Researching ‘liquid integration’: breaking new ground for processual and contingent methodology

Abstract

Although there has been a broad and controversial debate on the concept of integration in social science over the last couple of decades, the methodological debate on how to measure the processual, contingent side of integration is still in its infancy. This has become especially relevant against the background of newly introduced more dynamic and more contingent theoretical perspectives on integration. Against this backdrop, the paper sets out to critically reflect on the methodological implications of the liquid integration perspective. We argue for a practice research perspective regarding emic and etic idiosyncratic perceptions and understandings of integration in order to better research the processing and contingent side of temporally embedded integration processes and experiences and to invigorate critical reflection on methodological issues in researching integration.

Keywords

• liquid integration
• contingence
• relational embeddedness
• method
• measurement