Participate in a research study about returning families
We are looking for families with children who have moved abroad for work, but also for you who have moved for work and then started a family abroad. Tell us about your experiences and contribute to research on returning families. It doesn't matter if the parents are still living together or have separated.
About the research
The purpose of the study is to explore and contribute with new knowledge about motivations, experiences and everyday practices among Swedish families who have returned to Sweden after living abroad for work-related reasons. There is currently very limited research-based knowledge about experiences within this group, while we do know that they often face challenges in connection to their return. The study explores migration through a family lens, and we are consider experiences from the point of view of several family members.
Read more about the research study: Coming ’home’ in times of uncertainty: Return experiences among Swedish mobile families
Who can participate?
We are looking for families with children who have moved abroad for work, but also for you who have moved for work and then started a family abroad. It doesn't matter if the parents are still living together or have separated.
The study focuses on families who have lived abroad for at least one year, and who have returned to Sweden between one and ten years ago, when at least one of the children was of school age (6-18 years old). For this particular study, at least one of the participating parents need to be a Swedish citizen who has grown up in Sweden and have completed most of their schooling in Sweden.
At least two family members
We are recruiting 18-20 families to the study. All family members are welcome to take part in the research, but all participants are recruited individually, and only those who consent to participate will do so. As it is important for the study to explore several perspectives, at least two family members need to take part in order for the family to be included in the study. We also aim to include both children and adults in all participating families. Where children and young persons are under the age of 15, consent is needed from both the participants and their guardians.
How does it work?
Those who consent to take part in the study are invited to an interview that is expected to take 1-2 hours. The interview is about motives and experiences of returning, what everyday life looks like, and what is and has been important in different places and different contexts. In conversations with children and young persons, interview questions are combined with visual methods, such as network maps, life-lines and pictures (photos and drawings). The interviews will mainly be held individually, but children and young persons can choose if they want to do the interview by themselves or together with a parent or guardian. The interviews will primarily be done face-to-face but can also be held digitally.
Voluntary and safe
Participation in the research is voluntary, and participants can withdraw from the study at any time without having to provide a reason. Research participants only need to answer questions they want to answer, and can withdraw unprocessed information that has been previously provided. All information provided by the study participants will be handled confidentially, and all interview material will be pseudonymised.
Interested? Contact us!
If you would like to participate or wish to know more about the study, please contact us at the email address returningfamilies@socav.gu.se.
Researchers in the project
Maja Cederberg, email: maja.cederberg@gu.se (project leader)
Oksana Shmulyar Green, email: oksana.shmulyar@socav.gu.se
Ylva Wallinder, email: ylva.wallinder@gu.se