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It is a scientifically proven fact that intelligence simplifies and accelerates all types of learning. Only gradually have scientists come to understand that intelligence is not only characteristic of individual cognitive abilities but has to be seen much more within the context of the respective environmental and cultural background. But what are the differences in the quality of the learning paths of more or less intelligent students? Prof. Dr. Elsbeth Stern, ETH Zurich, presented data in her lecture at the LIfBi on February 5th that provide information on the effects of intelligence on the use of learning opportunities.

Go to English abstract (PDF)

Overview of LIfBi lectures 2019

In November 2018, the research team published first results of the study "ReGES–Refugees in the German Educational System" on the integration of refugees in Germany.

The Institute for Employment Research (IAB) has been conducting the panel "Labour Market and Social Security" (PASS) for more than ten years. One of the central problems of long-term surveys, however, is the ability to instantaneously record events that occur between individual time points of the survey. In order to remedy this weakness, but also to obtain very specific data on smartphone use, the IAB has developed an Android application as part of a feasibility study for PASS.

The volume "Bildungsentscheidungen und lokales Angebot. Die Bedeutung der Infrastruktur für Bildungsentscheidungen im Lebenslauf" (Educational Decisions and Local Services. The Importance of Infrastructure for Educational Decisions in the Life Course), edited by Dr. Michaela Sixt, Dr. Michael Bayer, and Doreen Müller, contains empirical results from the project "BildungsLandschaft Oberfranken" (BiLO, Educational Landscape of Upper Franconia), as well as theoretical considerations on the connection between education and space. A long neglected research gap is systematically addressed here.

Prof. Dr. Hannah Brückner, New York University Abu Dhabi and member of the LIfBi Scientific Advisory Board, reported on the first results of her project "Migration and Kerala's Gender Paradox" as part of the LIfBi lectures series.

For the third time, the international NEPS conference provided an opportunity for scientists from different disciplines to present and discuss their research work based on NEPS data. On November 22-23, 2018, the LIfBi Research Data Centre organized a diverse program on the subject of "Intergenerational transmission of inequalities": The keynote lecture with the title „The Transmission of Inequality Across Multiple Generations: Testing Recent Theories with Evidence from Germany“ was held by Prof. Dr. Sebastian T. Braun from Bayreuth University and IfW Kiel. Round table discussions, numerous paper presentations, and a poster session were also on the agenda. As in previous years, prizes were also awarded for the best publication and poster of the conference based on NEPS data.

Under the title "Ethnic Boundary Making in School Networks", Dr. Hanno Kruse, Institute of Sociology and Social Psychology (ISS) at the University of Cologne, presented his current research program on November 15, 2018.

In their study, Prof. Dr. Silke Anger, Annette Trahms, and Dr. Christian Westermeier (Institute for Employment Research, IAB, Nuremberg) examined individual characteristics and motives of people who are employed or wish to be employed during retirement. The report uses representative data from the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) Starting Cohort 6–Adults.

Prof. Dr. Marlis Buchmann, Institute of Sociology at the University of Zurich, introduced her research program as part of the Fall School of the Priority Programme 1646, which was held at the Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories (LIfBi).

The program of the 3rd International NEPS Conference on November 22 ̶ 23, 2018, at LIfBi is now available online on the conference website (subject to change).

The LIfBi mourns the death of Professor Dr. Susanne Rässler who passed away unexpectedly on August 29, 2018, at the age of 55. The Institute has lost a passionate and exceptional academic who was much loved and respected by all.

The Head of Department 2 “Educational Decisions and Processes, Migration, Returns to Education” of the Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories, Prof. Dr. Corinna Kleinert, has been appointed to the editorial board of the prestigious sociological academic journal “Soziale Welt” as part of its relaunch this spring.

From July 15 until July 21, 2018, the Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories (LIfBi) together with several research institutes, six panel studies, as well as the German Data Forum (RatSWD) made a joint appearance under the umbrella “Research in Germany” at the World Congress of the International Sociological Association (ISA). This label has been used by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) since 2006 to finance the presentation of top-level research from Germany at international conferences. Together with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the German Research Foundation (DFG) organized the participation at the conference this time.

The registration form for this year's international NEPS Conference is now online. Interested researchers are welcome to register there for free participation in the conference.

From now on, the Research Data Center at the Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories (RDC LIfBi) informs in the semi-annual newsletter "LIfBi data" on current and upcoming data releases, user trainings and other events, new features in data and documentation offerings, as well as on relevant services and publications.

On July 5, 2018, the LIfBi released the last of its four and highly enthusiastic apprentices into the working world: Three graduates are beginning to work at the LIfBi as qualified specialists supporting research, while another graduate will start working at the University of Bamberg.

Jörg Welker attended the 15th annual IMISCOE conference (International Migration, Integration, and Social Cohesion), which took place from July 2-4, 2018, in Barcelona, with a contribution from the study “Refugees in the German Educational System” (ReGES).

As part of LIfBi lectures, Professor David Kaplan, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison, discussed ways of how to evaluate statistical modelling through predictions with Bayesian approaches in his talk “New Developments in Bayesian Model Averaging”.

After the field start in December 2017, the first wave of interviews of refugee families as part of the study “Refugees in the German Educational System” (ReGES) ended in July 2018 in selected communities in Bavaria, Hamburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saxony.

Under the umbrella of “Research in Germany”, the German Research Foundation (DFG) is organizing a joint appearance of various participants of the German research landscape at this years’ ISA World Congress in Toronto, Canada, taking place from July 15 to 21, 2018: funding organizations, six panel studies—among them the National Education Panel Study (NEPS)—, the German Data Forum (RatSWD), as well as numerous researchers and initiatives from different German research institutes.