households consist of one or two household members. In the migration samples M1, M2 and M7, this proportion is between 46.1 and 49.8 percent. In the M8a, M8b and M8c migration sample, however, the proportion of oneto two-person households is between 72.0 and 77.2 percent. This can be explained by the target population, which consists of young individuals who came to Germany as part of the Skilled Immigration Act to pursue gainful employment here. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 18 Table 4 Gross Sample by Household Size and Subsample (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a, M8b, M8c) Household Size Total Main study IAB-SOEP Migration Sample A-R M1, M2 M7 M8a, M8b M8c abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample* 22,078 100.0 16,577 100.0 1,085 100.0 424 100.0 3,023 100.0 969 100.0 1 6,980 31.6 5,068 30.6 223 20.6 89 21.0 1,292 42.7 308 31.8 2 7,456 33.8 5,623 33.9 277 25.5 122 28.8 1,044 34.5 390 40.2 3 3,310 15.0 2,462 14.9 222 20.5 97 22.9 376 12.4 153 15.8 4 2,956 13.4 2,324 14.0 224 20.6 82 19.3 236 7.8 90 9.3 5+ 1,376 6.2 1,100 6.6 139 12.8 34 8.0 75 2.5 28 2.9 Source: infas, own calculation *Addresses at the beginning of the field Table 5 and Table 6 show the distribution of the gross sample across the individual federal states in Germany and by municipality size class. All federal states are represented in all subsamples; their respective shares correspond approximately to the population distribution in Germany. The same applies to the distribution by municipality size class. Table 5 Gross Sample by Federal State and Subsample (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a, M8b, M8c) Household Level Total Main sample IAB-SOEP Migration Sample A-R M1, M2 M7 M8a, M8b M8c abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample* 22,078 100.0 16,577 100.0 1,085 100.0 424 100.0 3,023 100.0 969 100.0 Schleswig-Holstein 679 3.1 611 3.7 24 2.2 3 0.7 38 1.3 3 0.3 Hamburg 541 2.5 364 2.2 34 3.1 5 1.2 95 3.1 43 4.4 Lower Saxony 1,816 8.2 1,485 9.0 89 8.2 36 8.5 170 5.6 36 3.7 Bremen 222 1.0 141 0.9 7 0.6 7 1.7 34 1.1 33 3.4 North RhineWestphalia 4,566 20.7 3,409 20.6 311 28.7 111 26.2 564 18.7 171 17.6 Hesse 1,595 7.2 1,067 6.4 85 7.8 31 7.3 302 10.0 110 11.4 Rhineland Palatinate 823 3.7 633 3.8 78 7.2 17 4.0 78 2.6 17 1.8 BadenWuerttemberg 2,541 11.5 1,757 10.6 127 11.7 48 11.3 507 16.8 102 10.5 Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 19 Bavaria 3,596 16.3 2,597 15.7 185 17.1 90 21.2 590 19.5 134 13.8 Saarland 209 0.9 153 0.9 14 1.3 9 2.1 26 0.9 7 0.7 Berlin 1,579 7.2 803 4.8 39 3.6 31 7.3 434 14.4 272 28.1 Brandenburg 862 3.9 791 4.8 19 1.8 7 1.7 27 0.9 18 1.9 Mecklenburg Western Pomerania 426 1.9 376 2.3 6 0.6 7 1.7 33 1.1 4 0.4 Saxony 1,342 6.1 1,244 7.5 31 2.9 6 1.4 50 1.7 11 1.1 SaxonyAnhalt 696 3.2 644 3.9 17 1.6 12 2.8 19 0.6 4 0.4 Thuringia 585 2.6 502 3.0 19 1.8 4 0.9 56 1.9 4 0.4 Source: infas, own calculation *Addresses at the beginning of the field Table 6 Gross Sample by Municipality Size and Subsample (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a, M8b, M8c) Household Level Total Main sample IAB-SOEP Migration Sample A-R M1, M2 M7 M8a, M8b M8c abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample* 22,078 100.0 16,577 100.0 1,085 100.0 424 100.0 3,023 100.0 969 100.0 Fewer than 2,000 inhabitants 882 4.0 820 4.9 20 1.8 18 4.2 15 0.5 9 0.9 2,000 to 5,000 inhabitants 1,494 6.8 1,397 8.4 30 2.8 28 6.6 32 1.1 7 0.7 5,000 to 20,000 inhabitants 5,107 23.1 4,514 27.2 235 21.7 91 21.5 191 6.3 76 7.8 20,000 to 50,000 inhabitants 3,625 16.4 2,941 17.7 217 20.0 83 19.6 293 9.7 91 9.4 50,000 to 100,000 inhabitants 1,960 8.9 1,538 9.3 83 7.6 23 5.4 262 8.7 54 5.6 100,000 to 500,000 inhabitants 3,722 16.9 2,318 14.0 219 20.2 81 19.1 958 31.7 146 15.1 More than 500,000 inhabitants 5,288 24.0 3,049 18.4 281 25.9 100 23.6 1,272 42.1 586 60.5 Source: infas, own calculation *Addresses at the beginning of the field Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 20 2.1.2 Design The mixed-mode design used for the panel samples in 2024 is presented below (Chapter 2.1.2.1). In addition, the survey instruments used are presented (Chapter 2.1.2.2) so that an insight can be gained into what content was surveyed in 2024. The contact strategy (Chapter 2.1.2.3) is then presented at household and individual level, starting with the advance letter through to the thank-you letters. Finally, this chapter presents the interviewer deployment (Chapter 2.1.2.4). 2.1.2.1 Mixed-mode Design For the panel samples A-R, M1, M2, M7, the mixed-mode design was continued for the 2024 survey. It is shown in the following Figure 1. Figure 1 The Mixed-mode Design (A-R, M1, M2, M7) Individual interviews on request / in parallel on request on request Non-contact households or soft refusers in the household Soft refusers/ temporarily absent household members on request HH-composition Contacting HH HH on request on request Soft refusers/ temporarily absent on request HH HH Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 21 All households of the panel samples A-R, M1, M2, M7 were initially interviewed face-to-face. The background to this is that each survey begins with the recording or updating of the household composition, and this always takes place in an interviewer-administrated manner, i.e. via CAPI. Once all household compositions had been updated, it was known which persons in the household were to be interviewed and which questionnaires these persons were to receive.2 All persons to be interviewed in the household initially remained in the face-to-face field. If the interviews took place at the target persons' homes, they could fill out their questionnaires on a tablet (CASI) on site, alternatively online (CAWI) or paperbased (PAPI). If target persons chose the PAPI mode, the respective questionnaires were handed over to them by the interviewer. To hand out the paper questionnaires, interviewers used a designated electronic tool that guided them step-bystep through the process of preparing and handing over each questionnaire that was to be filled out by the respective target person. This ensured that interviewers handed out the right questionnaires to the right target persons. If they chose the CAWI mode, they received their personal access data for the online questionnaire by mail. Those target persons who could not be reached in the household during the fieldwork phase (temporary absentees) and those who refused to be interviewed due to "soft reasons for refusal" (no time, no desire, etc.) were also switched to the PAPI mode and were sent the paper questionnaires by post. An access link to the online survey was also printed on the PAPI questionnaires sent to them, so that target persons could decide for themselves, even after receiving their paper questionnaires, whether they wanted to fill them out with a pen or preferred the online questionnaire. In order to reach households or target persons not yet reached in the face-to-face field, they were transferred to the CATI field after at least four unsuccessful contact attempts, provided that a telephone number was available for the household or person. Analogous to the face-to-face field, mode switching to CAWI and PAPI was also possible for target persons on request. PAPI questionnaires were then sent via post to the target persons. The mode switch to CAWI or PAPI for temporarily absent household members or soft refusals was automatic in the CATI field following the same procedure as in the face-to-face field. The households of the migration samples M8a, M8b and M8c followed a different survey design. To take account of the high mobility of parts of these samples, all households that completed their household questionnaire in the CAWI mode in the previous wave, also started in the CAWI mode in the 2024 wave (CAWI-starters). It was not possible for these households to switch to other modes. Households that completed the household questionnaire in another mode in the previous wave, started in the CAPI mode, with the possibility of changing mode after completion of the household matrix, just like all the other samples (CAPI-starters). 2 As the life situations of individuals can differ, the questionnaire is adapted to individual situations. For example, parents of young children are asked questions about them, whereas these questions are not included in the questionnaire for individuals without children. The content of the individual questionnaires is presented in chapter 2.1.2.2. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 22 33.8 percent (n = 1,351) of all M8 households started in CAPI and 66.2 percent (n = 2,641) of all M8 households started in CAWI. For all samples, the electronic survey instruments were also offered in English, Polish, Bulgarian and Russian. A change of language was possible at any time by the interviewer (CAPI and CATI) or by the target person (CASI, CAWI) in the computer-based modes on each page of the questionnaire. In the subsamples A-R, M1, M2, M7 an unconditional incentive of 5 euro was sent to every adult respondent with the advance letter. Individuals who participated in the study also received a postpaid cash incentive. Adult respondents born in 2006 or earlier received 10 euro in the subsamples A-R, M1, M2, M7. In the migration samples M8a, M8b and M8c adult respondents received a higher incentive of 30 euro to compensate for the lower probably of participation in these three subsamples. Adolescent respondents received 5 euro in cash with a thank-you letter after the interview across all subsamples. Additionally, the interviewers received 2 euro for each household they had to contact to buy a small gift of their choice (doorstep incentive). The interviewers also had the freedom to strategically save up the money for certain households and use the saved money to buy more expensive gifts for others. 2.1.2.2 Survey Instruments A total of 12 survey instruments were used in the 2024 survey, all of which were programmed as computer-assisted instruments. These were interlinked and controlled in such a way that the assignment of the individual instruments was automated on the basis of the information from the household composition during the interview. All the instruments were translated into English. Additionally, four instruments were also created as paper questionnaires: the household, individual, gap, and deceased individual questionnaire. The survey started in each household by recording the household composition. This information was only ever collected from one person. This person was most familiar with the needs of the household and therefore had the role of “head of household” for the interview. The composition of the household was used to identify the other persons who were to be interviewed as part of the study. The corresponding individually compiled individual interview was then conducted with all household members to be interviewed. The survey instruments, the various combinations of which were used to create the individual interviews, are presented in Table 7. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 29 participated, the household composition was known, and all other household members, if there were any, also received an invitation letter with access to the web survey. Figure 2 Contact Strategy in 2024 for Subsamples A-R, M1, M2, M7 and CAPI-Starters M8a, M8b, M8c Contacting Telephone contact Personal contact Clarification of interview mode Head of household −CAPI Further household members −CAPI (alternativelyCASI) −PAPI/CAWI −CAWI −CATI Note: The survey mode can vary for individual interviews in the household. The questionnaires can also be switched to a different mode during an interview. Only the HH-matrix must be administered using CAPI. Phone number available Phone number not available unsuccesssful successful Centralized measures −Letter to non-contacts with a request to update contact details (household and individual level) −Switch to CATI field and clarifications of mode (household and individual level, after at least four unsuccessful contact attempts) −Refusal conversion letter for soft refusers with dispatch of questionnaire incl. online access (individual level only) unsuccesfulsuccessful Source: infas, own figure Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 30 Fieldwork Measures In an effort to increase the response rate, different fieldwork measures were applied during the field. For the households that started in CAPI the following measures were applied: Households that could not be reached after several unsuccessful attempts were sent a follow-up letter (addressed to the head of household of the previous wave) during the field, reminding them again about the study and asking them to participate. Since the households could not be contacted, they were also asked to update their address data via the online address portal. Households where no interview could be achieved by an interviewer but also did not give a hard refusal were switched to the PAPI mode near the end of the fieldwork phase. Those households received a letter addressed to the head of household of the previous wave including the respective paper questionnaires and a paper version of the household matrix as well as a postage-paid return envelope. Fieldwork measures were not just applied at the household level but also at the individual level. All target persons who indicated in the interview that they did not wish to participate in this wave of the survey (soft refusals) received a refusal conversion letter with the respective paper questionnaires, a postage-paid return envelope and the access data to the online survey. The target persons could then choose whether they wanted to participate in PAPI or CAWI. All target persons who desired a mode switch but subsequently still did not participate in the study within four weeks received a follow-up letter. The same was true for soft refusals who initially received a refusal conversion letter but still did not participate in the study. Each follow-up letter was accompanied by the paper questionnaires to be completed individually, with a note that alternatively the survey could always be completed online. At the time where the final follow-up letter with the post incentive was sent on the household level (see above), a comparable follow-up letter was also sent out on the individual level. This letter was addressed to target persons in households where the household matrix had already been completed, but who had not yet taken part themselves. The CAWI-starters received two follow-up letters addressed to the head of household throughout the fieldwork phase. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 31 Panel Maintenance Measures Two panel maintenance measures were taken as part of the 2024 survey wave for the panel households: Mailing of a New Year's card and a birthday card. What's new is that a cress seed packet has been included with the birthday cards from January 2024. The aim of panel maintenance measures is to maintain a dialog with panel participants and to keep the panel present among them. In January 2024, a New Year's card was also sent to households in all subsamples. In addition to New Year's wishes from DIW Berlin and infas, this card contained a thank-you for participating in the 2023 survey wave with a brief outlook on the next wave. The birthday card was sent to all adult panel members. CO2 footprint experiment Integrated into the contacting efforts of the 2024 wave was an experiment about the CO2 footprint. The background to this was that questions on environmental behavior were asked in the 2023 wave. These questions will be asked again in the 2025 wave. As an experiment, a randomly selected proportion of respondents from the 2024 wave was given information on their carbon footprint. This intended to investigate the extent to which confrontation with the concept of the carbon footprint leads to a change in environmental behavior. As the experimental setup, all households in panel samples A-R including samples M1, M2, M7 of the main study 2024 were randomly assigned to one of three experimental groups. The refresher households and the subsamples M8a-M8c were not part of the experiment. The three experimental groups were treated differently in the fieldwork of the main study 2024 in such a way that did or did not receive the following documents in addition to the advance letter: – Group 1: All adult household members (born up to 2006) received a special CO2footprint-flyer with the advance letter and also the IGEL-postcard with the thank-you letter after participating in the survey. – Group 2: All adult household members (born up to 2006) received a special CO2footprint-flyer with the advance letter, but not the IGEL-postcard with the thank-you letter after participating in the survey. – Group 3: All adult household members (born up to 2006) received neither the special CO2-footprint-flyer nor the IGEL-postcard. The experiment applied to individuals already known in the relevant panel households. Respondents who became part of a household by moving in during the 2024 survey wave were therefore not included in the experiment. The CO2-footprint-flyer as well as the IGEL-postcard are further described in the following section. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 32 Survey Documents All communication and survey documents that were used in the survey are now described in more detail below. An overview of the survey documents used across subsamples is provided in Table 8. Table 8 Overview of Communication/Survey Documents (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) Document Addressees Households (head of household, year of birth until 2006) Persons until year of birth 2006 Persons born in 2007-2012 Advance letter and thank-you letter Advance letter CAPI start x Advance letter CAWI start (head of household) x Advance letter CAWI start (other household members) x Thank-you letter x x Thank-you letter record linkage DRV x Field measures Letter after mode switch (PAPI/CAWI) x x Refusal conversion letter x x x Follow-up letter (PAPI/CAWI) x x x Letter for non-contacts x Reminder letter for drop-off working time x Source: infas On all letters, a study-specific e-mail address was indicated as a communication channel to infas, as well as the number of a free study hotline. Target persons could contact infas at any time with questions and were then supported by specially trained staff and, in the case of further inquiries, by project management. Advance Letters As stated above, shortly before the respective field operation all household members of the households that started in CAPI born 2006 or earlier received a personal advance letter announcing the survey for the current survey wave. The advance letter also referred to the need to make personal contact. Furthermore, reference was also made to contact possibilities that had been set up for feedback at infas. Furthermore, the incentive was announced. Also as stated above, the CAWI-starters, following a sequential approach first received an advance letter to the head of household. After he or she took part in the survey, further advance letters were sent out to all other household members. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 33 The following additional materials were enclosed with all advance letters: – A study flyer that briefly informed participants about all aspects of the study, including some scientific results from the previously collected data. – A data protection sheet, in which the participants were comprehensively informed about the topic of data protection. It was described who processes which data, for what purpose and how. In addition, the participants were informed about their rights, the origin of the data and the voluntary nature of their participation. – For Households of group 1 or 2 of the CO2 footprint experiment a special CO2footprint-flyer was enclosed with the advance letter. This flyer contained information about the concept of the CO2 footprint and communicated how much the current CO2 emissions would need to be reduced to limit global warming to 2°C. A QR-Code (personalized on the household level) was printed on every flyer that led to a dedicated website which offered further information. It was tracked which household used the QR-Code. Thank-you Letter The personal thank-you letter was sent to the participants shortly after successful participation, including the cash incentive and an interviewer control questionnaire with a return envelope. As part of the interview, some respondents were asked for their consent to link data from the German Pension Insurance (see Chapter 2.1.3.6). This required written consent. In order to obtain the written consent of respondents who participated in the CAWI or CATI mode, the relevant documents (information sheet for record linkage of DRV data, two copies of the consent form for record linkage of DRV data; see below) were also sent with the thank-you letter. A postage-paid return envelope was enclosed in this case for respondents to return one copy of signed consent form to infas. For Households of group 1 of the CO2 footprint experiment an educational postcard (IGEL-postcard) was enclosed with the thank-you letter that displayed practical advice on how an individual can reduce his or her carbon footprint. The postcard featured the same personalized QR-Code that was also printed on the CO2footprint-flyer. Same as with the CO2-footprint-flyer, the usage of the QR-Code was tracked. Letter after Mode Switch All target persons who indicated in the interview that they would prefer to selfadminister their questionnaire as a CAWI received a letter within the next two weeks regarding the mode switch. The target persons received the access data (link, password and QR-Code) for the online survey with the letter. The switch letter to PAPI was accompanied by the individually prepared questionnaires including a postage-free return envelope. In addition, the access data for the online survey were printed on the letter and on all paper questionnaires. