The Ethnosurvey Revisited: New Migrations, New Methodologies?

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Demography
• Migration Studies

Background:

• The ethnosurvey methodology has been instrumental in migration research for nearly four decades.
• Its application in Mexico and Poland offers insights into diverse migration forms, particularly in post-transition Europe.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the ethnosurvey as a research methodology for international migration.
• To analyze its advantages and disadvantages using case studies from Mexico and Poland.

Main Methods:

• Review of ethnosurvey applications in Mexico (since the 1980s) and Poland (since the 1990s).
• Analysis of the methodology's multilevel design, mixed-methods approach, retrospective life histories, and multisite data collection.
• Examination of hybrid sampling strategies and associated technical challenges.

Main Results:

• The ethnosurvey facilitates the capture of complex migration patterns, including circular, irregular, short-term, and sequential movements.
• Advantages include rich data generation and a comprehensive understanding of migration mechanisms.
• Disadvantages involve limitations in estimation and generalizability due to hybrid sampling.

Conclusions:

• The ethnosurvey is a specialized, not universal, methodology for migration research.
• When applied appropriately, it effectively reveals social and economic drivers of human mobility.
• It enhances understanding of international migration's causes and consequences in sending and receiving societies.