The DJI survey Growing Up in Germany[1] (German title “Aufwachsen in Deutschland: Alltagswelten”, short: AID:A) collects data on the growing up of children and adolescents as well as on the living conditions of adults and families in Germany. AID:A is a central component of the survey research conducted by the German Youth Institute (DJI). This standardized survey has collected data on children, adolescents, young adults, and parents of minors in around 6,000 households nationwide since 2019.
The pilot project AID:A WebKids is being conducted alongside AID:A 2027[2] and tests a web-based survey format for children aged 5 to 11. The project’s central research question is whether this age group can be surveyed online in a reliable, age-appropriate, and high-quality manner within the AID:A framework, and to what extent a web-based survey for children differs systematically from the face-to-face survey method.
In terms of content, the survey is based on the AID:A child survey (covering topics such as well-being, school or kindergarten, family, and friends). Additionally, both children and parents are asked questions regarding the quality of the survey itself.
Parents also answer questions concerning their sociodemographic background.
AID:A pursues the long-term goal of conducting surveys increasingly online. While web-based interviews are already used in AID:A for adolescents aged 12 and older as well as for adults, there is currently no tested web-based survey format for younger children. The aim of the AID:A WebKids project is to examine whether children aged 5 to 11 can be surveyed online within the AID:A framework in the future.
The web-based child survey is designed to be child-friendly and does not require reading or writing skills. This is ensured, for example, through the use of audio tracks and visually supported response formats.
The analyses focus on differences between the web-based child survey and the face-to-face child survey conducted in AID:A 2027. Particular attention is paid to differences regarding willingness to participate and motivation, response behavior, and data quality. The project also examines whether children can complete the survey independently and how well they understand the questions and response formats. Based on these findings, recommendations will be developed for integrating the web-based child survey into future AID:A surveys.
If you and your child would like to learn more about what is important when participating in a research study, you can find a 5-minute, child-friendly explanation on YouTube[3].