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 34 Conversion Letter As stated above, all target persons and households who indicated in the interview that they did not wish to participate in this wave of the survey (soft refusals) received a conversion letter. In this letter, the individuals were asked to participate in this year's survey via CAWI or PAPI after all. It therefore contained the corresponding CAWI access data and corresponding PAPI questionnaires. Follow-up Letter All target persons who wished to switch to a self-administered mode and target persons or households who received a conversion letter were initially asked to participate again by follow-up letter. Letter for Non-contacts Those households that could not be reached by interviewers received a letter for non-contact persons or households after at least six unsuccessful contact attempts, requesting a contact data update. This contact data update could be done via the online address portal (via link or QR-Code) as well as by phone or e-mail. Reminder letter for drop-off working time Respondents that did not send back the drop-off questionnaire working time received a single reminder letter reminding them to do so. 2.1.2.4 Interviewer Deployment The complex requirements of the study require careful selection and training of the interviewers. All interviewers selected for the SOEP had to complete a comprehensive training program before the start of the fieldwork, consisting of a preparation phase, participation in a digital or presence training event and a follow-up phase. In order to do justice to the interviewers with their different levels of experience, the training program was designed once for interviewers with study experience in SOEP and once for those without specific study experience. In addition, the training courses for CAPI and CATI interviewers were separated in order to be able to adequately take into account the respective special features with regard to the technical framework conditions and the different contact strategies (personal contacts on site/telephone contacts). In the following, the respective contents and the procedure for the implementation of the training program with regard to all phases are presented as well as an overview of the interviewers used. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 35 2.1.2.5 Training for CAPI and CATI Interviewers For the preparation phase, the interviewers were given a time window of two weeks before participating in the actual training event. During this time, they had to work through an interviewer manual, which also included answering specific follow-up questions. It has been shown that those who have prepared themselves intensively are better able to follow the program of the training events. In addition, a preparation phase makes it possible to reduce the scope of the actual training event. A preparation phase with independent learning elements has the advantage that participants can organize their time more individually and that the completion of individual modules is not dependent on the pace of learning in the group. Last but not least, such a concept also appeals to different types of learners, as various media and materials are available for preparation. The materials were in detail: a. Interviewer Manual The SOEP interviewer manual is a comprehensive set of rules for interviewing. The manual covers all aspects that are important for conducting the interview: basic information on the study and on how to conduct the survey, rules for contacting households, how to handle household information in the instrument, and information on selected questions in the questionnaire and general interview techniques and rules. The manual serves interviewers not only for preparation and familiarization, but also as a reference book throughout the fieldwork. b. Videos to Illustrate Learning Content The use of videos in the training program primarily served to illustrate the handling of the tool, which was used to document the household composition and the relationships between all household members. Specifically, the videos explained individual entries and the exact procedure of the tool. The explanations were highlighted in writing. Additionally, there was a video to illustrate the correct administration of the grip strength test. All videos were not only available to the interviewers during preparation via the online platform but were also permanently accessible there during the field period. c. Tests to Monitor Success The infas learning platform was set up in such a way that it was possible to monitor the success of the preparation. The interviewers' level of knowledge of individual study-relevant topics was determined by means of a short knowledge test. This test was a prerequisite for all interviewers to take part in a training event and was therefore mandatory. The training events form the focus of the SOEP training program. Training events were conducted in presence and digitally (webinar). The training events in presence were hosted in Bonn and took place over two days (first day: 15:00 to 19:00, second day: 9:00 to 12:00). The digital training events were hosted via webinar Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 36 and lasted 5.5 hours in total. All interviewers without former experience in the SOEP survey had to attend a training event in presence. Interviewers with experience in the SOEP survey could choose whether they wanted to attend a training event in presence or a digital training event. The number of participants was limited to 40 interviewers for the training events in presence and 50 interviewers for the digital training events. The structure of the training events in presence and the digital training events is the same. Lectures convey the theoretical content of the study, and the questionnaire and the tools work are presented on the basis of sample cases. All parts of the training are structured in such a way that a round of questions is regularly scheduled after each session, in which all questions that arise can be answered and solutions can be worked out together. The training program in the SOEP consists of several (thematic) blocks, which were deepened differently depending on the experience of the interviewers. In the first block of training, the interviewers were informed about the survey design and the individual subsamples. Furthermore, the household definition, the validation of a household head as well as the various questionnaires and possible mode changes were explained in this block. The second block served as intensive preparation for making contact. For this purpose, the interviewers were introduced to the entire contacting strategy of the study and practiced, including personal contacting by the interviewers themselves. In the next block, the technical tools were demonstrated live using a case study. In the following block, individual questionnaires and the various options for changing the mode of the survey instrument were demonstrated in practice. In order to get an overview of the level of knowledge and to increase the activity of the participants, quiz questions were integrated into the individual blocks. At the end of the training, the focus was on the further procedure and organization of the field work. Following the training event, everyone had another opportunity to apply the study-specific handling of all questionnaire instruments in practice on their own. Discussion forums were also offered to provide support. The primary purpose of the post-training phase is to give interviewers confidence for their first practical assignment and to deepen what they have learned. In principle, all interviewers, regardless of their experience after the training event, are encouraged to use the test version of the question program and to practice entering an interview before they start their actual work in the field. A central component of the support for the rather inexperienced interviewers is the individual training before the first field assignment (coaching via TeamViewer). Here, not only the handling of the questions (adherence to standardization, speed and clarity of reading aloud, etc.), but also the input of the answers is monitored and evaluated. In addition, there was an interviewer forum in which the interviewers could exchange information among themselves as well as with the project management. In addition to these three training phases, the interviewers had the opportunity to take advantage of support in the form of coaching during the entire field phase. In addition, they were informed about the current status of the field and innovations (e.g. in the form of additional materials provided) in the form of regular reports and memos. A total of 883 CAPI interviewers and 44 CATI interviewers were trained for the SOEP study on 27 training dates. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 37 2.1.2.6 CATI and Face-to-face Interviewer Staff The deployed CAPI and CATI interviewers had many years of experience with household surveys and combined cross-sectional and longitudinal instruments as well as experience especially with target groups that are generally considered difficult. A total of 927 interviewers were deployed, 883 in the CAPI field and 44 in the CATI field.56 All the interviewers were invited to a short web survey in order to survey the characteristics of the interviewer staff. 713 interviewers participated. The characteristics of the interviewer staff are shown in Table 9. Table 9 Characteristics of the Interviewer Staff (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) Characteristics Total CAPI CATI abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Number of Interviewers 713 100.0 677 100.0 36 100.0 Gender Male 449 63.0 430 63.5 19 52.8 Female 260 36.5 243 35.9 17 47.2 Diverse 1 0.1 1 0.1 - - Not specified 3 0.4 3 0.4 - - Age Up to 29 years 17 2.4 8 1.2 9 25.0 30-49 years 76 10.7 66 9.7 10 27.8 50-65 years 213 29.9 203 30.0 10 27.8 Over 65 years 395 55.4 388 57.3 7 19.4 Not specified 12 1.7 12 1.8 - - Experience with infas New Interviewers 66 9.3 66 9.7 - - 2 years or less 282 39.6 268 39.6 14 38.9 3-5 years 155 21.7 150 22.2 5 13.9 6-10 years 97 13.6 92 13.6 5 13.9 10 years and longer 81 11.4 72 10.6 9 25.0 Not specified 32 4.5 29 4.3 3 8.3 Highest school qualification Lower secondary school qualification/ primary school certificate/ polytechnic secondary school qualification 35 4.9 33 4.9 2 5.6 Intermediate secondary school qualifcation/ vocational extension certificate 186 26.1 184 27.2 2 5.6 5 "Deployed" interviewers include all interviewers who contacted households. 6 5 interviewers who conducted interviews in both the CAPI and CATI fields are counted under CAPI interviewers. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 38 Characteristics Total CAPI CATI abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Number of Interviewers 713 100.0 677 100.0 36 100.0 Advanced technical college certificate 106 14.9 101 14.9 5 13.9 Abitur/ higher education entrance qualification 362 50.8 336 49.6 26 72.2 Other school qualification 11 1.5 10 1.5 1 2.8 No school qualification (yet) 3 0.4 3 0.4 - - Not specified 10 1.4 10 1.5 - - Source: infas, own calculations In the distribution of structural characteristics, the interviewer staff shows a higher proportion of men in the face-to-face field. The age distribution shows greater differences regarding the distinction between CAPI and CATI interviewers. The telephone interviewers are on average younger. 2.1.3 Results The following subchapter presents the field results for the panel samples in 2024. Results at the household level are presented first (Chapter 2.1.3.1), followed by results at the individual level (Chapter 2.1.3.2). The results at the instrument level are then discussed (Chapter 2.1.3.3), as well as questionnaire duration (Chapter 2.1.3.4), the use of different modes and interviewing languages (Chapter 2.1.3.5), the results of the questions on consent to record linkage (Chapter 2.1.3.6) and the tracking results (Chapter 2.1.3.7). 2.1.3.1 Participation at Household Level At the household level, a total of 22,609 households were contacted in the subsamples A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c in 2024. 13,155 of those households participated, resulting in a response rate of 58.2 percent. Figure 3 shows the cumulation of completed household interviews over the fieldwork phase. The field period ran from February 2024 to the end of December 2024. Interviews were completed throughout the entire field-work phase. The number of complete interviews increased steadily throughout the fieldwork. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 45 Table 17 Participation at Individual Level by Subsample (PAAPOR Codes) (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a, M8b, M8c) Individual Level Total Basis Migration A-R M1, M2 M7 M8a, M8b M8c abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample 42,592 100.0 32,408 100.0 2,303 100.0 900 100.0 5,197 100.0 1,784 100.0 Interview [1.0] 17,187 40.4 13,745 42.4 729 31.7 109 12.1 1,835 35.3 769 43.1 Complete [1.1; 1.12] 16,327 38.3 13,025 40.2 690 30.0 94 10.4 1,766 34.0 752 42.2 Partial [1.21; 1.22] 860 2.0 720 2.2 39 1.7 15 1.7 69 1.3 17 1.0 Non-Interview [2.0] 25,405 59.6 18,663 57.6 1,574 68.3 791 87.9 3,362 64.7 1,015 56.9 Temporary dropout 19,972 46.9 14,064 43.4 1,221 53.0 653 72.6 3,048 58.6 986 55.3 Break-off [2.12] 472 1.1 350 1.1 15 0.7 10 1.1 70 1.3 27 1.5 Non-contact [2.21; 2.22] 5,714 13.4 3,181 9.8 303 13.2 147 16.3 1,493 28.7 590 33.1 Temporary physically or mentally unable/incompetent [2.321; 2.323] 128 0.3 112 0.3 7 0.3 4 0.4 5 0.1 - - Language Problem [2.331] 160 0.4 39 0.1 31 1.3 55 6.1 29 0.6 6 0.3 Soft refusal [2.351] 11,752 27.6 9,713 30.0 775 33.7 375 41.7 817 15.7 72 4.0 New address [2.4] 134 0.3 57 0.2 4 0.2 2 0.2 43 0.8 28 1.6 Unable to locate address [3.18] 1,612 3.8 612 1.9 86 3.7 60 6.7 591 11.4 263 14.7 Final Dropout 5,433 12.8 4,599 14.2 353 15.3 138 15.3 314 6.0 29 1.6 Permanent refusal [2.111] 4,827 11.3 4,118 12.7 324 14.1 118 13.1 250 4.8 17 1.0 Dead [2.31] 205 0.5 196 0.6 5 0.2 - - 2 0.0 2 0.1 Permanently physically or mentally unable/incompetent [2.322; 2.324] 136 0.3 121 0.4 8 0.3 4 0.4 3 0.1 - - Moved abroad [4.2] 137 0.3 59 0.2 12 0.5 14 1.6 42 0.8 10 0.6 Household dissolved [4.3] 128 0.3 105 0.3 4 0.2 2 0.2 17 0.3 - - Source: infas, own calculation Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 46 Partial Unit Non-response Partial unit non-response describes the situation where some but not all household members eligible and selected for the individual interviews have been successfully interviewed. A household is considered fully completed when all adult household members have been interviewed, i.e. a completed personal interview has been conducted, and the head of the household has answered the household questionnaire. The partial unit non-response (PUNR) is 48.1 percent for all subsamples (see Table 18). Table 18 Partial Unit Non-response by Subsample (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a, M8b, M8c) Household Level Total Basis Migration A-R M1, M2 M7 M8a, M8b M8c abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample* 7,640 100.0 6,055 100.0 350 100.0 54 100.0 811 100.0 370 100.0 Household partly completed (PUNR) 3,675 48.1 2,835 46.8 185 52.9 26 48.1 428 52.8 201 54.3 Household fully completed 3,965 51.9 3,220 53.2 165 47.1 28 51.9 383 47.2 169 45.7 Source: infas, own calculation *Share of households with more than one adult household member. The more individuals living in the household, the more difficult it is to fully complete a household. As the number of members increases, the proportion of fully completed household decreases continuously. Among two-person households, 56.5 percent of panel households were fully completed; this figure drops to 21.7 percent with four or more members (see Table 19). Table 19 Partial Unit Non-response by Household Size (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8aM8c) Household Level Total 2 person household 3 person household 4 or more person household abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample* 7,640 100.0 6,199 100.0 1,030 100.0 411 100.0 Household partly completed (PUNR) 3,675 48.1 2,696 43.5 657 63.8 322 78.3 Household fully completed 3,965 51.9 3,503 56.5 373 36.2 89 21.7 Source: infas, own calculation *Share of households with more than one adult household member. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 47 Effects of Field Measures at Individual Level Several field measures were implemented at the individual level, whose effects are described in the following. Switch to PAPI Respondents who wished to receive PAPI were handed the paper questionnaires by the interviewer. A total of 3,858 respondents requested to fill out their questionnaires in PAPI. Of these 1,072 respondents (27.8 percent) sent back their questionnaire before the follow-up letter. Another 1,035 respondents then filled out the questionnaire after the follow-up letter (26.8 percent). Table 20 Results for Switch to PAPI at Individual Level (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8aM8c) Switch to PAPI Total abs. in % Gross Sample 3,858 100.0 Completed after switch, prior to follow-up 1,072 27.8 Completed after follow-up letter 1,035 26.8 Source: infas, own calculation Switch to CAWI Respondents who wished to answer the questionnaires online received a mail or a letter with access information to the online survey (CAWI switch). These CAWI switch letters were sent to 6,078 household members (see Table 21) throughout the field period. With 45.8 percent the CAWI participation was higher prior to follow-up than after receiving the follow-up letter (19.3 percent). Table 21 Results for Switch to CAWI at Individual Level (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8aM8c) Switch to CAWI Total abs. in % Gross Sample 6,078 100.0 Completed after switch, prior to follow-up 2,782 45.8 Completed after follow-up letter 1,176 19.3 Source: infas, own calculation Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 48 Conversion Letter All target persons and households who indicated in the interview that they did not wish to participate in this wave of the survey (soft refusals) received a conversion letter. Table 22 shows that 68 of the 450 conversion letters sent resulted in completed interviews (15.1 percent). Table 22 Results for Conversion Letter at Individual Level (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) Conversion Letter Total abs. in % Gross sample 450 100.0 Completed 68 15.1 Source: infas, own calculation 2.1.3.3 Participation at Instrument Level As explained in Chapter 2.1.2.2, a total of 12 questionnaire variants were used in the main study in 2024 (without taking into account different language variants). Table 23 provides an overview of the number of questionnaires that were filled out, differentiated by the known sample groups in the main study. A total of 73,278 questionnaires were answered in 2024. Three questionnaires stand out in terms of frequency: the household questionnaire (n=11,982), the screening questionnaire (n=15,577) and the individual questionnaire (n=17,183). With a total of over 2,000 completed questionnaires each, the child questionnaire, "Biography" and "Gap" also stand out, which are only to be completed under certain conditions. The "gap" questionnaire, for example, is to be filled out by target persons who did not fill out the "individual questionnaire" in the last wave but were scheduled to do so. This means that in 2024, more than 2,422 adults participated in the study again after having suspended their participation last year. The two cognition tests were both filled out more than 8,000 times. Table 23 Number of Interviews by Subsample and Questionnaire (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a, M8b, M8c) Total Basis Migration A-R M1, M2 M7 M8a, M8b M8c Household questionnaire 11,982 9,411 488 79 1,437 567 Screening questionnaire 15,577 12,163 680 103 1,850 781 Individual questionnaire 17,183 13,745 729 109 1,833 767 Cognition test “Wortschatztest“ (WST) 8,452 7,776 379 36 239 22 Cognition test “Zahlen-undZeichen-Test“(ZZT) 8,540 7,644 444 63 330 59 Biography questionnaire 2,015 1,170 64 53 357 371 Youth questionnaire: 1,210 1,088 72 12 24 14 Competency test “Lust auf DJ” 97 91 4 1 - 1 Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 49 Child questionnaire 2,076 1,479 174 19 275 129 Gap questionnaire 2,422 1,808 135 24 419 36 Questionnaire “The deceased individual” 509 434 25 2 31 17 Drop-off questionnaire working time 3,215 3,067 132 16 - - Source: infas, own calculation The response rates of the allocated questionnaires are at least 41.5 percent (see Table 24). Encouragingly, the important individual questionnaire as well as the child questionnaire have with 71.4 percent and 83.8 percent respectively an especially high response rate. Table 24 Response Rates by Questionnaire (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) Gross sample Number of interviews Response rate Screening questionnaire 24,081 15,577 64.7 Individual questionnaire 24,081 17,183 71.4 Cognition test “Wortschatztest“ (WST) 9,986 8,452 84.6 Cognition test “Zahlen-und-Zeichen-Test“(ZZT)s 10,303 8,540 82.9 Biography questionnaire 2,715 2,015 74.2 Youth questionnaire 2,296 1,210 52.7 Competency test "Lust auf DJ" 234 97 41.5 Child questionnaire 2,477 2,076 83.8 Gap questionnaire 3,064 2,422 79.0 Questionnaire “The deceased individual” 666 509 76.4 Drop-off questionnaire work time 7,077 3,215 45.4 Source: infas, own calculation; the gross sample is the target population of participating households. The gross sample size of the additional questionnaires (child questionnaire, biography questionnaire, gap questionnaire, "the deceased individual") as well as the coqnition tests is constituted of the amount of persons who completed their individual questionnaire and were to fill out the respective additional questionnaire. The gross sample of the drop-off questionnaire working time is the amount of persons that completed their individual questionnaire and stated to be in paid employment. