QID: Living together, researching together

How do we communicate with each other as neigbours? And do residents comply to the agreed rules of living in harmony? WIthin the project QID: Living together, researching together, residents of the city of Groningen, WIJ Groningen and the University of Groningen jointly conduct a questionnaire study on social cohesion in different neighbourhoods of the city. It should provide an idea of ​​how communication takes place between residents individually and between residents and the municipality, and provide insight into the effects of the communication campaign Ssst!.

Around 100 second-year students from the Communication and Information Sciences (CIS) program are conducting the research as part of the course Questionnaire and Interview Design. They are supervised by a research committee comprising all involved parties: residents, municipality, students, teachers, and the Science Shop for Language, Culture, and Communication. The research is based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour, a theory that focuses on the relationship between individual behavior and its social context – how does your environment influence your behavior, and vice versa? The course spans the entire first semester (September to February) and is worth 5 ECTS credits. Between 90-110 students participate in this research, both Dutch-speaking and international students.

This research has a strongly participatory character, meaning that the process (students conducting research in and for the neighborhood) is considered more important than the end product (the advisory report). Ideally, the two reinforce each other. With this research, we aim to achieve the following goals:

• Starting a dialogue on livability and social cohesion in the neighborhood
• Engaging residents, the municipality, and students in scientific research and making them feel part of the process
• Identifying different target groups within the neighborhood and exploring how they relate to each other
• Providing tailored advice to various stakeholders in the neighborhood on fostering social cohesion, with a specific focus on communication
• Raising awareness among residents and students about the issues in the neighborhood and generating support for joint efforts to address them (encouraging active citizenship)

The research in the Schilderswijk has now been completed, with over 600 respondents. All key information can be found in our research brochure, created by our students, or on the results page of this website. In the coming months, a new participatory research project will begin in the Oranjebuurt.

If you would like to know more about this project (or if you are interested in joining the research committee of a project in your neighborhood), feel free to visit our website or send us an email at tawi@rug.nl.