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 50 2.1.3.4 Questionnaire Duration The content and length of a questionnaire are key elements in keeping the burden on target persons low and their motivation to (further) participate in the study high. The questionnaires used in the main study 2024 consist of a different number of questions and answer options. Thus, the duration of the questionnaires varies considerably. Table 25 provides an overview of the durations of the individual questionnaire variants. In 2024, for example, an average personal interview consisting of the personal questionnaire and a children’s questionnaire lasted about 45 minutes. Table 25 Interview Length by Questionnaire (in Minutes) (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) N Mean Median 5th percentile 95th percentile Household questionnaire 10,904 18.3 17.1 7.8 32.7 Screening questionnaire 15,577 0.6 0.3 0.1 1.9 Individual questionnaire 15,382 38.7 37.0 18.1 65.2 Cognition test “Wortschatztest“ (WST) 8,452 3.5 3.9 0.3 6.3 Cognition test “Zahlen-und-Zeichen-Test“(ZZT) 8,539 3.9 3.7 2.6 6.0 Biography questionnaire 1,995 21.5 19.5 7.4 43.0 Youth questionnaire 1,208 21.3 19.9 10.2 37.1 Competency test “Lust auf DJ” 97 24.0 24.5 11.4 34.7 Child questionnaire 2,073 8.8 7.8 2.8 17.6 Gap questionnaire 2,284 1.7 1.4 0.6 4.0 Questionnaire “The deceased individual” 475 4.5 4.1 2.1 7.8 Source: infas, own calculation 2.1.3.5 Interviewing Modes and Languages Table 26 provides information on the mode used to complete the questionnaires. It can be seen that most of the questionnaires were answered interviewer administered. However, the “Gap” and “Biography” questionnaires show that self-administered modes, especially CAWI, were increasingly chosen, with more than 40 percent each. A closer look at the self-administered modes shows that the questions on the household and the person were frequently answered via PAPI compared to other questionnaires. This can be explained by the fact that all questionnaires have been offered for completion in this form since the beginning of the study and are therefore familiar to the participants. The presentation of the youth questionnaire shows that a large proportion of the corresponding age groups represented here (cohort 2007-2012) prefer to participate online. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 51 Table 26 Interviewing Modes by Questionnaire (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) Questionnaire Interviewer-Based Self-Administered Total CAPI CATI CASI CAWI PAPI Household questionnaire abs. 11,982 7,291 122 156 3,338 1,075 in % 100.0 60.8 1.0 1.3 27.9 9.0 Individual questionnaire abs. 17,183 9,666 100 637 4,991 1,789 in % 100.0 56.3 0.6 3.7 29.0 10.4 Screening questionnaire abs. 15,577 9,710 122 641 5,104 - in % 100.0 62.3 0.8 4.1 32.8 - Cognition test “Wortschatztest“ (WST) abs. 8,452 7,950 - 502 - - in % 100.0 94.1 - 5.9 - - Cognition test “Zahlen-und-ZeichenTest“(ZZT) abs. 8,540 8,023 - 517 - - in % 100.0 93.9 - 6.1 - - Biography questionnaire abs. 2,015 820 11 153 1,031 - in % 100.0 40.7 0.5 7.6 51.2 - Youth questionnaire: abs. 1,210 520 - 162 528 - in % 100.0 43.0 - 13.4 43.6 - Competency test “Lust auf DJ” abs. 97 65 - 32 - - in % 100.0 67.0 - 33.0 - - Child questionnaire: abs. 2,076 1,155 23 82 816 - in % 100.0 55.6 1.1 3.9 39.3 - Gap questionnaire abs. 2,422 1,042 31 124 1,088 137 in % 100.0 43.0 1.3 5.1 44.9 5.7 Questionnaire “The deceased individual” abs. 509 277 3 15 180 34 in % 100.0 54.4 0.6 2.9 35.4 6.7 Drop-off questionnaire working time abs. 3,215 - - - - 3,215 in % 100.0 - - - - 100.0 Source: infas, own calculation Experience shows that the panel samples in the main study are almost exclusively surveyed in German, although all questionnaires are also offered in English, Polish, Bulgarian and Russian. The M8-subsamples are a major exception, with about half of their interviews conducted in English. Table 27 shows how often English was used in the personal interviews for the adult and adolescent respondents. From the 1,317 interviews in that were conducted in English, almost all of them were conducted in the M8a and M8b migration samples. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 52 Table 27 Interviewing Languages by Questionnaire (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8aM8c) German English Polish Bulgarian Russian Total Individual questionnaire abs. 15,775 1,317 11 5 75 17,183 in % 91.8 7.7 0.1 0.0 0.4 100.0 Youth questionnaire abs. 1,201 6 - - 3 1,210 in % 99.3 0.5 - - 0.2 100.0 Source: infas, own calculation 2.1.3.6 Record Linkage Consent In order to be able to link data from the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) or the German Pension Insurance (DRV) to the net data after completion of the survey, each adult respondent is asked for his or her consent in the questionnaire unless he or she has already given it beforeor has refused it twice. Consent is requested separately for both linkage purposes. For the DRV-linkage written consent is needed while for the IAB-linkage verbal consent is sufficient. In the 2024 survey wave, 2,705 respondents in the panel samples of the main study were asked for their consent to link data from the Institute for Employment Research (see Table 28), and 1,767 respondents gave their consent. Looking at the DRV-linkage, we see that 4,557 respondents were asked for their consent this year and 727 respondents gave it. Table 28 Consent to Record Linkage (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) Individual Level IAB DRV abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample* 2,705 100.0 4,557 100.0 Consent given in this survey wave 1,767 65.3 727 16.0 Consent not given in this survey wave 938 34.7 3,830 84.0 Source: infas, own calculation *Respondents who were asked the record linkage consent question 2.1.3.7 Tracking Techniques One of the central problems when conducting panel studies is panel mortality. This refers to the temporary or permanent loss of respondents. Loss of addresses due to poor address quality or relocation of respondents is one of several reasons for loss. In parallel to the field measures described above, tracking measures were carried out throughout the entire course of the fieldwork to counteract the loss of respondents due to address and contact data problems. Tracking is generally understood to mean determining the contact information of respondents who would otherwise be lost for a survey as part of a panel study or who could not be interviewed. Tracking measures are a central means of reducing panel losses and keeping the response rate constant over several waves. In order Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 53 to measure changes in longitudinal studies, it is particularly important to keep individuals in the sample who have changed their place of residence. The aim is to achieve an unbiased response rate and avoid selectivity in a panel, regardless of whether a person can be reached or not. In addition, the respondents should be interviewed again in subsequent waves, regardless of where they currently live. This means that dropouts should be minimized as far as possible due to inaccessibility. There are various strategies that can be used on a case-by-case basis. They range from asking the interviewers to make further contact attempts to having the addresses processed by other interviewers. Various tracking measures were used proactively. Address research ("tracking") was carried out for households that could not be contacted during the fieldwork due to incorrect address information provided by the interviewers. The Deutsche Post Addressfactory was used first; if this was unsuccessful, tracking was initiated via the residents' registration offices. At the same time, the interviewers themselves also searched for address updates. In turn, the target persons were able to contact the infas hotline themselves to pass on new information, so that address updates could also be collected in this way. Table 29 shows the results of all measures, including the requested contact data updates in the advance letter and the letter for non-contact households via the infas hotline or online. Table 29 Result of Tracking Techniques (A-R, M1, M2, M7, M8a-M8c) Tracking Total AddressFactory Residents' registration offices infas hotline Interviewertracking Total abs. 20,508 1,839 1,393 18,386 468 in % 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 Deceased abs. 123 13 1 63 55 in % 0.6 0.7 0.1 0.3 11.8 Moved abroad abs. 97 - 34 13 52 in % 0.5 - 2.4 0.1 11.1 No information provided abs. 15 22 868 - - in % 0.1 1.2 62.3 - - New address data returned abs. 18,538 434 297 17,541 342 in % 90.4 23.6 21.3 95.4 73.1 Old address data confirmed abs. 1,735 1,370 193 769 19 in % 8.5 74.5 13.9 4.2 4.1 Source: infas iSMS, multiple answers possible A total of 20,508 addresses were tracked in the panel samples. In almost all cases relevant information could be acquired. For about 74.5 percent of these, the known address was confirmed and for 23.6 percent, new address data could be researched. In around one percent of these tracking cases, the research revealed that they had dropped out of the panel. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 54 2.2 Refreshment Samples S, M10 The existing panel sample of the Socio-Economic Panel was refreshed in 2024 with two additional samples. The randomly drawn refreshment samples S and M10 took the form of a random cluster sample of residents' addresses from the registers of residents' registration offices. Table 30 below presents the key parameters of the 2024 survey for the refreshment samples S and M10. A total of 75,796 households were contacted between March 2024 and December 2024. 8,381 of these households participated in the survey. The interviews were conducted in CAPI, CATI, CASI and CAWI. Table 30 Summary Fieldwork (S, M10) Main Study 2024: Refreshment Samples S, M10 Mode Mixed-Mode design: CAPI, CAWI, CASI, CATI Implementation period August 2023 until March 2025 Fieldwork phase March 2024 (CW 11) – December 2024 (CW 52) Target Population Households Sample Refreshment sample: Random cluster sample; 300 German municipalities Gross sample Refreshment Sample S: n = 42,509 (7,342 pre-recruited) Refreshment Sample M10: n = 33,287 (3,492 pre-recruited) Survey instruments Refreshment Sample S: – Household questionnaire (CAPI, CASI, CAWI, CATI) – Individual questionnaire (CAPI, CASI, CAWI, CATI) – Biography questionnaire (CAWI) – Youth questionnaire (CAPI, CASI, CAWI, CATI) – Competency/cognition tests (CAPI, CASI) – Integrated child questionnaire (CAPI, CASI, CAWI, CATI) – Deceased individual question (CAPI, CASI, CAWI, CATI) – Drop-off working time (PAPI) Refreshment Sample M10: – Household questionnaire (CAPI, CASI, CAWI, CATI) – Individual questionnaire (CAPI, CASI, CAWI, CATI) – Biography questionnaire (CAPI, CASI, CAWI, CATI) – Cognition tests (CAPI, CASI) – Drop-off working time (PAPI) Foreign language instruments The questionnaires were used in the languages German, English, Polish, Bulgarian and Russian (excluding the competency tests and the Drop-off working time, which were only available in German). Questionnaire durations – Household questionnaire: Ø 23.2 min. – Individual questionnaire: Ø 48.2 min. – Biography questionnaire: Ø 26.2 min. – Youth questionnaire: Ø 25.8 min. – Competency/cognition tests – Lust auf DJ: Ø 25.9 min. – WST: Ø 3.8 min. – ZZT: Ø 4.0 min. – Integrated child questionnaire: Ø 9.6 min. – Deceased individual questionnaire: Ø 4.8 min. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 61 2.2.3.2 Participation at Household Level 5,876 households participated in the main field in the S sample and 2,505 in M10. Figure 4 and Figure 5 illustrate the accumulation of completed household interviews throughout the fieldwork phase. The field period commenced in March 2024 and concluded at the end of December 2024. As in the panel samples, the completion of interviews happened throughout the whole fieldwork phase. Figure 4 Completion of Household Interviews in the Field (S) Absolute numbers 0 500 1.000 1.500 2.000 2.500 3.000 3.500 4.000 4.500 5.000 5.500 6.000 Number of Household Interviews 2024 Figure 5 Completion of Household Interviews in the Field (M10) Absolute numbers 0 250 500 750 1.000 1.250 1.500 1.750 2.000 2.250 2.500 2.750 Number of Household Interviews 2024 Source: infas, own figure Table 38 describes the result according to the SOEP-HAAPOR classification at the household level for the refreshment sample S. In 5,314 households, both the household questionnaire and at least one individual interview were completed besides the obligatory household matrix (HAAPOR codes 1.1, 1.2). 3,021 households were surveyed completely, i.e. all household members born in or before 2006 could be interviewed. In 1.1 percent of all households, despite being successfully interviewed, the household questionnaire could not be completed (HAAPOR code 2.353). Looking at household non-response, refusals (HAAPOR codes 2.351 and 2.111), are with 52 percent of the gross sample. Unsurprisingly, the proportion Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 62 of refusals is much higher among households that didn’t respond to the pre-recruitment than among those that did. Table 38 Participation at Household Level by Pre-Recruitment Status and Tranches (HAAPOR Codes) (S) Household Level Total Tranche 1 Respondents Pre-Recruitment Tranche 2 Respondents Pre-Recruitment Tranche 3 Respondents Pre-Recruitment Tranche 4 Respondents Pre-Recruitment Nonrespondents Pre-Recruitment abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample 42,509 100.0 2,052 100.0 1,946 100.0 1,760 100.0 1,584 100.0 35,167 100.0 Interview 5,876 13.8 1,023 49.9 1,090 56.0 919 52.2 732 46.2 2,112 6.0 Complete [1.1] 3,021 7.1 574 28.0 663 34.1 542 30.8 402 25.4 840 2.4 Partial [1.2] 2,293 5.4 375 18.3 360 18.5 324 18.4 289 18.2 945 2.7 Partial (missing household questionnaire) [2.353] 453 1.1 56 2.7 55 2.8 39 2.2 35 2.2 268 0.8 Partial (missing data) [2.354] 109 0.3 18 0.9 12 0.6 14 0.8 6 0.4 59 0.2 Non-Interview 36,633 86.2 1,029 50.1 856 44.0 841 47.8 852 53.8 33,055 94.0 Temporary dropout 24,247 57.0 747 36.4 591 30.4 618 35.1 665 42.0 21,626 61.5 Break-off [2.12] 108 0.3 12 0.6 13 0.7 16 0.9 10 0.6 57 0.2 Non-contact [2.2] 4,735 11.1 110 5.4 76 3.9 98 5.6 126 8.0 4,325 12.3 Temporary physically or mentally unable/incompetent [2.321] 496 1.2 9 0.4 15 0.8 14 0.8 9 0.6 449 1.3 Language Problem [2.331] 545 1.3 20 1.0 21 1.1 11 0.6 17 1.1 476 1.4 Soft refusal [2.351] 13,755 32.4 564 27.5 461 23.7 426 24.2 436 27.5 11,868 33.7 New address [2.4] 428 1.0 32 1.6 5 0.3 53 3.0 67 4.2 271 0.8 Not attempted or worked [3.11] 4,180 9.8 - - - - - - - - 4,180 11.9 Final Dropout 12,386 29.1 282 13.7 265 13.6 223 12.7 187 11.8 11,429 32.5 Permanent refusal [2.111] 8,322 19.6 211 10.3 209 10.7 173 9.8 126 8.0 7,603 21.6 Dead [2.31] 286 0.7 2 0.1 5 0.3 4 0.2 3 0.2 272 0.8 Permanently physically or mentally unable/incompetent [2.322] 882 2.1 16 0.8 9 0.5 18 1.0 25 1.6 814 2.3 Non-eligible [4.1, 4.5] 575 1.4 21 1.0 17 0.9 11 0.6 12 0.8 514 1.5 Moved abroad [4.2] 130 0.3 5 0.2 3 0.2 4 0.2 2 0.1 116 0.3 Household unlocatable [4.4] 2,191 5.2 27 1.3 22 1.1 13 0.7 19 1.2 2,110 6.0 Source: infas, own calculation Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 63 Looking at the field results of refreshment sample M10 (Table 39), we can see that in 2,128 households, both the household questionnaire and at least one individual interview were completed besides the obligatory household matrix (HAAPOR codes 1.1, 1.1) and 1,085 households were surveyed completely, i.e. all household members born in or before 2006 could be interviewed. Looking at household nonresponse, refusal (HAAPOR codes 2.351 and 2.111), are with 38,1 percent of the gross sample a large factor. Unlike in the refreshment sample S, unlocatable households (HAAPOR code 4.4) also play a major role in the non-response with 18.2 percent of the gross sample. This is due to the higher mobility of this target population. Table 39 Participation at Household Level by Pre-Recruitment Status (HAAPOR Codes) (M10) Household Level Total M10 Respondents Pre-Recruitment M10 Non-Respondents Pre-Recruitment abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample 33,287 100.0 3,492 100.0 29,795 100.0 Interview 2,505 7.5 1,335 38.2 1,170 3.9 Complete [1.1] 1,085 3.3 676 19.4 409 1.4 Partial [1.2] 1,043 3.1 507 14.5 536 1.8 Partial (missing household questionnaire) [2.353] 316 0.9 132 3.8 184 0.6 Partial (missing data) [2.354] 61 0.2 20 0.6 41 0.1 Non-Interview 30,782 92.5 2,157 61.8 28,625 96.1 Temporary dropout 19,116 57.4 1,599 45.8 17,517 58.8 Break-off [2.12] 91 0.3 23 0.7 68 0.2 Non-contact [2.2] 4,569 13.7 299 8.6 4,270 14.3 Temporary physically or mentally unable/incompetent [2.321] 223 0.7 19 0.5 204 0.7 Language Problem [2.331] 1,705 5.1 173 5.0 1,532 5.1 Soft refusal [2.351] 9,237 27.7 1,030 29.5 8,207 27.5 New address [2.4] 206 0.6 55 1.6 151 0.5 Not attempted or worked [3.11] 3,085 9.3 - - 3,085 10.4 Final Dropout 11,666 35.0 558 16.0 11,108 37.3 Permanent refusal [2.111] 3,476 10.4 343 9.8 3,133 10.5 Dead [2.31] 91 0.3 3 0.1 88 0.3 Permanently physically or mentally unable/incompetent [2.322] 407 1.2 26 0.7 381 1.3 Non-eligible [4.1, 4.5] 1,146 3.4 51 1.5 1,095 3.7 Moved abroad [4.2] 474 1.4 21 0.6 453 1.5 Household unlocatable [4.4] 6,072 18.2 114 3.3 5,958 20.0 Source: infas, own calculation Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 64 Contact Effort The following Table 40 shows the average number of contacts of the pre-recruited subsamples S and M10 over the entire fieldwork phase. Over the entire fieldwork phase, households were contacted on average 2.3 times in the refreshment sample S and 2.1 times in the refreshment sample M10 by interviewers from the face-to-face or CATI field. This average value is mainly due to the average number of contact attempts for interviewed households. For households that could not be reached, the mean numbers of contact attempts, 2.4 and 2.3, are slightly higher than the mean value for interviewed households (2.3 and 2.1). For soft refusals, the average number of contacts was 2.7 in both samples. Table 40 Number of Interviewer Contacts by Field Result (HAAPOR Codes) (S) N Mean 25th percentile 75th percentile Total 42,509 2.3 2 4 Interview [1.0, 1.210, 1.310, 2.353, 2.354] 5,876 3.4 2 4 Non-contact [2.2] 4,735 2.4 0 4 Soft refusal [2.351] 13,755 2.7 2 5 Source: infas, own calculation Table 41 Number of Interviewer Contacts by Field Result (HAAPOR Codes) (M10) N Mean 25th percentile 75th percentile Total 33,287 2.1 2 4 Interview [1.0, 1.210, 1.310, 2.353, 2.354] 2,505 3.6 2 4 Non-contact [2.2] 4,569 2.3 0 4 Soft refusal [2.351] 9,237 2.7 2 5 Source: infas, own calculation Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 65 2.2.3.3 Participation at Individual Level Table 42 below shows the result according to the SOEP-PAAPOR classification for adult target persons born in 2006 or earlier. As shown there, a total of 7,443 individuals from the refreshment sample S and 2,790 from the refreshment sample M10 participated in the survey. This corresponds to a total of 71.7 percent and 68.1 percent. Table 42 Participation at Individual Level (PAAPOR Codes) (S, M10) Individual Level S M10 abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample 10,384 100.0 4,095 100.0 Interview 7,443 71.7 2,790 68.1 Complete [1.1] 7,443 71.7 2,790 68.1 Non-Interview 2,941 28.3 1,305 31.9 Temporary dropout 2,546 24.5 1,196 29.2 Break-off [2.12] 127 1.2 51 1.2 Non-contact [2.21; 2.22] 746 7.2 344 8.4 Temporary physically or mentally unable/incompetent [2.321] 40 0.4 17 0.4 Language Problem [2.331] 36 0.3 80 2.0 Soft refusal [2.351] 1,597 15.4 704 17.2 Final Dropout 395 3.8 109 2.7 Permanent refusal [2.111] 327 3.1 89 2.2 Dead [2.31] 3 0.0 - - Permanently physically or mentally unable/incompetent [2.322] 60 0.6 18 0.4 Moved abroad [4.2] 5 0.0 2 0.0 Source: infas, own calculation Partial Unit Non-response The partial unit non-response (PUNR) in the refreshment sample S is 60 percent and 67.8 percent in the refreshment sample M10 (see Table 43), which is both higher than in the panel samples. Partial unit non-response is expected to decrease in S and M10 in subsequent waves as all household members become more familiar with the study. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 66 Table 43 Partial Unit Non-response (S, M10) Household Level S M10 abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample* 10,954 100.0 4,577 100.0 Household partly completed (PUNR) 6,567 60.0 3,103 67.8 Household fully completed 4,387 40.0 1,474 32.2 Source: infas, own calculation *Share of households with more than one adult household member. The more individuals living in the household, the more difficult it is to fully complete a household. As the number of members increases, the proportion of fully completed household decreases continuously. Among two-person households of the refreshment sample S, 48.5 percent of households were fully completed; this figure drops to 13.9 percent with four or more members. Table 44 Partial Unit Non-response by Household Size (S) Household Level Total 2 person household 3 person household 4 or more person household abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample* 3,872 100.0 3,086 100.0 555 100.0 231 100.0 Household partly completed (PUNR) 2,221 57.4 1,589 51.5 433 78.0 199 86.1 Household fully completed 1,651 42.6 1,497 48.5 122 22.0 32 13.9 Source: infas, own calculation *Share of households with more than one adult household member. The same can be observed in the refresher sample M10. Among two-person households, 39.6 percent of households were fully completed; this figure drops to 8.5 percent with four or more members. Table 45 Partial Unit Non-response by Household Size (M10) Household Level Total 2 person household 3 person household 4 or more person household abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample* 1,534 100.0 1,266 100.0 186 100.0 82 100.0 Household partly completed (PUNR) 1,003 65.4 765 60.4 163 87.6 75 91.5 Household fully completed 531 34.6 501 39.6 23 12.4 7 8.5 Source: infas, own calculation *Share of households with more than one adult household member. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 67 Effects of Field Measures at Individual Level As at the household level, several field measures were implemented at the individual level, whose effects are described in the following Switch to CAWI Respondents wishing to answer the questionnaires online received a letter with access information to the online survey (CAWI switch). These CAWI switch letters were sent to 1,593 adult household members of the refreshment sample S (see Table 46) throughout the field period. With 64.0 percent the CAWI participation was higher prior to follow-up than after receiving the follow-up letter (5.8 percent). Table 46 Results for Switch to CAWI at Individual Level (S) Switch to CAWI Total abs. in % Gross Sample 1,593 100.0 Completed after switch, prior to follow-up 1,019 64.0 Completed after follow-up letter 93 5.8 Source: infas, own calculation Refreshment sample M10 shows a similar result. The CAWI switch letters were sent to 676 adult household members (see Table 47) throughout the field period. With 68.8 percent the CAWI participation was higher prior to follow-up than after receiving the follow-up letter (4.9 percent). Table 47 Results for Switch to CAWI at Individual Level (M10) Switch to CAWI Total abs. in % Gross Sample 676 100.0 Completed after switch, prior to follow-up 465 68.8 Completed after follow-up letter 33 4.9 Source: infas, own calculation Conversion Letter All target persons and households who indicated in the interview that they did not wish to participate in this wave of the survey (soft refusals) received a conversion letter. Table 48 and Table 49 show that around 10 percent of the conversion letters sent resulted in completed interviews. In refreshment sample S, 10.1 percent of the 189 conversion letters sent resulted in completed interviews, while in refreshment sample M10 7.3 percent of the 96 conversion letters sent out led to completed interviews. This shows, that offering flexibility in what mode respondents want to participate in the survey is important to reach as many respondents as possible. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 68 Table 48 Results for Conversion Letter at Individual Level (S) Conversion Letter Total abs. in % Gross sample 189 100.0 Completed 19 10.1 Source: infas, own calculation Table 49 Results for Conversion Letter at Individual Level (M10) Conversion Letter Total abs. in % Gross sample 96 100.0 Completed 7 7.3 Source: infas, own calculation 2.2.3.4 Participation at Instrument Level Table 50 shows the number of questionnaires that were completed in the participating households of the refreshment samples S and M10. As in the panel samples, three questionnaires stand out in terms of frequency: the two main instruments, the household questionnaire (n = 5,314 in S and n = 2,128 in M10) and the individual questionnaire (n = 7,443 in S and n = 2,790 in M10) as well as the screening questionnaire (n = 7,494 in S and n = 2,819 in M10). Additionally, many biography questionnaires were completed (n = 2,548 in S and n = 2,037 in M10). No interviews were completed for the youth questionnaire, the competency test “Lust auf DJ”, the child questionnaire as well as for the questionnaire “the deceased individual” in refreshment sample M10, as these questionnaires were not to be filled out in this sample per design (see Chapter 2.2.2). Table 50 Number of Interviews by Questionnaire (S, M10) S M10 Household questionnaire 5,314 2,128 Screening questionnaire 7,494 2,819 Individual questionnaire 7,443 2,790 Cognition test “Wortschatztest“ (WST) 4,724 270 Cognition test “Zahlen-und-Zeichen-Test“(ZZT) 4,568 1,764 Biography questionnaire 2,548 2,037 Youth questionnaire 278 - Competency test “Lust auf DJ” 13 - Child questionnaire 1,163 - Questionnaire “The deceased individual” 264 - Drop-off questionnaire working time 1,338 312 Source: infas, own calculation Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 69 Looking at the response rates for the allocated questionnaires (see Table 51 for sample S and Table 52 for sample M10), it can be seen that response is somewhat lower in the refreshment samples compared to the panel samples and a bit lower in the M10 sample compared to the S sample. Fortunately, the response rate for the biography questionnaire, which is particularly important for migrants, is quite high in M10 with 73 percent. In refreshment sample S the response for the biography questionnaire is much lower by comparison, which was to be expected since it was relegated to the thank-you-letter (see Chapter 2.2.2). Table 51 Response Rates by Questionnaire (S) Gross sample Number of interviews Response rate Screening questionnaire 10,193 7,494 73.5 Individual questionnaire 10,193 7,443 73.0 Cognition test “Wortschatztest“ (WST) 5,809 4,724 81.3 Cognition test “Zahlen-und-Zeichen-Test“(ZZT) 6,290 4,568 72.6 Biography questionnaire 7,443 2,548 34.2 Youth questionnaire 752 278 37.0 Competency test “Lust auf DJ” 38 13 34.2 Child questionnaire 1,411 1,163 82.4 Questionnaire “The deceased individual” 328 264 80.5 Drop-off questionnaire work time 3,912 1,338 34.2 Source: infas, own calculation; the gross sample is the target population of participating households. The gross sample size of the additional questionnaires (child questionnaire, biography questionnaire, gap questionnaire, "the deceased individual") as well as the coqnition tests is constituted of the amount of persons who completed their individual questionnaire and were to fill out the respective additional questionnaire. The gross sample of the drop-off questionnaire working time is the amount of persons the completed their individual questionnaire and stated to be in paid employment. Table 52 Response Rates by Questionnaire (M10) Gross sample Number of interviews Response rate Screening questionnaire 3,997 2,819 70.5 Individual questionnaire 3,997 2,790 69.8 Cognition test “Wortschatztest“ (WST) 370 270 73.0 Cognition test “Zahlen-und-Zeichen-Test“(ZZT) 2,463 1,764 71.6 Biography questionnaire 2,790 2,037 73.0 Drop-off questionnaire work time 1,742 312 17.9 Source: infas, own calculation; the gross sample is the target population of participating households. The gross sample size of the biography questionnaire as well as the coqnition tests is constituted of the amount of persons who completed their individual questionnaire and were to fill out the respective additional questionnaire. The gross sample of the drop-off questionnaire working time is the amount of persons the completed their individual questionnaire and stated to be in paid employment. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 70 2.2.3.5 Questionnaire Duration Table 53 and Table 54 provide an overview of the durations of the individual questionnaire variants for the refreshment samples S and M10. The durations of all instruments are longer than in the panel samples, especially the individual questionnaire, which is about 10 minutes longer. The reason for this is that first-time participants have to answer all the questions in the questionnaires, whereas for panel participants some questions can be shortened due to dependent interviewing. Table 53 Interview Length by Questionnaire (in Minutes) (S) N Mean Median 5th percentile 95th percentile Household questionnaire 5,314 23.2 21.7 12.0 39.3 Screening questionnaire 7,494 1.0 0.6 0.3 2.6 Individual questionnaire 7,435 47.9 45.9 23.7 78.1 Cognition test “Wortschatztest“ (WST) 4,724 3.8 4.1 0.4 6.6 Cognition test “Zahlen-und-Zeichen-Test“(ZZT) 4,568 3.9 3.7 2.7 5.9 Biography questionnaire 2,500 24.5 21.5 8.7 50.9 Youth questionnaire 277 25.7 23.6 13.2 42.9 Competency test “Lust auf DJ” 13 25.6 26.5 10.7 33.9 Child questionnaire 1,162 9.6 8.5 3.3 18.6 Questionnaire “The deceased individual” 264 4.8 4.4 2.3 8.3 Source: infas, own calculation Table 54 Interview Length by Questionnaire (in Minutes) (M10) N Mean Median 5th percentile 95th percentile Household questionnaire 2,128 23.3 21.6 10.6 41.1 Screening questionnaire 2,819 1.8 1.5 0.4 3.7 Individual questionnaire 2,786 49.2 47.6 22.9 82.4 Cognition test “Wortschatztest“ (WST) 270 3.8 4.0 0.6 6.6 Cognition test “Zahlen-und-Zeichen-Test“(ZZT) 1,764 4.1 3.8 2.7 6.2 Biography questionnaire 2,017 28.9 27.3 11.7 50.7 Source: infas, own calculation Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 77 In addition to his or her designated questionnaires, the head of household would complete an online version of the household matrix. The letter put special emphasis on the importance of the participation of migrants from non-EU third countries. Once he or she participated, the household composition was known, and all other household members, if there were any, also received an invitation letter with access to the web survey. The incentivization strategy was the same as for the CAPI-starters. In general, the same survey documents were used in the refreshment sample M8d as in the panel samples (see Table 8 in Chapter 2.1.2.3). The survey documents that differed were the advance letter, the data protection sheet and the study flyer.9 The refreshment sample M8d had its own advance letter and data protection sheet in order to address this group in a target group-specific manner. All survey documents were provided in German and English. The same survey instruments were used as in the other samples, with the exception of the gap questionnaire, which does not apply for new target persons (see Chapter 2.1.2.1 and Chapter 2.1.2.2). 2.3.3 Results The following subchapter presents the field results for the refreshment sample M8d. Results at the household level are presented first (Chapter 2.3.3.1), followed by results at the individual level (Chapter 2.3.3.2). The results at the instrument level are then discussed (Chapter 2.3.3.3), as well as questionnaire duration (Chapter 2.3.3.4), the use of different modes and interviewing languages (Chapter 2.3.3.5) and the results of the questions on consent to record linkage (Chapter 2.3.3.7). 2.3.3.1 Participation at Household Level At the household level, a total of 7,430 households were contacted in the refreshment sample M8d. 515 households of those households participated, resulting in a response rate of 6.9 percent (see Table 65). The average household size of the interviewed households is fairly small with 1,9 persons. This is due to M8d consisting to a large portion of one person households. Figure 6 illustrates the accumulation of completed household interviews throughout the fieldwork phase. The field period commenced in May 2024 and concluded at the end of December 2024. 9 The study flyer of the panel samples focused more on research results and the study flyer of the refreshment sample M8d focused more on the general procedure of the study. This was needed because for the households of the refresher sample M8d, unlike in the panel samples, the study was not known to the target persons and had to introduce itself first. The advance letter for M8d put special emphasis on the importance of the participation of migrants from non-EU third countries. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 78 Figure 6 Completion of Household Interviews in the Field (M8d) Absolute numbers 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 Number of Household Interviews 2024 Source: infas, own figure Table 65 describes the result according to the SOEP-HAAPOR classification at the household level. In 348 households, both the household questionnaire and at least one individual interview were completed besides the obligatory household matrix (HAAPOR codes 1.1, 1.2). 220 households were surveyed completely, i.e. all household members born in or before 2006 could be interviewed. In 1.2 percent of all households, despite being successfully interviewed, the household questionnaire could not be completed (HAAPOR code 2.353). Looking at household non-response, refusals (HAAPOR codes 2.351 and 2.111), although still a factor, are a much smaller reason for non-response, at 8.1 percent of the gross sample. In contrast, non-response due to an incorrect address (HAAPOR code 4.4) is more a lot higher. The high number of respondents who were not eligible for the M8d sample (HAAPOR code 4.1, 4.5) can be explained by the “ScreenOut”-concept. These respondents were not part of the target population. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 79 Table 65 Participation at Household Level by Starting Mode (HAAPOR Codes) (M8d) Household Level Total CAPI CAWI abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample 7,430 100.0 1,448 100.0 5,982 100.0 Interview 515 6.9 87 6.0 428 7.2 Complete [1.1] 220 3.0 57 3.9 163 2.7 Partial [1.2] 128 1.7 14 1.0 114 1.9 Partial (missing household questionnaire) [2.353] 92 1.2 14 1.0 78 1.3 Partial (missing data) [2.354] 75 1.0 2 0.1 73 1.2 Non-Interview 6,915 93.1 1,361 94.0 5,554 92.8 Temporary dropout 3,950 53.2 831 57.4 3,119 52.1 Break-off [2.12] 70 0.9 5 0.3 65 1.1 Non-contact [2.2] 209 2.8 209 14.4 - - Temporary physically or mentally unable/incompetent [2.321] 6 0.1 6 0.4 - - Language Problem [2.331] 72 1.0 72 5.0 - - Soft refusal [2.351] 476 6.4 475 32.8 1 0.0 New address [2.4] 29 0.4 5 0.3 24 0.4 Not attempted or worked [3.11] 3,088 41.6 59 4.1 3,029 50.6 Final Dropout 2,965 39.9 530 36.6 2,435 40.7 Permanent refusal [2.111] 124 1.7 109 7.5 15 0.3 Permanently physically or mentally unable/incompetent [2.322] 1 0.0 1 0.1 - - Dead [2.31] 6 0.1 6 0.4 - - Non-eligible [4.1, 4.5] 1,175 15.8 220 15.2 955 16.0 Moved abroad [4.2] 13 0.2 13 0.9 - - Household unlocatable[4.4] 1,646 22.2 181 12.5 1,465 24.5 Source: infas, own calculation Effects of Field Measures at Household Level Several field measures were implemented in the refreshment sample M8d in, effort to increase response. The effects of the measures implemented at the household level are described in the following. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 80 Follow-up Letter The CAWI-starters received two follow-up letters addressed to the head of household throughout the fieldwork phase. Table 66 provides an overview of how this affected the completion rates. The completion rates before the follow-up letter (3.4 percent) and after the first follow-up letter (2.6 percent) are quite comparable. After the second follow-up letter, an additional 63 interviews were completed (1.1 percent). Table 66 Results for Follow-up Letter CAWI-Starters at Household Level (M8d) Reminder Letter CAWI-Starters Total abs. in % Gross sample 5,982 100.0 Completed before follow-up letter 204 3.4 Completed after first follow-up letter 158 2.6 Completed after second follow-up letter 63 1.1 Source: infas, own calculation 2.3.3.2 Participation at Individual Level Table 67 below shows the result according to the SOEP-PAAPOR classification for adult target persons born in 2006 or earlier. As shown there, a total of 403 individuals from the refreshment sample M8d participated in the survey. This corresponds to a total of 70.7 percent. Table 67 Participation at Individual Level by Starting Mode (PAAPOR Codes) (M8d) Individual Level Total CAPI CAWI abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample 570 100.0 95 100.0 475 100.0 Interview 403 70.7 81 85.3 322 67.8 Complete [1.1] 403 70.7 81 85.3 322 67.8 Non-Interview 167 29.3 14 14.7 153 32.2 Temporary dropout 166 29.1 13 13.7 153 32.2 Break-off [2.12] 4 0.7 - - 4 0.8 Non-contact [2.21; 2.22] 154 27.0 5 5.3 149 31.4 Soft refusal [2.351] 8 1.4 8 8.4 - - Final Dropout 1 0.2 1 1.1 - - Permanent refusal [2.111] 1 0.2 1 1.1 - - Source: infas, own calculation Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 81 Partial Unit Non-response The partial unit non-response (PUNR) in the refreshment sample M8d is 71.6 percent (see Table 68), which is higher than in the panel samples. Partial unit nonresponse is expected to decrease in M8d in subsequent waves as all household members become more familiar with the study. Table 68 Partial Unit Non-response by Starting Mode (M8d) Household Level Total CAPI CAWI abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample* 155 100.0 22 100.0 133 100.0 Household partly completed (PUNR) 111 71.6 12 54.5 99 74.4 Household fully completed 44 28.4 10 45.5 34 25.6 Source: infas, own calculation *Share of households with more than one adult household member. The more individuals living in the household, the more difficult it is to fully complete a household. Table 69 Partial Unit Non-response by Household Size (M8d) Household Level Total 2 person household 3 person household 4 or more person household abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample* 155 100.0 131 100.0 17 100.0 7 100.0 Household partly completed (PUNR) 111 71.6 90 68.7 14 82.4 7 100.0 Household fully completed 44 28.4 41 31.3 3 17.6 - - Source: infas, own calculation *Share of households with more than one adult household member. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 82 2.3.3.3 Participation at Instrument Level Table 70 shows the number of questionnaires that were completed in the participating households of the refreshment sample M8d. A total of 1,580 questionnaires were completed. As in the panel samples, two questionnaires stand out in terms of frequency: the two main instruments, the household questionnaire (n = 348) and the individual questionnaire (n = 403). No WSTs were completed in M8d which was to be expected do the language dependency of that instrument. Table 70 Number of Interviews by Starting Mode and Questionnaire (M8d) Total CAPI CAWI Household questionnaire 348 71 277 Screening questionnaire 406 81 325 Individual questionnaire 403 81 322 Cognition test “Wortschatztest“ (WST) - - - Cognition test “Zahlen-und-Zeichen-Test“(ZZT) 57 57 - Biography questionnaire 330 66 264 Youth questionnaire 8 1 7 Competency test “Lust auf DJ” - - - Child questionnaire 34 6 28 Questionnaire “The deceased individual” 4 2 2 Source: infas, own calculation Looking at the response rates for the allocated questionnaires (see Table 71), response is somewhat lower for the refreshment sample M8d compared to the panel samples. Fortunately, the response rate for the biography questionnaire, which is particularly important in refreshment samples, as it must be completed by all adult household members, is especially high with 81.9 percent. Table 71 Response Rates by Questionnaire (M8d) Gross sample Number of interviews Response rate Screening questionnaire 528 406 76.9 Individual questionnaire 528 403 76.3 Cognition test “Wortschatztest“ (WST) 1 - - Cognition test “Zahlen-und-Zeichen-Test“(ZZT) 67 57 85.1 Biography questionnaire 403 330 81.9 Youth questionnaire 18 8 44.4 Competency test “Lust auf DJ” - - - Child questionnaire 47 34 72.3 Questionnaire “The deceased individual” 5 4 80.0 Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 83 Source: infas, own calculation; the gross sample is the target population of participating households. The gross sample size of the additional questionnaires (child questionnaire, biography questionnaire, "the deceased individual") as well as the coqnition tests is constituted of the amount of persons who completed their individual questionnaire and were to fill out the respective additional questionnaire. Questionnaire Duration Table 72 provides an overview of the durations of the individual questionnaire variants for the refreshment sample M8d. The durations of all instruments are about the same as in the panel samples. One outlier is the biography questionnaire which, with an average duration of 30 minutes, is a bit longer than in the other samples. The reason for this is that the biography questionnaire had separate questionnaire modules that were only to be completed by migrants, for example the way to Germany. Since the vast majority of respondents in the M8d sample are migrants, the interview took longer. 2.3.3.4 Questionnaire Duration Table 72 Interview Length by Questionnaire (in Minutes) (M8d) N Mean Median 5th percentile 95th percentile Household questionnaire 348 19.6 17.0 7.9 39.8 Screening questionnaire 406 2.0 1.6 0.7 4.3 Individual questionnaire 395 42.2 38.8 16.7 81.6 Cognition test “Wortschatztest“ (WST) - - - - - Cognition test “Zahlen-und-Zeichen-Test“(ZZT) 57 3.9 3.8 2.8 5.4 Biography questionnaire 322 28.6 26.0 9.4 56.2 Youth questionnaire 8 32.1 29.7 16.1 52.3 Competency test “Lust auf DJ” - - - - - Child questionnaire 34 7.6 6.7 3.1 14.5 Questionnaire “The deceased individual” 4 3.1 3.3 0.9 5.0 Source: infas, own calculation Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 84 2.3.3.5 Interviewing Modes and Languages Table 73 provides information on the modes in which the questionnaires were completed. Compared to the panel samples a much larger proportion of instruments were completed in the CAWI mode which is due to the different survey design in the refreshment sample M8d. Table 73 Interviewing Modes by Questionnaire (M8d) Questionnaire Interviewer-Based Self-Administered Total CAPI CATI CASI CAWI Household questionnaire abs. 348 58 1 3 286 in % 100.0 16.7 0.3 0.9 82.2 Individual questionnaire abs. 403 62 1 5 335 in % 100.0 15.4 0.2 1.2 83.1 Cognition test “Wortschatztest“ (WST) abs. - - - - - in % - - - - - Cognition test “Zahlen-und-ZeichenTest“(ZZT) abs. 57 54 - 3 - in % 100.0 94.7 - 5.3 - Biography questionnaire abs. 330 46 1 5 278 in % 100.0 13.9 0.3 1.5 84.2 Youth questionnaire: birth year between 2007 and 2012 abs. 8 - - 1 7 in % 100.0 - - 12.5 87.5 Competency test “Lust auf DJ” abs. - - - - - in % - - - - - Child questionnaire: birth year between 2013 and 2024 abs. 34 3 - - 31 in % 100.0 8.8 - - 91.2 Questionnaire “The deceased individual” abs. 4 2 - - 2 in % 100.0 50.0 - - 50.0 Source: infas, own calculation As in the panel samples, English, Polish, Bulgarian and Russian was offered in the refreshment sample M8d as the survey language in addition to German. Table 74 shows how often the languages were used in the personal interviews for the adult and adolescent respondents. Almost 40 percent of the adult interviews (38.7 percent) were conducted in English and 4 percent in Russian. Since the vast majority of respondents in the M8d sample are migrants, this can be cited as a reason for the frequent choice of those languages. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 85 Table 74 Interviewing Languages (M8d) German English Polish Bulgarian Russian Total Individual questionnaire abs. 230 156 - - 17 403 in % 57.1 38.7 - - 4.2 100.0 Youth questionnaire abs. 5 3 - - - 8 in % 62.5 37.5 - - - 100.0 Source: infas, own calculation 2.3.3.6 Panel Consent All adult household members in the refreshment sample M8d were asked for their panel consent at the end of their personal interview. Only those respondents who gave the consent will be readdressed for the next wave in 2024. Over 87.5 percent consented. Table 75 Panel Consent (M8d) Household Level abs. in % Gross sample* 393 100.0 Panel consent given 344 87.5 Panel consent refused 49 12.5 Source: infas, own calculation *Respondents who were asked the panel consent question 2.3.3.7 Record Linkage Consent As in the panel samples, consent for the linkage of data from Institute for Employment Research (IAB) or the German Pension Insurance (DRV) was asked for the refreshment sample M8d. 394 respondents in the refreshment sample M8d were asked for their consent to link data from the Institute for Employment Research (see Table 76), and 285 (72.3 percent) gave it. Looking at the DRV-linkage, we see that 394 respondents were asked for their consent and 20 respondents gave it (5.1 percent). Table 76 Consent to Record Linkage (M8d) Individual Level IAB DRV abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample* 394 100.0 394 100.0 Consent given in this survey wave 285 72.3 20 5.1 Consent not given in this survey wave 109 27.7 374 94.9 Source: infas, own calculation *Respondents who were asked the record linkage consent question Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 86 2.4 Interviewer Monitoring Intentional or unintentional misbehaviour by interviewers can occur during the entire course of the interview. In order to be able to identify these interviews as quickly as possible, various pieces of information are collated and evaluated during the fieldwork phase. Interviews are evaluated individually and behaviour is analyzed at interviewer level. The following results are taken into account: − Statistical procedures and ratios for detecting improperly conducted interviews, − Results from written interviewer checks, − results from consultations with the heads of operations and − Evaluations from listening to or recording interviews. Interviewers who are identified as having conducted interviews with anomalies during the course of the fieldwork are contacted by the head of operations and asked to comment or receive individual coaching/retraining. Irrespective of this, the available sample information is compared with the information provided in the interview for all completed interviews. There is also a constant review of the response rate and the course of contact. Instruments are considered anomalous for different reasons, for example if their duration falls below the 5th percentile of the total duration, if the proportion of screens in the instrument whose duration is below the 5th percentile of the screen duration is more than 30 percent or if the interview started and/or ended between 10 pm and 7 am. The proportion of anomalous instruments in all completed instruments is between 0.6 and 85.3 percent for the corresponding interviewers. Overall, 86 interviewers (14.1 percent) had a higher proportion of anomalous instruments than 10 percent, although in most cases this is due to very rapid interviewing. Of those 86 interviewers, only 34 (40 percent) had a total of ten or more anomalous interviews. A total of 302 interviewers, almost 50 percent of all interviewers, had a proportion of anomalous instruments of zero or below one percent. The interviewer with the IDs 19697 was marked as anomalous in the udiflag variable in the method data, as in addition to the control via statistical key figures, further anomalous features were revealed via the audio recording checks or the interviewer control sheets. The interviews conducted by this interviewer were excluded from the final data. Additionally, intracluster correlation coefficients (ICCs) are calculated to account for the amount of variance in a variable, that could be explained by the interviewer-level. Because of the CAPI mode, potential interviewer effects may be confounded by regional effects and it is not possible to disentangle these different effects. The first step in calculating ICCs is to select filter variables (from the individual questionnaire) that affect the length of the questionnaire. ICCs are then calculated for each of these filter variables. ICC-values under 0.05 can generally be seen as unproblematic, which is a very conservative threshold in assessing ICCs. If an ICC value is greater than 0.05, then interviewers are identified that influence the ICC of that particular variable in this way. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 93 Incentive – Prepaid incentive for adult household members (M9-REF): 5 euro – Doorstep-incentive (household level): 2 euro – Adult respondents, born in 2006 or earlier: 20 euro – Adolescent respondents, born between 2007 and 2012: 5 euro Tracking Proactive tracking techniques: – Panel maintenance between survey waves (New Year’s card) – Advance letter to the individuals in the panel sample – Thank-you letter send to all participants with incentive – Free hotline – Study-specific e-mail address – Study website Address research via information – Of the interview households/household members – Of the interviewers – Address factory of the Deutsche Post – Residents' registration offices – Telephone number research – Online address portal Interviewer deployment 245 interviewers from the face-to-face field Interviewer training 7 training events for interviewers with and without experience in the SOEP survey Source: infas 3.1.1 Gross Sample The target group of the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Refugee Survey consists of refugees living in private or collective households, as in student residents or shared accommodation for refugees. Like in the main study, all household members are to be interviewed to get a broader picture of the household’s situation, regardless of whether they are refugees themselves or not. In general, individuals who live together and pay for shared living expenses from one household budget form a household. In shared accommodation, the household includes all family members who are directly related to the specified head of the household and who are jointly accommodated at the time of the survey. As in the main study, the IAB-BAMF-SOEP S Refugee Survey is designed as a dynamic panel. This means that individuals who move into the survey households or are born there are included in the panel and shall also be interviewed. Additionally, persons who move out of the survey households or who do not live in the household for one year or longer will continue to be interviewed. These persons form so-called split households. Only persons who have moved abroad cannot form split households and are not interviewed further. The survey population for the wave 2024 included all household members born in 2006 or earlier. Additionally, all adolescents born between 2007 and 2012 were addressed with the youth questionnaire. Other household members outside the aforementioned birth cohorts were not target persons in this wave and therefore no interview was conducted with them. The gross sample for the 2024 survey consisted of households which participated in the previous wave and of so-called temporary dropouts, namely households which temporarily refused in the previous wave or were not reached during the fieldwork phase. Hard refusals of the 2023 survey were excluded as well as households where all adult household members refused the panel consent. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 94 In total, the gross sample comprised 2,630 households in the subsamples M3-M6, 2,424 households in the subsample M9-REF and 2,267 households in the subsample M9-SUARE. In the subsamples M3-M6, 1,002 households (38.1 percent) were also interviewed in the wave 2023 (repeatedly interviewed households) and 1,628 households (61.9 percent) are considered temporary dropouts (see Table 80). Due to the dynamic panel design, the number of households increased over the course of the field. At the end of the fieldwork for the 2024 survey wave, 149 households were newly added as so-called split households. Table 80 Panel Status of Households Before the Start of the 2024 Survey Wave by Subsample (M3-M6, M9) Household Level Total M3-M6 M9-REF M9-SUARE abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample* 7,321 100.0 2,630 100.0 2,424 100.0 2,267 100.0 Participating households from previous wave 5,693 77.8 1,002 38.1 2,424 100.0 2,267 100.0 Temporary dropouts 1,628 22.2 1,628 61.9 - - - - Source: infas, own calculation *Addresses at the beginning of the field The following tables describe the gross sample on the basis of various characteristics. Looking at household size in Table 81, we see that 27.5 percent of the gross sample consists of 1-person households, and 5 or more individuals live in 23.5 percent of the households, but the composition of the subsamples also differs considerably. The subsamples M3-M6 as well as M9-REF have a high proportion of 1person households as well as large households with 4 or more household members, with more than half of the households in the subsamples M3-M6 being such large households. In contrast, the subsample M9-SUARE is dominated by 2 or 3person households. Table 81 Gross Sample by Household Size and Subsample (M3-M6, M9) Household Size Total M3-M6 M9-REF M9-SUARE abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample* 7,321 100.0 2,630 100.0 2,424 100.0 2,267 100.0 1 2,012 27.5 762 29.0 763 31.5 487 21.5 2 1,284 17.5 260 9.9 281 11.6 743 32.8 3 1,158 15.8 287 10.9 346 14.3 525 23.2 4 1,143 15.6 390 14.8 439 18.1 314 13.9 5+ 1,724 23.5 931 35.4 595 24.5 198 8.7 Source: infas, own calculation *Addresses at the beginning of the field Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 95 The tables below describe the gross sample according to the regional characteristics of federal state and size of the municipality. Table 82 shows that the regional distribution is a little different between the subsamples. The subsample M3-M6 have a higher percentage of households living in Lower Saxony or North-RhineWestphalia while the subsample M9-REF consists of more households living in Hesse or Baden-Wuerttemberg and in the subsample M9-SUARE more households live in Bavaria and Berlin. When looking at the municipality size in Table 83, it can be observed that households in the subsamples M3-M6 and M9-SUARE predominantly live in metropolitan area or other larger cities (100,000 inhabitants and more) with nearly half of the sample in M3-M6 and over 70 percent in M9SUARE. In contrast, the majority of households in the subsample M9-REF live in small to medium-sized cities (5,000 to 50,000 inhabitants). Table 82 Gross Sample by Federal State and Subsample (M3-M6, M9) Household Level Total M3-M6 M9-REF M9-SUARE abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample* 7,321 100.0 2,630 100.0 2,424 100.0 2,267 100.0 SchleswigHolstein 231 3.2 116 4.4 35 1.4 80 3.5 Hamburg 264 3.6 89 3.4 75 3.1 100 4.4 Lower Saxony 730 10.0 307 11.7 228 9.4 195 8.6 Bremen 98 1.3 56 2.1 37 1.5 5 0.2 North RhineWestphalia 2,036 27.8 817 31.1 693 28.6 526 23.2 Hesse 689 9.4 200 7.6 293 12.1 196 8.6 Rhineland Palatinate 300 4.1 98 3.7 93 3.8 109 4.8 Baden-Wuerttemberg 759 10.4 202 7.7 347 14.3 210 9.3 Bavaria 726 9.9 236 9.0 142 5.9 348 15.4 Saarland 131 1.8 74 2.8 31 1.3 26 1.1 Berlin 451 6.2 153 5.8 100 4.1 198 8.7 Brandenburg 117 1.6 59 2.2 29 1.2 29 1.3 MecklenburgWestern Pomerania 122 1.7 29 1.1 58 2.4 35 1.5 Saxony 336 4.6 90 3.4 126 5.2 120 5.3 Saxony-Anhalt 157 2.1 51 1.9 58 2.4 48 2.1 Thuringia 174 2.4 53 2.0 79 3.3 42 1.9 Source: infas, own calculation *Addresses at the beginning of the field Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 96 Table 83 Gross Sample by Municipality Size and Subsample (M3-M6, M9) Household Level Total M3-M6 M9-REF M9-SUARE abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample* 7,321 100.0 2,630 100.0 2,424 100.0 2,267 100.0 fewer than 2,000 inhabitants 62 0.8 25 1.0 20 0.8 17 0.7 2,000 to 5,000 inhabitants 173 2.4 64 2.4 72 3.0 37 1.6 5,000 to 20,000 inhabitants 1,233 16.8 431 16.4 626 25.8 176 7.8 20,000 to 50,000 inhabitants 1,332 18.2 531 20.2 573 23.6 228 10.1 50,000 to 100,000 inhabitants 832 11.4 328 12.5 306 12.6 198 8.7 100,000 to 500,000 inhabitants 1,785 24.4 620 23.6 405 16.7 760 33.5 more than 500,000 inhabitants 1,904 26.0 631 24.0 422 17.4 851 37.5 Source: infas, own calculation *Addresses at the beginning of the field Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 97 3.1.2 Design The mixed-mode design used in the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Refugee Survey in 2024 is presented below (Chapter 3.1.2.1). In addition, the survey instruments used are presented (Chapter 3.1.2.2) so that an insight can be gained into what content was surveyed in 2024. The contact strategy (Chapter 3.1.2.3) is then presented at household and individual level. Finally, this chapter presents information on training and deployment of the interviewers (Chapter 3.1.2.4). 3.1.2.1 Mixed-mode Design The IAB-BAMF-SOEP Refugee Survey used a similar mixed-mode design as the main survey (see Chapter 2.1.2.1), but without the use of paper-based instruments (PAPI) and standard telephone interviews (CATI). In the 2024 wave the sample was split into two tranches, with the field period for the majority of households starting in May. But for a small group of households in the subsample M9-SUARE the field period only started in the beginning of July, as the households in question had only recently taken part in a follow-up online survey between the waves 2023 and 2024 and were given a little break between surveys. The survey of a household started with the recording or updating of the household composition in the so-called household matrix. The updating of the household composition had to be carried out with the head of the household in an interviewer-administrated manner. The main mode for this part of the interview was CAPI. Once the household composition was updated, it was known which persons in the household were to be interviewed and which questionnaires these persons were to receive. For the individual interviews two additional modes were provided in the mixed mode design: If the interviews took place at the target persons' homes, they could also fill out their questionnaires on a tablet brought along by the interviewer (CASI). Alternatively, the questionnaires could be self-administered online (CAWI). In this case, the target persons received their personalized access information for the online questionnaire by mail afterwards. Target persons who could not be reached in the household during the fieldwork phase (e.g. temporary absentees) and those who refused to be interviewed due to "soft reasons for refusal" (no time, no desire, etc.) were offered an option to complete the survey via CAWI. Additionally, a few weeks before the end of the fieldwork phase it was decided to set up a CAWI follow-up for soft refusals or non-contacts at household level, offering the possibility to completely participate online including the household matrix, which so far had to be administered by an interviewer. The aim was to increase the response rate in the 2024 wave and, in particular, to motivate households to participate that would otherwise be lost to the panel. For this measure the CAWI field was extended by two weeks beyond the end of the CAPI field period. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 98 The survey instruments were offered in German, English, Arabic, Farsi, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Russian. To administer the questionnaires in all survey languages, native speaker interviewers were hired. An additional possibility to administer interviews despite a language barrier was the use of the CASI mode, where the respondents could answer the questions in their preferred language. 3.1.2.2 Survey Instruments In the panel samples of the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Refugee Survey 2024, a total of nine computer-assisted instruments were used for the respondents. These were interlinked and controlled in such a way that the assignment of the individual instruments was automated based on the information from the electronic household matrix during the interview, so that each respondent received their individual number and compilation of questionnaires. Additionally, the interviewers received a short questionnaire on the residential environment of the household. The survey started in each household by recording the household composition. This information was only ever collected from one person. This person was most familiar with the needs of the household and therefore had the role of “head of household” for the interview. The composition of the household was used to identify the other individuals who were to be interviewed as part of the study. Table 84 gives an overview of all administered instruments and the respective target persons. Table 84 Overview of Survey Instruments (M3-M6, M9) Questionnaire Target person Modes Languages Household Matrix Head of Household CAPI, (CAWI) German, English, Arabic, Farsi, Turkish, Ukrainian, Russian Household questionnaire Head of Household CAPI, CASI, CAWI German, English, Arabic, Farsi, Turkish, Ukrainian, Russian Screening questionnaire Adult respondent CAPI, CASI, CAWI German, English, Arabic, Farsi, Turkish, Ukrainian, Russian Individual questionnaire (refugee) Adult respondent (refugee) CAPI, CASI, CAWI German, English, Arabic, Farsi, Turkish, Ukrainian, Russian Individual questionnaire (non-refugee) Adult respondent (non-refugee) CAPI, CASI, CAWI German, English Biography questionnaire First-time adult respondent CAPI, CASI, CAWI German, English, Arabic, Farsi, Turkish, Ukrainian, Russian Gap questionnaire Adult respondents, who were not interviewed in 2023 CAPI, CASI, CAWI German, English, Arabic, Farsi, Turkish, Ukrainian, Russian Child questionnaire: birth year 2013 to 2024 Adult respondents CAPI, CASI, CAWI German, English, Arabic, Farsi, Turkish, Ukrainian, Russian Youth questionnaire: birth year 2007 to 2012 Adolescent respondents CAPI, CASI, CAWI German, English, Arabic, Farsi, Turkish, Ukrainian, Russian Residential environment questionnaire Interviewers CAPI German Source: infas Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 99 Household Matrix The composition of a household is recorded using an electronic tool (household matrix). This matrix shows an overview of all persons named in the last interview. This overview was used to check with the head of household who still lives in the household, who no longer lives there or who may have moved in. In addition to the composition of the household, the relationships between the household members were also updated and completed. If children born in 2013 or later lived in the household, it was determined who (usually one parent) would later receive the questions about the child or children. In addition, for adolescents that were between 12 and 16 years old, parental consent was obtained, so that they could also be interviewed. Household Questionnaire The household questionnaire asked for information on all aspects of the household and is answered by the head of household. Different questions are asked about households living in private housing and households living in shared accommodations. The topics of the household questionnaire were: – Housing situation – Income and expenditure – Children and care Individual Questionnaire (including Screening) The individual questionnaire is used annually for all adults, which means it addressed all household members born in 2006 or earlier in the 2024 wave. In the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Refugee Survey two versions of the questionnaire were administered: One for refugees with special questions on origin, legal status, and language skills. Adult household members, who are not refugees themselves, received the individual questionnaire designed for the main study. This group included all persons who were born in Germany, did not enter Germany as refugees, or were not older than 16 at the time of their arrival to Germany. Since the wave 2024, a newly programmed screening questionnaire was used to determine which version of the individual questionnaire the respondent should receive. The topics covered by both individual questionnaires include: – Current life situation – Satisfaction and emotions – Education – Employment – Health – Political orientation – Attitudes and opinions – Origin and family Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 100 In addition, the individual questionnaire for refugees included questions about their legal status, stay intentions, and participation in integration and language courses. As part of the individual interview the respondents are also asked for their consent to link the survey data to administrative data available at the Institute for Employment Research (IAB) and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). The IAB data includes information on employment history, phases of unemployment and participation in different programs during unemployment. The BAMF data includes data on integration courses in which the respondents may have participated. Additionally, all adult household members, who did not yet receive the question in a previous wave, were actively asked for their panel consent at the end of the individual questionnaire. Only those respondents who gave the consent will be readdressed for the next wave in 2025. Temporary dropouts in 2024 will be asked for their consent in the following wave. Biography Questionnaire The biography questionnaire is used only once in total per target person to collect important biographical data. It was aimed at new adult household members born in 2006 or earlier. In addition, it was directed at household members who had not previously answered this questionnaire in previous waves or who were completing the individual questionnaire for the first time (e.g., because they had reached or would reach the age of 18 this year). In the 2024 survey wave, the biography questionnaire was redesigned so that it could now be used both in the main study and in the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Refugee Survey. Which questions are received by the respondents is determined by the group assigned in the screening questionnaire. Topics of the biography questionnaire are: – Nationality and origin – Route to Germany – Occupation – Childhood and family – Education – Marriage and partnership Part of the biography questionnaire is also the recording of educational qualifications obtained abroad. For this, the established CAMCES-tool for computer-assisted measurement and coding of educational qualifications in surveys is used. Gap Questionnaire The gap questionnaire addresses all target persons who did not complete an individual questionnaire in the last survey wave in 2023 but were scheduled to do so. It serves to close the temporal "gap" from the last interview to the current survey wave. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 101 The topics of the gap questionnaire are: – Changes in employment – Social status – Educational attainment – Changes in family environment Child Questionnaire The child questionnaire was answered by a parent rather than by the children themselves and asks questions about all children younger than 12 years old (born in 2013 or later). Topics of the child questionnaire include (but are not limited to): – Pregnancy history and birth – Health status of the child – Personality of the child – Development, language and behaviour – School and personal environment of the child – Care situation Youth Questionnaire In 2024 the youth questionnaire for adolescent household members addressed all adolescents born between 2007 and 2012 (12 to 17 years old). For all adolescents that were below 17 years old, parental consent was required. The topics of the youth questionnaire differs according to age, but overall covers the following areas: – Origin – Attitudes and opinions – Relationships and social environment – Leisure and sports – School, training and career – Future plans – Health and well-being – Self-image – Life situation and satisfaction – Job and money – Political identity Residential Environment Questionnaire As in the main study, information on the residential environment was also obtained from the interviewers. They were asked to answer eight questions on the residential environment for each household they worked with, regardless of whether an interview with the household could be completed or not. If the household lived in shared accommodation for refugees, additional questions about the accommodation were asked at the end of the interview with the head of household. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 102 3.1.2.3 Contacting and Communication Prior to being contacted by an interviewer, all household members listed in the panel register who turned 18 in the survey year (in 2024 all household members born 2006 or earlier) received an advance letter to announce the start of the new survey wave. Enclosed with the advance letter the target persons received data protection information and a study flyer. As in 2023, the study flyer not only contained basic information on the survey but also some scientific results from the previous waves to illustrate the importance and value of the study for improving the knowledge about the lives of refugees in Germany. Furthermore, as introduced with the letter for non-contacts in the 2023 wave the household members were asked for an update of contact data as well as information about their availability and their language skills to make it easier for the interviewers to establish contact. The advance letter was accompanied by a short e-mail to boost feedback. The accompanying e-mail was sent to all adult household members with a valid e-mail address. After receiving the letter, the households were contacted by an interviewer. If a valid telephone number was available, the interviewer contacted the household by telephone. If no valid telephone number was available or the telephone contact attempts were unsuccessful, the interviewer made personal contact with the household, to schedule an interview appointment. To help the interviewers establish contact and schedule an interview with the household, they were given some supporting materials. Contact cards for example could be dropped into the mailbox, thus establishing initial contact if the household was not at home when attempting to contact them in person. To overcome potential language barriers the interviewers in the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Refugee Survey also received contact sheets in all survey languages, which explained the central background of the study to the target persons. The goal was to obtain the current telephone number of the target person so that an interviewer with the appropriate language skills could subsequently contact that person. To prevent access problems in shared accommodation for refugees, the interviewers were also provided with a letter of support from the BAMF. This could then be presented to the relevant shelter management if necessary. Field Measures During the fieldwork phase several accompanying measures were carried out, in an effort to increase response rate. Most of these measures were part of the general mixed mode and communication design also implemented in the main study (see Chapter 2.1.2.3). This included the following send-outs: 1) Letter for non-contacts on the household level, sent to household heads which could not be reached by an interviewer and requesting a contact data update. 2) Letter or e-mail with access information for the online survey on the individual level for respondents wishing to switch to the CAWI mode. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 109 Looking at the type of household in Table 87, 68.3 percent of the respondents in the previous wave took part again. Of the temporary dropouts in the previous wave (non-participating households in 2023) 26.8 percent were interviewed again as well as 48 of the new split households (32.2 percent). The highest response rate could be observed in the subsample M9-SUARE with 79.4 percent, followed by the subsample M9-REF with 57.8 percent. Households in the subsamples M3-M6 were hardest to re-interview with a response rate of only 41.1 percent. This was mostly due to the high share of temporary dropouts in these subsamples, which are generally harder to re-interview. This also led to a high share of soft refusals (33.3 percent) and permanent refusals (9.8 percent) in the subsamples M3-M6. In contrast, the number of households that could not be reached by an interviewer (HAAPOR code 2.2; 3.5 percent) declined compared to the previous wave, as well as the share of households that were unable to locate due to missing or outdated contact information (HAAPOR code 3.18; 9.0 percent). When looking at the non-response of households in these subsamples M9-REF and M9-SUARE it is striking that the rates of temporary and final dropouts are twice as high in the subsample M9-REF than in M9-SUARE, although both subsamples have similar prerequisites with the 2024 wave being the second wave for all those households. This difference is created by a much higher refusal rate (soft and permanently) in the subsample M9-REF, with the main reasons for refusal being "no time" and "no interest". Contact Effort Over the entire fieldwork phase, the households in the samples M3-M6 and M9 were contacted an average of 4.0 times by interviewers (see Table 89). To obtain an interview with a household an average number of 4.0 contacts was necessary. For households that could not be reached until the end of the fieldwork phase the average number of contacts was 5.4. Table 89 Number of Interviewer Contacts by Field Result (HAAPOR Codes) (M3M6, M9) N Mean 25th percentile 75th percentile Total 7,470 4.0 2 5 Interview [1.0] 4,371 4.0 2 5 Non-contact [2.2] 164 5.4 3 7 Soft refusal [2.351] 1,797 4.4 2 6 Source: infas, own calculation Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 110 Effects of Field Measures at Household Level As described in chapter 3.1.2.3, several field measures were implemented in the 2024 survey, in an effort to increase response. The effects of the measures implemented at the household level are described in the following. Contact Data Update in Advance Letter For the first time in 2024, the household members were already asked for an update of contact data as well as information about their availability and their language skills in the advance letter to make it easier for the interviewers to establish contact. The advance letter was accompanied by a short e-mail to boost feedback, where a valid e-mail address was available. This was the case for around 80 percent of the subsamples M9-REF and M9-SUARE and just over 40 percent of the samples M3-M6. The highest rates of contact data updates were registered in the subsample M9SUARE with 71.9 percent of households with a valid e-mail address delivering an update and 68.5 percent of households without a valid e-mail address. Among households with a valid e-mail address in the other subsamples M3-M6 and M9REF only around 50 percent delivered an update. Among households without a valid e-mail address the update rate dropped even more to 34.2 percent in the subsample M9-REF and 20.7 percent in the subsamples M3-M6. Striking in this context is, that no notable effect of the 5-euro pre-paid incentive could be observed, which the subsample M9-REF received with the advance letter to boost the general response in the 2024 survey wave but also the contact data updates. Table 90 Results for Contact Data Update in Advance Letter at Household Level (M3-M6) Advance letter Total Household interview (matrix) completed Household interview (matrix) not completed abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Households receiving letter and accompanying e-mail Gross sample 1,140 100.0 666 58.4 474 41.6 No update contact data 549 100.0 98 17.9 451 82.1 Contact data updated 591 100.0 568 96.1 23 3.9 Households receiving only the letter (no e-mail address available) Gross sample 1,489 100.0 425 28.5 1,064 71.5 No update contact data 1,181 100.0 123 10.4 1,058 89.6 Contact data updated 308 100.0 302 98.1 6 1.9 Source: infas, own calculation Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 111 Tables 90 to 92 show the results of the 2024 survey wave for the three subsamples. Nearly all households which updated their contact data could be interviewed in the field (95 to 99 percent). But for households without contact data update the response rate in the field differed considerably between the subsamples: In the subsamples M3-M6 only 10 to 18 percent of these households could be interviewed, whereas the response rate was much higher in the subsample M9-REF with 24 to 29 percent and even higher in the subsample M9-SUARE with 33 to 37 percent. Table 91 Results for Contact Data Update in Advance Letter at Household Level (M9-REF) Advance letter Total Household interview (matrix) completed Household interview (matrix) not completed abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Households receiving letter and accompanying e-mail Gross sample 1,944 100.0 1,175 60.4 769 39.6 No update contact data 1,009 100.0 290 28.7 719 71.3 Contact data updated 935 100.0 885 94.7 50 5.3 Households receiving only the letter (no e-mail address available) Gross sample 479 100.0 237 49.5 242 50.5 No update contact data 315 100.0 74 23.5 241 76.5 Contact data updated 164 100.0 163 99.4 1 0.6 Source: infas, own calculation Table 92 Results for Contact Data Update in Advance Letter at Household Level (M9-SUARE) Advance letter Total Household interview (matrix) completed Household interview (matrix) not completed abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Households receiving letter and accompanying e-mail Gross sample 1,750 100.0 1,410 80.6 340 19.4 No update contact data 491 100.0 181 36.9 310 63.1 Contact data updated 1,259 100.0 1,229 97.6 30 2.4 Households receiving only the letter (no e-mail address available) Gross sample 486 100.0 374 77.0 112 23.0 No update contact data 153 100.0 51 33.3 102 66.7 Contact data updated 333 100.0 323 97.0 10 3.0 Source: infas, own calculation Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 112 Letter for Non-contacts Letters for non-contacts on the household level were sent to household heads in the beginning of October which could not be reached by an interviewer until then. The letter requested a contact data update. In total, 1,665 households received such a letter and 1,005 of those also the accompanying e-mail (see Table 93). Of the households receiving the letter and the accompanying e-mail 413 (41.1 percent) updated their contact data and of the households receiving only the letter because no valid e-mail address was available 171 (25.9 percent) delivered an update. This could mean that the households are more likely to respond to an e-mail but also that motivated households give out more e-mail addresses. The second assumption is also supported by the following finding that among households without updated contact data those with a valid e-mail address are more likely to be interviewed (13.5 percent) than those without a valid e-mail address (9.4 percent). In contrast, among households with updated contact data those without a valid e-mail address were nearly all interviewed afterwards (98.8 percent), whereas the response rate among households with an e-mail address was only 87.2 percent. Table 93 Results for Letter for Non-contacts at Household Level (M3-M6, M9) Letter for Non-contacts Total Household interview (matrix) completed Household interview (matrix) not completed abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Households receiving letter and accompanying e-mail Gross sample 1,005 100.0 440 43.8 565 56.2 No update contact data 592 100.0 80 13.5 512 86.5 Contact data updated 413 100.0 360 87.2 53 12.8 Households receiving only the letter (no e-mail address available) Gross sample 660 100.0 215 32.6 445 67.4 No update contact data 489 100.0 46 9.4 443 90.6 Contact data updated 171 100.0 169 98.8 2 1.2 Source: infas, own calculation Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 113 CAWI Follow up A total of 1,553 households were contacted as part of the CAWI follow-up at the end of the fieldwork phase. 310 households subsequently participated in CAWI (14.3 percent), of which in 203 households at least one personal interview was completed in addition to the household interview (9.4 percent). At 14.9 percent, the response rate for non-contact households was slightly higher than among refusal conversion households with 14.0 percent. In the refusal conversion, however, there were slightly more households where at least one personal interview was completed in addition to the household interview (see Tables 98 and 99). The highest response rate in both target groups was in the subsample M9-SUARE, with 27 to 30 percent households completed and 15 to 20 percent of households with at least one personal interview in addition to the household interview. In the subsample M9-REF response lay between 15 and 19 percent and in the subsamples M3-M6 only between 6 to 7 percent. In the subsamples M3-M6 and M9SUARE the response rate was higher among the refusal conversion households, whereas in the subsample M9-REF the response was higher among the non-contact households. Table 94 Results for CAWI-Follow-up – Refusal Conversion Households (M3-M6, M9) CAWI Follow-up Total M3-M6 M9-REF M9-SUARE abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Total 1,553 100.0 724 100.0 551 100.0 278 100.0 Household interview (matrix) completed 218 14.0 51 7.0 85 15.4 82 29.5 Of which: Households with household interview and at least one individual interview: 145 9.3 36 5.0 53 9.6 56 20.1 Household interview (matrix) not completed 1,335 86.0 673 93.0 466 84.6 196 70.5 Source: infas, own calculation Table 95 Results for CAWI-Follow-up – Non-Contact Households (M3-M6, M9) CAWI Follow-up Total M3-M6 M9-REF M9-SUARE abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Total 616 100.0 287 100.0 192 100.0 137 100.0 Household interview (matrix) completed 92 14.9 18 6.3 37 19.3 37 27.0 Of which: Households with household interview and at least one individual interview 56 9.1 10 3.5 25 13.0 21 15.3 Household interview (matrix) not completed 524 85.1 269 93.7 155 80.7 100 73.0 Source: infas, own calculation Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 114 Table 96 clearly shows that households that received an accompanying e-mail took part in the survey significantly more often and that in significantly more of these households at least one personal interview was completed in addition to the household interview than was the case for households without an accompanying e-mail. In the refusal conversion, 19.8 percent of households with an e-mail address could be completed and among non-contact households 20.8 percent. In contrast, only 6 to 7 percent of households without accompanying e-mail could be completed in both groups. This effect can be attributed to two different mechanisms. On the one hand, households that have given a valid e-mail address over the last few years and have updated it in the meantime are generally more willing to participate. Secondly, the accompanying e-mail also has a reminder effect, which is not the case with a purely postal approach, and it makes it easier for respondents to access the questionnaire thanks to the direct link to the questionnaire. Table 96 Results for CAWI-Follow-up by Target Group and Accompanying E-Mail (M3-M6, M9) CAWI Follow-up Total Conversion without e-mail Conversion with e-mail Non-contacts without e-mail Non-contacts with e-mail abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Total 2,169 100.0 622 100.0 931 100.0 265 100.0 351 100.0 Household interview (matrix) completed 310 14.3 34 5.5 184 19.8 19 7.2 73 20.8 Of which: Households with household interview and at least one individual interview 201 9.3 27 4.3 118 12.7 8 3.0 48 13.7 Household interview (matrix) not completed 1,859 85.7 588 94.5 747 80.2 246 92.8 278 79.2 Source: infas, own calculation Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 115 3.1.3.2 Participation at Individual Level The following Table 97 describes the results of the 2024 wave at individual level according to the SOEP-PAAPOR classification, broken down by subsample. Of the 15,012 individuals to be interviewed, 6,889 completed an interview. Of these, 378 participants did not complete an assigned household or gap questionnaire resulting in a partial interview (2.5 percent). This corresponds to a response rate of 45.9 percent. The majority of non-participants can be categorized as temporary dropouts (44.8 percent). 9.3 percent of the gross sample dropped out of the survey permanently. The most common reason for non-participation is soft refusal (no interest, no time, etc.). As on the household level, it can also be seen on the individual level that the share of non-response and refusal is highest in the subsamples M3-M6, followed by M9-REF and by far the lowest in the subsample M9-SUARE. Table 97 Participation at Individual Level by Subsample (PAAPOR Codes) (M3-M6, M9) Individual Level Total M3-M6 M9-REF M9-SUARE abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample 15,012 100.0 5,862 100.0 4,832 100.0 4,318 100.0 Interview [1.0] 6,889 45.9 1,917 32.7 2,085 43.1 2,887 66.9 Complete [1.1; 1.12] 6,511 43.4 1,697 28.9 1,992 41.2 2,822 65.4 Partial [1.21; 1.22] 378 2.5 220 3.8 93 1.9 65 1.5 Non-Interview [2.0] 8,123 54.1 3,945 67.3 2,747 56.9 1,431 33.1 Temporary dropout 6,721 44.8 3,238 55.2 2,281 47.2 1,202 27.8 Break-off [2.12] 103 0.7 33 0.6 37 0.8 33 0.8 Non-contact [2.20, 2.21; 2.22] 1,107 7.4 413 7.0 418 8.7 276 6.4 Temporary physically or mentally unable/incompetent [2.321; 2.323] 166 1.1 84 1.4 51 1.1 31 0.7 Language Problem [2.331] 136 0.9 72 1.2 38 0.8 26 0.6 Soft refusal [2.351] 4,471 29.8 2,223 37.9 1,536 31.8 712 16.5 New address [2.4] 37 0.2 9 0.2 14 0.3 14 0.3 Unable to locate address [3.18] 701 4.7 404 6.9 187 3.9 110 2.5 Final Dropout 1,402 9.3 707 12.1 466 9.6 229 5.3 Permanent refusal [2.111] 1,210 8.1 637 10.9 438 9.1 135 3.1 Dead [2.31] 8 0.1 3 0.1 - - 5 0.1 Permanently physically or mentally unable/incompetent [2.322; 2.324] 48 0.3 32 0.5 6 0.1 10 0.2 Moved abroad [4.2] 117 0.8 25 0.4 16 0.3 76 1.8 Household dissolved [4.3] 19 0.1 10 0.2 6 0.1 3 0.1 Source: infas, own calculation Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 116 PUNR – Partial Unit Non-response Partial unit non-response describes the situation where some but not all household members eligible and selected for the individual interviews have been successfully surveyed. A household is considered completed when all adult household members have been interviewed, i.e. complete personal interview has been conducted and the head of the household has answered the household questionnaire. In 2024, the PUNR dropped to 34.7 percent compared to 45.7 percent in 2023. Subsample M9-SUARE has the lowest PUNR at 26.5 percent, while the subsamples M3M6 and M9-REF range around 40 percent (see Table 98). Table 98 Partial Unit Non-response by Subsample (M3-M6, M9) Household Level Total M3-M6 M9-REF M9-SUARE abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample* 2,681 100.0 753 100.0 820 100.0 1,108 100.0 Household partly completed (PUNR) 929 34.7 294 39.0 341 41.6 294 26.5 Household fully completed 1,752 65.3 459 61.0 479 58.4 814 73.5 Source: infas, own calculation *Share of households with more than one adult household member. The more individuals living in a household, the more difficult it is to fully complete the household. As the number of members increases, the proportion of fully completed household decreases continuously. Among two person households, 73.4 percent were fully completed; this figure drops to 38.8 percent with four or more members (see Table 99). Table 99 Partial Unit Non-response by Size of Household (M3-M6, M9) Household Level Total 2 person household 3 person household 4 or more person household abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % abs. in % Gross sample* 2,681 100.0 1,850 100.0 496 100.0 335 100.0 Household partly completed (PUNR) 929 34.7 492 26.6 232 46.8 205 61.2 Household fully completed 1,752 65.3 1,358 73.4 264 53.2 130 38.8 Source: infas, own calculation *Share of households with more than one adult household member. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 117 Effects of Field Measures at Individual Level As at the household level, several field measures were implemented at the individual level, whose effects are described in the following. Switch to CAWI All respondents wishing to answer the questionnaires online received a letter or an e-mail with access information to the online survey (CAWI switch). These CAWI switch letters or e-mails were sent to 600 adult household members and 135 adolescents (see Table 100) throughout the field period. With 51 to 52 percent the total CAWI participation was similar between adults and adolescents. All respondents who did not complete the online survey promptly after the switch letter were sent a follow-up letter two weeks later. After the reminder the response rate increased by 15 (adults) to 20 percentage points (adolescents) until the end of the fieldwork phase. Table 100 Results for Switch to CAWI at Individual Level (M3-M6, M9) Switch to CAWI Adult participants (born up to 2006) Adolescents (born 2007 to 2012) abs. in % abs. in % Completed prior to follow-up letter 214 35.7 43 31.9 Completed until end of fieldwork phase 306 51.0 70 51.9 Gross Sample 600 100.0 135 100.0 Source: infas, own calculation Refusal Conversion and letter for non-contacts at individual level Additionally, soft refusals and non-contacts on the individual level were sent a letter with access information to the online survey at two points in the course of the fieldwork (mid-October and mid-November). In total, 497 adult household members and 97 adolescents received a refusal conversion letter and 636 adults as well as 128 adolescents a letter for non-contacts. Table 101 Results for Refusal Conversion at Individual Level (M3-M6, M9) Refusal conversion (CAWI) Adult participants (born up to 2006) Adolescents (born 2007 to 2012) abs. in % abs. in % Total 497 100.0 97 100.0 Completed in CAWI 56 11.3 10 10.3 Completed in other mode 4 0.8 - - Not completed 437 87.9 87 89.7 Source: infas, own calculation In the refusal conversion 10 to 11 percent of the invited adults and adolescents participated online (see Table 101). When looking at the non-contacts, online Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 118 participation was similar among adults, but higher among adolescents with 18.8 percent (Table 102). Here it can also be seen that the parallel further contact by the interviewer was important, because even more interviews could be completed in other survey modes (13.2 percent of adults and 28.9 percent of adolescents). Table 102 Results for Letter for Non-contacts at Individual Level (M3-M6, M9) Letter for Non-contacts Adult participants (born up to 2006) Adolescents (born 2007 to 2012) abs. in % abs. in % Total 636 100.0 128 100.0 Completed in CAWI 65 10.2 24 18.8 Completed in other mode 84 13.2 37 28.9 Not completed 487 76.6 67 52.3 Source: infas, own calculation CAWI Follow-up In the CAWI follow-up at the end of the fieldwork phase, online participation was higher compared to the results of the letters for soft refusals and non-contacts described above, although the addressed households also fell in these groups of soft refusals or non-contacts. Among persons receiving only a letter the response rate lay between 21.8 percent for adolescents and 24.8 percent for adults (see Table 103). This response rate doubled for adults with an available e-mail address, who received an accompanying mail. This same effect could be observed on the household level. Table 103 Results for CAWI-Follow-up at Individual Level (M3-M6, M9) CAWI Follow-up Adult participants (born up to 2006) Adolescents (born 2007 to 2012) abs. in % abs. in % Persons receiving letter and accompanying e-mail Total 98 100.0 Completed in CAWI 49 50.0 Completed in other mode - - Not completed 49 50.0 Persons receiving only the letter (no e-mail address available) Total 121 100.0 78 100.0 Completed in CAWI 30 24.8 17 21.8 Completed in other mode 5 4.1 1 1.3 Not completed 86 71.1 60 76.9 Source: infas, own calculation Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 125 3.2 Interviewer Monitoring As in the main study, all interviews are evaluated by infas throughout the field period and potential misbehavior is analyzed at interviewer level. The indicators considered here are the same as in the main study: statistical indicators based on the net data, especially durations, feedback from respondents and supervisors as well as recordings of interviews and intracluster correlation coefficients (ICCs). For more details see Chapter 2.4. Interviewers who are found to have conducted interviews with anomalies during the course of the fieldwork are contacted by the head of operations and asked to comment or receive individual coaching/retraining. Irrespective of this, the available sample information is compared with the information provided in the interview for all completed interviews. There is also a constant review of the response rate and the course of contact. The proportion of anomalous instruments in all completed instruments lays between 0.0 and 58.3 percent for the corresponding interviewers. A total of 95 interviewers had a proportion of anomalous instruments of zero or below one percent. Overall, 23 interviewers had a proportion of anomalous instruments of 10 percent or higher, although in most cases this is due to very rapid interviewing. Additionally, one interviewer (ID 21649) was identified as critical since there were substantiated doubts about the validity of his or her interviews (regarding two households). The collaboration was ended immediately and all questionnaires administered by this interviewer were excluded from the final data delivery. In the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Refugee Survey further analyses are carried out by the IAB. The IAB interviewer monitoring focusses on interview durations and a range of data quality indicators such as answer patterns and item nonresponse. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 126 3.3 Data Delivery As in the main study, bi-weekly field reports were delivered throughout the fieldwork phase to illustrate the progress of the fieldwork. The survey data was delivered in two interim data deliveries during the fieldwork phase and one final data delivery after the end of the field phase. The first interim data delivery contained uncleaned net data and preliminary methodological and gross data. The second interim data delivery, containing uncleaned and enriched net data as well as preliminary methodological and gross data. The final data delivery contained uncleaned and enriched net data as well as the final versions of methodological and gross data. Additionally, corresponding infas360 geodata was included The delivered datasets are listed in detail in the following Table 113. A detailed description of data cleaning and processing in all subsamples can be found in Chapter 2.5.1. Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Page 127 Table 113 Data Delivery (M3-M9) Data set Description Gross data soep-core-2024-hbrutto.dta Gross data set household sample soep-core-2024-pbrutto.dta Gross data set individual sample soep-core-2024-hhmatrix.dta Data set household matrix soep-core-2024-relmatrix.dta Data set relationship matrix soep-core-2024-infas360.dta Geodata from the infas360 dataset soep-core-2024-microm.dta Geodata Microm soep-core-2024-microm-koordinaten.dta Geo-coordinate of the residential address based on Microm Net data soep-core-2024-hh-ref Household questionnaire (refugee) soep-core-2024-scf-2 Screening questionnaire soep-core-2024-p-ref Individual questionnaire (refugee) soep-core-2024-pe2 Individual questionnaire (non-refugee) soep-core-2024-ll-2 Biography questionnaire soep-core-2024-camces CAMCES module soep-core-2024-fluchtroute Flight Route module soep-core-2024-l2 Gap questionnaire soep-core-2024-ki-2 Child questionnaire soep-core-2024-ju-2 Youth questionnaire Methodological data soep-core-2024-contact Contact history data set soep-core-2024-instrumentation Instrumentation data set soep-core-2024-intband Interviewer data set soep-core-2024-kontext Context data set soep-core-2024-wuma Data set residential environment questionnaire Time stamp data sets (n = 10) Time stamp data sets soep-core-2024-qlogeachlog Language change data set Source: infas Attachment Page 1 Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Attachment 1 SOEP-CORE 3 1.1 Advance Letter and Thank-you Letter 3 1 Advance Letter Panel CAPI 3 2 Advance Letter Panel M8 CAPI (Head of Household) 5 3 Advance Letter Panel M8 CAWI (Head of Household) 7 4 Advance Letter Panel M8 CAWI Cohorts up to 2006 (Other Household Member) 9 5 Advance Letter Panel M8 CAWI Cohorts 2007-2012 (Other Household Member) 11 6 Advance Letter Refreshment Sample S CAWI Pre-Recruitment 13 7 Advance Letter Refreshment Sample M10 CAWI Pre-Recruitment 15 8 Advance Letter Refreshment Sample M8d CAPI 19 9 Advance Letter Refreshment Sample M8d CAWI 21 10 Thank-you Letter Cohorts up to 2006 25 11 Thank-you Letter M8 Cohorts up to 2006 28 12 Thank-you Letter M8d Screenout Cohorts up to 2006 31 13 Thank-you Letter Cohorts 2007-2012 32 1.2 Fieldwork Measures 33 1 Letter after Mode-Switch CAWI 33 2 E-Mail after Mode-Switch CAWI 35 3 Follow-up Letter Pre-Recruitment 36 4 Refusal Conversion Letter 38 5 Letter for Non-Contact Households 40 6 Follow-up Letter Drop-off Working Time 41 1.3 Further Documents 42 1 Data Protection Statement Panel A-R 42 2 Data Protection Statement Panel M1, M2, M7, M8a, M8b, M8c 44 3 Data Protection Statement Refreshment Sample S 46 4 Data Protection Statement Refreshment Sample M10 48 5 Data Protection Statement Refreshment Sample M8d 50 6 Study Flyer Panel 52 7 Study Flyer Refreshment Samples S, M10, M8d 53 8 Information Sheet for Record Linkage of DRV Data 54 9 Consent Form for Record Linkage of DRV Data 55 10 Information Sheet for Carbon Footprint 56 11 IGEL Postcard 57 2 SOEP-REF/SUARE 58 2.1 Advance Letter and Thank-you Letter 58 1 Advance Letter M3-M6 and M9-SUARE 58 2 Advance Letter M9-REF 60 3 Accompanying E-Mail for Advance Letter 62 4 Thank-you Letter Cohorts up to 2006 63 5 Thank-you Letter Cohorts 2007-2012 65 Attachment Page 2 Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 2.2 Fieldwork Measures 66 1 Letter after Mode-Switch 66 2 E-Mail after Mode-Switch 67 3 Follow-up Letter Mode-Switch 68 4 Follow-up E-Mail Mode-Switch 69 5 Refusal Conversion Letter 70 6 Letter for Non-Contact Persons 71 7 Letter for Non-Contact Households 72 8 Accompanying E-Mail for Non-Contact Households 73 9 CAWI Follow-up Refusal Conversion Letter Households 74 10 Accompanying E-Mail for CAWI Follow-up Refusal Conversion Letter Households 75 11 CAWI Follow-up Letter for Non-Contact Households 76 12 Accompanying E-Mail for CAWI Follow-up Letter for Non-Contact House-holds 77 13 CAWI Follow-up Letter for Other Household Members 78 14 Accompanying E-Mail for CAWI Follow-up Letter for Other Household Members 79 2.3 Further Documents 80 1 Data Protection Statement 80 2 Study Flyer REF 82 3 Study Flyer SUARE 83 4 Letter of Support BAMF 84 5 Information Sheet for Record Linkage of BAMF Data 86 6 Consent Form for Record Linkage of BAMF Data 88 7 Subsample Overarching Material 89 8 Contact Card/ Message Card 89 3 Measures for Panel Maintenance 91 1 Birthday Card 91 2 New Year’s Card 93 Attachment Page 3 Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 infas, Postfach 240101, 53154 Bonn *7710/LFD* Anrede Name Anschrift PLZ Ort Bonn, Monat 2024 Sehr geehrte Frau …/Sehr geehrter Herr …, wir sind schon aufgeregt, denn es ist wieder Zeit: Unsere Studie „Leben in Deutschland“ geht in die nächste Runde, und wir laden Sie ganz herzlich ein, auch in diesem Jahr wieder mit dabei zu sein. <IF CO2-Beiblatt = 0> „Leben in Deutschland“ gibt es schon seit 1984, und mittlerweile werden jedes Jahr im Rahmen der Studie über 22.000 Haushalte befragt. Hinter diesen auf den ersten Blick nüchternen Fakten verbirgt sich etwas ganz Besonderes. Denn bereits seit 40 Jahren bildet die Studie die gesellschaftlichen Entwicklungen in Deutschland mit einer einzigartigen Genauigkeit ab. Dank ihr werden Politik, Forschung und Öffentlichkeit besser darüber informiert, unter welchen Bedingungen die Menschen in Deutschland leben. Gerade weil es die Studie schon so lange gibt und sie so umfangreich ist, liefert sie eine wertvolle Datenquelle für tausende Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftlern weltweit. Schauen Sie doch einmal in den beigelegten Flyer für ein paar Beispiele, was zwischenzeitlich mithilfe von „Leben in Deutschland" herausgefunden werden konnte. <IF CO2-Beiblatt = 1> „Leben in Deutschland“ gibt es schon seit 1984, und mittlerweile werden jedes Jahr im Rahmen der Studie über 22.000 Haushalte befragt. Hinter diesen auf den ersten Blick nüchternen Fakten verbirgt sich etwas ganz Besonderes. Denn bereits seit 40 Jahren bildet die Studie die gesellschaftlichen Entwicklungen in Deutschland mit einer einzigartigen Genauigkeit ab. Dank ihr werden Politik, Forschung und Öffentlichkeit besser darüber informiert, unter welchen Bedingungen die Menschen in Deutschland leben. Gerade weil es die Studie schon so lange gibt und sie so umfangreich ist, liefert sie eine wertvolle Datenquelle für tausende Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftlern weltweit. Schauen Sie doch einmal in den beigelegten Flyer und auf das Beiblatt zum Thema CO₂-Fußabdruck für ein paar Beispiele, was zwischenzeitlich mithilfe von „Leben in Deutschland" herausgefunden werden konnte. Das alles ist natürlich nur möglich, weil Menschen wie Sie „Leben in Deutschland“ unterstützen. Dafür möchten wir uns in diesem Jahr noch einmal ganz ausdrücklich bei Ihnen bedanken. Als kleine Aufmerksamkeit von uns finden Sie anbei 5 Euro. infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft GmbH Postfach 240101 53154 Bonn Tel. 0800/66 77 876 [email protected] www.leben-in-deutschland.de 7710/E_P_DE/2024 < IAB-Logo> 1 SOEP-CORE 1.1 Advance Letter and Thank-you Letter 1 Advance Letter Panel CAPI Attachment Page 4 Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Seite 2 In den kommenden Tagen wird eine Interviewerin oder ein Interviewer von infas mit Ihnen Kontakt aufnehmen, um einen passenden Termin für die Befragung zu vereinbaren. Um die Terminfindung zu erleichtern, würden wir uns sehr freuen, wenn Sie uns vorab mitteilen könnten, wann wir Sie am besten erreichen können. Das können Sie ganz einfach über den folgenden Link online tun: <URLCAWI2> Geben Sie dort zum Start bitte das folgende Passwort ein: <PWDBLOCK2> oder scannen Sie einfach den QR-Code auf der rechten Seite. Als kleines Dankeschön erhalten Sie von uns nach dem Interview weitere <Incentive> Euro per Post. Freiwillig, anonym und datengeschützt. „Leben in Deutschland“ wird nach den Bestimmungen der Datenschutzgrundverordnung (DSGVO) und des Bundesdatenschutzgesetzes durchgeführt. Ihre Angaben werden vertraulich behandelt und nur gemeinsam mit den Angaben anderer ausgewertet. So ist es unmöglich zurückzuverfolgen, dass Sie teilgenommen haben oder welche Antworten Sie gegeben haben. Für Fragen zur Teilnahme an der Studie steht Ihnen Herr Lennard Liebich zu den üblichen Bürozeiten unter der kostenfreien Telefonnummer 0800/66 77 876 gerne zur Verfügung. Nutzen Sie bei Rückfragen auch gern unsere E-Mailadresse [email protected]. Weitere Informationen zu „Leben in Deutschland“ haben wir auf unserer Homepage www.leben-in-deutschland.de zusammengestellt. Mit freundlichen Grüßen QR-Code <QRCAWI2> Prof. Dr. Sabine Zinn Vize -Direktorin des Soziooekonomischen Panels (SOEP) am DIW Berlin Doris Hess Bereichsleiterin Sozialforschung infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft Bonn Attachment Page 5 Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 2 Advance Letter Panel M8 CAPI (Head of Household) infas, Postfach 240101, 53154 Bonn *7710/LFD* Anrede Name Anschrift PLZ Ort Bonn, Monat 2024 Sehr geehrte Frau …/Sehr geehrter Herr …, wir sind schon aufgeregt, denn es ist wieder Zeit: Unsere Studie „Leben in Deutschland“ geht in die nächste Runde, und wir laden Sie ganz herzlich ein, auch in diesem Jahr wieder mit dabei zu sein. „Leben in Deutschland“ gibt es schon seit 1984, und mittlerweile werden jedes Jahr im Rahmen der Studie über 22.000 Haushalte befragt. Hinter diesen auf den ersten Blick nüchternen Fakten verbirgt sich etwas ganz Besonderes. Denn bereits seit 40 Jahren bildet die Studie die gesellschaftlichen Entwicklungen in Deutschland mit einer einzigartigen Genauigkeit ab. Dank ihr werden Politik, Forschung und Öffentlichkeit besser darüber informiert, unter welchen Bedingungen die Menschen in Deutschland leben. Gerade weil es die Studie schon so lange gibt und sie so umfangreich ist, liefert sie eine wertvolle Datenquelle für tausende Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftlern weltweit. Schauen Sie doch einmal in den beigelegten Flyer für ein paar Beispiele, was zwischenzeitlich mithilfe von „Leben in Deutschland" herausgefunden werden konnte. Das alles ist natürlich nur möglich, weil Menschen wie Sie „Leben in Deutschland“ unterstützen. Dafür möchten wir Ihnen noch einmal ganz ausdrücklich unseren Dank aussprechen. In den kommenden Tagen wird eine Interviewerin oder ein Interviewer von infas mit Ihnen Kontakt aufnehmen, um einen passenden Termin für die Befragung zu vereinbaren. Als kleines Dankeschön erhalten Sie von uns nach dem Interview <Incentive> Euro per Post. Freiwillig, anonym und datengeschützt. „Leben in Deutschland“ wird nach den Bestimmungen der Datenschutzgrundverordnung (DSGVO) und des Bundesdatenschutzgesetzes durchgeführt. Ihre Angaben werden vertraulich behandelt und nur gemeinsam mit den Angaben anderer ausgewertet. So ist es unmöglich zurückzuverfolgen, dass Sie teilgenommen haben oder welche Antworten Sie gegeben haben. infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft GmbH Postfach 240101 53154 Bonn Tel. 0800/66 77 876 [email protected] www.leben-in-deutschland.de 7710/E_P_M8_HV_CAPI_DE/2024 < IAB-Logo> Attachment Page 6 Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Seite 2 Für Fragen zur Teilnahme an der Studie steht Ihnen Herr Lennard Liebich zu den üblichen Bürozeiten unter der kostenfreien Telefonnummer 0800/66 77 876 gerne zur Verfügung. Nutzen Sie bei Rückfragen auch gern unsere E-Mailadresse [email protected]. Weitere Informationen zu „Leben in Deutschland“ haben wir auf unserer Homepage www.leben-in-deutschland.de zusammengestellt. Mit freundlichen Grüßen Prof. Dr. Sabine Zinn Vize -Direktorin des Soziooekonomischen Panels (SOEP) am DIW Berlin Doris Hess Bereichsleiterin Sozialforschung infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft Bonn Attachment Page 7 Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 3 Advance Letter Panel M8 CAWI (Head of Household) infas, Postfach 240101, 53154 Bonn *7710/LFD* Anrede Name Anschrift PLZ Ort Bonn, Monat 2024 Sehr geehrte Frau …/Sehr geehrter Herr …, wir sind schon aufgeregt, denn es ist wieder Zeit: Unsere Studie „Leben in Deutschland“ geht in die nächste Runde, und wir laden Sie ganz herzlich ein, auch in diesem Jahr wieder mit dabei zu sein. „Leben in Deutschland“ gibt es schon seit 1984, und mittlerweile werden jedes Jahr im Rahmen der Studie über 22.000 Haushalte befragt. Hinter diesen auf den ersten Blick nüchternen Fakten verbirgt sich etwas ganz Besonderes. Denn bereits seit 40 Jahren bildet die Studie die gesellschaftlichen Entwicklungen in Deutschland mit einer einzigartigen Genauigkeit ab. Dank ihr werden Politik, Forschung und Öffentlichkeit besser darüber informiert, unter welchen Bedingungen die Menschen in Deutschland leben. Gerade weil es die Studie schon so lange gibt und sie so umfangreich ist, liefert sie eine wertvolle Datenquelle für tausende Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftlern weltweit. Schauen Sie doch einmal in den beigelegten Flyer für ein paar Beispiele, was zwischenzeitlich mithilfe von „Leben in Deutschland" herausgefunden werden konnte. Das alles ist natürlich nur möglich, weil Menschen wie Sie „Leben in Deutschland“ unterstützen. Dafür möchten wir Ihnen noch einmal ganz ausdrücklich unseren Dank aussprechen. Teilnehmen können Sie ganz einfach online. Sie erreichen die Online-Befragung über folgenden Link: <urlcawi> Geben Sie dort zum Start der Befragung bitte das folgende Passwort ein: <pwdblock> Sie können die Online-Befragung aber auch über den QR-Code auf der rechten Seite starten. Als kleines Dankeschön erhalten Sie von uns nach dem Interview <Incentive> Euro per Post. infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft GmbH Postfach 240101 53154 Bonn Tel. 0800/66 77 876 [email protected] www.leben-in-deutschland.de 7710/E_P_M8_HV_CAWI_DE/2024 QR-Code <qrcawi> < IAB-Logo> Attachment Page 14 Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Seite 2 Als kleines Dankeschön für Ihre Teilnahme erhalten Sie vorab 5 Euro, die wir diesem Anschreiben bereits beigelegt haben. Jedes erwachsene Haushaltsmitglied erhält nach der Teilnahme an der persönlichen Befragung von uns weitere 10 Euro per Post. Warum gerade Sie? Sie wurden zufällig aus dem Melderegister Ihrer Gemeinde für die Teilnahme ausgewählt (§46 BMG). Ihre persönliche Teilnahme ist für uns sehr wichtig – Ihre Meinung kann nicht durch eine andere ersetzt werden! Dennoch ist die Teilnahme an der Befragung natürlich freiwillig. Alle Regeln des Datenschutzes werden eingehalten. Weitere Informationen dazu entnehmen Sie bitte der beiliegenden Datenschutzerklärung. Wer führt die Studie durch? Auftraggeber von „Leben in Deutschland“ ist das Sozio-oekonomische Panel (SOEP) am Deutschen Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW Berlin). Durchgeführt wird die Studie vom infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft. Wo erhalten Sie weitere Informationen? Für Fragen zur Teilnahme an der Studie steht Ihnen Herr Lennard Liebich zu den üblichen Bürozeiten unter der kostenfreien Telefonnummer 0800/66 77 876 zur Verfügung. Nutzen Sie bei Rückfragen auch gern unsere E-Mailadresse [email protected], und wir werden Ihnen umgehend antworten. Weitere Informationen zu „Leben in Deutschland“ haben wir auf unserer Homepage www.leben-in-deutschland.de zusammengestellt. Mehr zur Studie erfahren Sie in unserem kurzen Film „Leben in Deutschland“, den Sie sich unter dem Link www.leben-in-deutschland.de/video ansehen können. Alternativ können Sie das Video auch über den QR-Code rechts starten. Mit freundlichen Grüßen Prof. Dr. Sabine Zinn Vize-Direktorin des Soziooekonomischen Panels (SOEP) am DIW Berlin Doris Hess Bereichsleiterin Sozialforschung infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft Bonn Attachment Page 15 Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 7 Advance Letter Refreshment Sample M10 CAWI Pre-Recruitment infas, Postfach 240101, 53154 Bonn *7710/LFD* Anrede Name Anschrift PLZ Ort Bonn, Monat 2024 Sehr geehrte Frau …/Sehr geehrter Herr …, Sie wurden zufällig ausgewählt, an der einzigartigen Studie „Leben in Deutschland“ teilzunehmen. Diese bundesweite Befragung wird bereits seit 1984 durchgeführt, um gesellschaftlich relevante Fragen zu beantworten: Wie hat sich das Leben der Menschen in Deutschland in den letzten Jahren verändert? Wie bewerten die Bürgerinnen und Bürger ihre wirtschaftliche und soziale Lage? Und wie zufrieden sind sie mit ihrem Leben? Werden auch Sie Teil der größten Langzeitstudie zu den gesellschaftlichen Entwicklungen in Deutschland! Unsere Befragung ist in zwei Teile geteilt. Der erste Teil findet online statt und dauert nur knapp fünf Minuten. Wir bitten Sie, innerhalb der nächsten zwei Wochen bereits diesen ersten Teil der Befragung online zu beantworten. Sie erreichen die Befragung über folgenden Link: <urlcawi2> Geben Sie dort zum Start der Befragung bitte das folgende Passwort ein: <pwdblock2> Alternativ können Sie die Online-Befragung aber auch über den QR-Code auf der rechten Seite starten. Der zweite Teil der Befragung findet persönlich statt und richtet sich an alle Personen in Ihrem Haushalt. Im ersten Teil der Befragung können Sie angeben, wann unsere Interviewerin bzw. unser Interviewer Sie für den zweiten Teil am besten erreichen kann. Die Teilnahme an der Befragung ist selbstverständlich freiwillig und anonym. Ihre Antworten helfen dabei, die gesellschaftliche Situation in Deutschland so genau wie möglich abzubilden. Die Ergebnisse der Befragung schaffen Klarheit über langfristige Entwicklungen, aber auch über ganz aktuelle Themen. Dadurch können sie sogar politische Entscheidungen beeinflussen. infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft GmbH Postfach 240101 53154 Bonn Tel. 0800/66 77 876 [email protected] www.leben-in-deutschland.de 7710/E_A_DE/2024 QR-Code <qrcawi2> < IAB-Logo> Attachment Page 16 Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Seite 2 Als kleines Dankeschön für Ihre Teilnahme erhalten Sie vorab 5 Euro, die wir diesem Anschreiben bereits beigelegt haben. Jedes erwachsene Haushaltsmitglied erhält nach der Teilnahme an der persönlichen Befragung von uns weitere 10 Euro per Post. Warum gerade Sie? Sie wurden zufällig aus dem Melderegister Ihrer Gemeinde für die Teilnahme ausgewählt (§46 BMG). Ihre persönliche Teilnahme ist für uns sehr wichtig – Ihre Meinung kann nicht durch eine andere ersetzt werden! Dennoch ist die Teilnahme an der Befragung natürlich freiwillig. Alle Regeln des Datenschutzes werden eingehalten. Weitere Informationen dazu entnehmen Sie bitte der beiliegenden Datenschutzerklärung. Wer führt die Studie durch? Auftraggeber von „Leben in Deutschland“ ist das Sozio-oekonomische Panel (SOEP) am Deutschen Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW Berlin). Durchgeführt wird die Studie vom infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft. Wo erhalten Sie weitere Informationen? Für Fragen zur Teilnahme an der Studie steht Ihnen Herr Lennard Liebich zu den üblichen Bürozeiten unter der kostenfreien Telefonnummer 0800/66 77 876 zur Verfügung. Nutzen Sie bei Rückfragen auch gern unsere E-Mailadresse [email protected], und wir werden Ihnen umgehend antworten. Weitere Informationen zu „Leben in Deutschland“ haben wir auf unserer Homepage www.leben-in-deutschland.de zusammengestellt. Mehr zur Studie erfahren Sie in unserem kurzen Film „Leben in Deutschland“, den Sie sich unter dem Link www.leben-in-deutschland.de/video ansehen können. Alternativ können Sie das Video auch über den QR-Code rechts starten. Mit freundlichen Grüßen Prof. Dr. Sabine Zinn Vize -Direktorin des Soziooekonomischen Panels (SOEP) am DIW Berlin Doris Hess Bereichsleiterin Sozialforschung infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft Bonn Attachment Page 17 Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 infas, Postfach 240101, 53154 Bonn *7710/LFD* Anrede Name Anschrift PLZ Ort Bonn, Monat 2024 Dear Ms. / Dear Mr. …, You were randomly selected to take part in the unique study „Leben in Deutschland“. This nationwide survey has been conducted since 1984 to answer questions of crucial importance to society: How have the lives of people in Germany changed in recent years? How do people rate their financial and social situation? And how satisfied are they with their lives overall? Become part of the largest long-term study on social developments in Germany! Our survey is divided into two parts. The first part takes place online and lasts just under five minutes. We would ask you to complete this first part of the survey online within the next two weeks. The following link takes you to the survey: <urlcawi2> Please start the survey by entering the following password: <pwdblock2> Or you can start the survey by simply scanning the QR code on the right. The second part of the survey takes place in person and is aimed at everyone in your household. In the first part of the survey, you can let us know when our interviewer can best reach you for the second part. Participation in the survey is, of course, voluntary and anonymous. Your answers help us to depict the social situation in Germany as accurately as possible. The survey results provide clarity about long-term developments, but also about current issues. As a result, the study results can even have an impact on political decisionmaking. As a small thank-you for your participation, we are sending you 5 euros enclosed in this letter. Each adult household member will receive a further 10 euros from us by mail after completing the individual questionnaire. infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft GmbH Postfach 240101 53154 Bonn Tel. 0800/66 77 876 [email protected] www.leben-in-deutschland.de 7710/E_A_EN/2024 QR-Code <qrcawi2> < IAB-Logo> English version Attachment Page 18 Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Seite 2 Why were you selected? You were randomly selected for participation from your municipal population register (§46 BMG). Your participation is very important to us: your opinions cannot be replaced by anyone else's! Nevertheless, participation in the survey is, of course, voluntary. We maintain strict adherence to all relevant data protection regulations. For further information, please see the enclosed data protection statement. Who is conducting the study? „Leben in Deutschland“ was commissioned by the Sozio-oekonomische Panel (SOEP) at the Deutschen Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW Berlin). The study is conducted by the infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft. Where can you get further information? If you have any questions about participating in the study, please contact Lennard Liebich during normal office hours at the toll-free number 0800/66 77 876 or at our e-mail address, L[email protected]. Further information on „Leben in Deutschland“ can be found on our homepage at www.leben-in-deutschland.de. You can find out more about our study by watching the short film „Leben in Deutschland“ at www.leben-in-deutschland.de/video. You can also view the film by scanning the QR code on the right. Under www.leben-in-deutschland.de/documents-en you can find an English version of the enclosed flyer and declaration on data protection. Sincerely yours, Prof. Dr. Sabine Zinn Vize -Direktorin des Soziooekonomischen Panels (SOEP) am DIW Berlin Doris Hess Bereichsleiterin Sozialforschung infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft Bonn Attachment Page 19 Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 8 Advance Letter Refreshment Sample M8d CAPI infas, Postfach 240101, 53154 Bonn *7710/LFD* Anrede Name Anschrift PLZ Ort Bonn, Monat 2024 Sehr geehrte Frau …/Sehr geehrter Herr …, Sie wurden zufällig ausgewählt, an der einzigartigen wissenschaftlichen Studie „Leben in Deutschland“ teilzunehmen, weil Sie als Fachkraft aus dem Ausland nach Deutschland gekommen sind. Mit der Studie verfolgen wir das Ziel, die Gesellschaft in Deutschland möglichst genau abzubilden. Daher interessiert es uns zu erfahren, wie Sie und andere Menschen, die nach Deutschland zugewandert sind, hier Fuß gefasst haben. Wie gestaltet sich Ihre soziale und berufliche Situation und sind Sie zufrieden mit Ihren Lebensumständen? Die Teilnahme an der Befragung ist selbstverständlich freiwillig und anonym. Mit Ihren Antworten leisten Sie einen Beitrag dazu, dass Politik, Forschung und Öffentlichkeit mehr über Sie und andere zugewanderte Mitmenschen erfahren. Unterstützen Sie „Leben in Deutschland", damit diese wichtigen Stimmen gehört werden! Unsere Befragung ist in zwei Teile geteilt. Für Ihre Teilnahme an dem ersten Teil der Befragung erhalten Sie von uns als kleines Dankeschön 10 Euro per Post. Abhängig von Ihren Angaben im ersten Teil, geht es dann im Anschluss gegebenenfalls direkt mit einem zweiten Teil weiter. Wenn Sie hieran ebenfalls teilnehmen, erhalten Sie anschließend noch einmal weitere 20 Euro, insgesamt also 30 Euro per Post. In den kommenden Tagen wird eine Interviewerin oder ein Interviewer von infas mit Ihnen Kontakt aufnehmen, um einen passenden Termin zu vereinbaren. Freiwillig, anonym und datengeschützt. „Leben in Deutschland“ wird nach den Bestimmungen der Datenschutzgrundverordnung (DSGVO) und des Bundesdatenschutzgesetzes durchgeführt. Ihre Angaben werden vertraulich behandelt und nur gemeinsam mit den Angaben anderer ausgewertet. So ist es unmöglich zurückzuverfolgen, dass Sie teilgenommen haben oder welche Antworten Sie gegeben haben. Für Fragen zur Teilnahme an der Studie steht Ihnen Herr Lennard Liebich zu den üblichen Bürozeiten unter der kostenfreien Telefonnummer 0800/66 77 876 zur Verfügung. Nutzen Sie bei Rückfragen auch gern unsere E-Mailadresse [email protected]. Weitere Informationen zu „Leben in Deutschland“ haben wir auf unserer Homepage www.leben-in-deutschland.de zusammengestellt. Mit freundlichen Grüßen infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft GmbH Postfach 240101 53154 Bonn Tel. 0800/66 77 876 [email protected] www.leben-in-deutschland.de 7710/E_A_M8d_CAPI/2024 Prof. Dr. Sabine Zinn Vize -Direktorin des Soziooekonomischen Panels (SOEP) am DIW Berlin Doris Hess Bereichsleiterin Sozialforschung infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft Bonn < IAB-Logo> English version on the reverse side. Attachment Page 20 Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 infas, Postfach 240101, 53154 Bonn *7710/LFD* Anrede Name Anschrift PLZ Ort Bonn, Monat 2024 Dear Ms. / Dear Mr. …, You were randomly selected to take part in the unique scientific study „Leben in Deutschland“ because you came to Germany as a skilled worker from abroad. The aim of the study is to gain as accurate a picture of German society as possible. We are therefore interested in finding out how you and other people who have immigrated to Germany have established yourself here. What is your social and professional situation, and are you satisfied with your living conditions? Participation in the survey is, of course, voluntary and anonymous. With your answers, you are helping to ensure that politicians, researchers, and the public at large learn more about you and other immigrants. Support „Leben in Deutschland“ so that these important voices are heard! Our survey is divided into two parts. For your participation in the first part of the survey, you will receive 10 euros in the mail as a small thank-you. Depending on the information you provide in the first part, we may then proceed directly to the second part. If you participate in this part too, you will then receive a further 20 euros by mail, making a total of 30 euros. In the next few days, an interviewer from infas will contact you to set an appointment for the survey. Voluntary, anonymous, and confidential. „Leben in Deutschland“ is carried out in strict adherence to the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (DSGVO) and the Federal Data Protection Act. Your data will be treated confidentially and will only be analyzed in combination with data from other respondents. This makes it impossible for anyone to identify you or the answers you have given in the data. If you have any questions about participating in the study, please contact us using the contact details given above. Further information on „Leben in Deutschland“ is compiled on our homepage at www.leben-in-deutschland.de. Under www.leben-indeutschland.de/information you can find an English version of the enclosed flyer and declaration on data protection. Sincerely yours, infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft GmbH Postfach 240101 53154 Bonn Tel. 0800/66 77 876 [email protected] www.leben-in-deutschland.de 7710/E_A_M8_EN/2024 Prof. Dr. Sabine Zinn Vize -Direktorin des Soziooekonomischen Panels (SOEP) am DIW Berlin Doris Hess Bereichsleiterin Sozialforschung infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft Bonn < IAB-Logo> Attachment Page 21 Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 9 Advance Letter Refreshment Sample M8d CAWI infas, Postfach 240101, 53154 Bonn *7710/LFD* Anrede Name Anschrift PLZ Ort Bonn, Monat 2024 Sehr geehrte Frau …/Sehr geehrter Herr …, Sie wurden zufällig ausgewählt, an der einzigartigen wissenschaftlichen Studie „Leben in Deutschland“ teilzunehmen, weil Sie als Fachkraft aus dem Ausland nach Deutschland gekommen sind. Mit der Studie verfolgen wir das Ziel, die Gesellschaft in Deutschland möglichst genau abzubilden. Daher interessiert es uns zu erfahren, wie Sie und andere Menschen, die nach Deutschland zugewandert sind, hier Fuß gefasst haben. Wie gestaltet sich Ihre soziale und berufliche Situation und sind Sie zufrieden mit Ihren Lebensumständen? Die Teilnahme an der Befragung ist selbstverständlich freiwillig und anonym. Mit Ihren Antworten leisten Sie einen Beitrag dazu, dass Politik, Forschung und Öffentlichkeit mehr über Sie und andere zugewanderte Mitmenschen erfahren. Unterstützen Sie „Leben in Deutschland", damit diese wichtigen Stimmen gehört werden! Unsere Befragung ist in zwei Teile geteilt. Für Ihre Teilnahme an dem ersten Teil der Befragung erhalten Sie von uns als kleines Dankeschön 10 Euro per Post. Abhängig von Ihren Angaben im ersten Teil, geht es dann im Anschluss gegebenenfalls direkt mit einem zweiten Teil weiter. Wenn Sie hieran ebenfalls teilnehmen, erhalten Sie anschließend noch einmal weitere 20 Euro, insgesamt also 30 Euro per Post. Teilnehmen können Sie ganz einfach online. Sie erreichen die Online-Befragung über folgenden Link: <urlcawi> Geben Sie dort zum Start der Befragung bitte das folgende Passwort ein: <pwdblock> Sie können die Online-Befragung auch über den QR-Code auf der rechten Seite starten. Freiwillig, anonym und datengeschützt. „Leben in Deutschland“ wird nach den Bestimmungen der Datenschutzgrundverordnung (DSGVO) und des Bundesdatenschutzgesetzes durchgeführt. Ihre Angaben werden vertraulich behandelt und nur gemeinsam mit den Angaben anderer ausgewertet. So ist es unmöglich zurückzuverfolgen, dass Sie teilgenommen haben oder welche Antworten Sie gegeben haben. infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft GmbH Postfach 240101 53154 Bonn Tel. 0800/66 77 876 [email protected] www.leben-in-deutschland.de 7710/E_A_M8d_CAWI/2024 QR-Code <qrcawi> < IAB-Logo> Attachment Page 22 Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 Seite 2 Für Fragen zur Teilnahme an der Studie steht Ihnen Herr Lennard Liebich zu den üblichen Bürozeiten unter der kostenfreien Telefonnummer 0800/66 77 876 zur Verfügung. Nutzen Sie bei Rückfragen auch gern unsere E-Mailadresse [email protected]. Weitere Informationen zu „Leben in Deutschland“ haben wir auf unserer Homepage www.leben-in-deutschland.de zusammengestellt. Mit freundlichen Grüßen Prof. Dr. Sabine Zinn Vize -Direktorin des Soziooekonomischen Panels (SOEP) am DIW Berlin Doris Hess Bereichsleiterin Sozialforschung infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft Bonn Attachment Page 23 Wave Report - Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) 2024 infas, Postfach 240101, 53154 Bonn *7710/LFD* Anrede Name Anschrift PLZ Ort Bonn, Monat 2024 Dear Ms. / Dear Mr. …, You were randomly selected to take part in the unique scientific study „Leben in Deutschland“ because you came to Germany as a skilled worker from abroad. The aim of the study is to gain as accurate a picture of German society as possible. We are therefore interested in finding out how you and other people who have immigrated to Germany have established yourself here. What is your social and professional situation, and are you satisfied with your living conditions? Participation in the survey is, of course, voluntary and anonymous. With your answers, you are helping to ensure that politicians, researchers, and the public at large learn more about you and other immigrants. Support „Leben in Deutschland“ so that these important voices are heard! Our survey is divided into two parts. For your participation in the first part of the survey, you will receive 10 euros in the mail as a small thank-you. Depending on the information you provide in the first part, we may then proceed directly to the second part. If you participate in this part too, you will then receive a further 20 euros by mail, making a total of 30 euros. You can participate in the survey by simply clicking on the following link: <urlcawi> Please start the survey by entering the following password: <pwdblock> Or you can start the survey by simply scanning the QR code on the right. Voluntary, anonymous, and confidential. „Leben in Deutschland“ is carried out in strict adherence to the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (DSGVO) and the Federal Data Protection Act. Your data will be treated confidentially and will only be analyzed in combination with data from other respondents. This makes it impossible for anyone to identify you or the answers you have given in the data. infas Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaft GmbH Postfach 240101 53154 Bonn Tel. 0800/66 77 876 [email protected] www.leben-in-deutschland.de QR-Code <qrcawi> < IAB-Logo> English version