The SPP 2431 aims to facilitate research that exploits the potential of new forms of data and data generation and that drives a surge in methodological innovations to improve data quality.  It will integrate and consolidate skills, knowledge and expertise from different fields of empirical social research and computer science and provide the means to test new methods and procedures of data generation and data analytics. Its objective is to develop high-quality, best-practice examples of methods for generating, collecting and integrating data, with the aim of enhancing data quality. These methods have the potential to be implemented in existing panel studies, new data collection programmes and data analytic approaches.

To achieve these objectives, the SPP 2431 again invites project proposals in four main interrelated research areas for this second funding phase: 

          1. Exploration and Integration of Different Data Types

          2. Respondent-Driven Designs

          3. Instrument Validity

          4. Multimodal Data Acquisition.

The selection and review of proposals is conducted by an independent DFG review commission. 

The Speaker and the Programme Committee of New Data Spaces for the Social Sciences (SPP 2431) are not involved in the selection process.

The selection and review of proposals is conducted by an independent DFG review commission. The Speaker and the Programme Committee of New Data Spaces for the Social Sciences (SPP 2431) are not involved in the selection process.

However, it is important to the Programme Committee that project proposals have the following characteristics:

• Identify to which research area(s) the project is expected to make a contribution
• Center on a clear research question that drives methodological innovation
• Have a nexus to (panel) survey research and the further development of panel survey programmes

The SPP 2431 is not intended to fund projects that:

• Exclusively focus on substantive research without a clear methodological contribution
• Exclusively focus on infrastructure development, survey operations, or data provision
• Focus on continued data collection or core elements of existing panel surveys

We invite projects to make use of the following activities and opportunities offered by SPP 2431:

• ENTAILab-led workshops and webinars for projects
• Funding for networking-related travel
• Opportunities for junior researchers (e.g., network, travel scholarships, mentoring, etc.)
• Annual Meetings with the Scientific Advisory Board
• Organized conference sessions
• New Data Spaces | Reports white paper series
• Science communication and dissemination
• Public webinar series (expected launch in September 2026)

Projects funded under SPP 2431 are expected to meet a set of collaborative and impact-oriented requirements:

• No “siloed” research – Projects are expected to interact and network at meetings and through individual project connections
• Synergy building – Coordinated by the Coordination and Management Project (CONNECT) and the Programme Committee through joint workshops, thematic working groups, and share publications that transcend individual projects
• Transfer to the scientific community – Goal is to make methods and innovations available to the field of social science surveys

No, it is not strictly necessary to engage with ENTAILab services in order to be considered for funding.

However, we strongly recommend taking advantage of the resources and supports provided by ENTAILab, as these facilitate access to shared infrastructures, advanced tools and expert support, enabling more efficient, high-quality and impactful research.

The SPP 2431 Programme Committee and ENTAILab PIs cannot act as an intermediary between applicants and existing panel studies. Applicants need to engage with each panel study directly through their own application and collaboration processes.

However, if you have general questions about what panel studies are a good fit for your project’s objectives, we may be able to provide orientation and suggestions.

The SPP 2431 is designed to fund a diverse portfolio of projects. The size of any one project has implications for the level of funding that remains available to others. The DFG has therefore indicated an expectation that projects remain focused and appropriately scoped.

We encourage applicants to think carefully about scope early in the design process, particularly reflecting about the number of principal investigators funded on the project, major equipment or infrastructure purchases, and substantial independent data collection efforts.

For further information, please contact Dr. Eckard Kämper (DFG)

No. Server capacity and cloud computing infrastructure cannot be funded under SPP 2431, as these are considered basic equipment. Applicants are expected to make use of existing infrastructure — such as institutional computing centres (Rechenzentren) or other available university resources.

For further information, please contact Dr. Eckard Kämper (DFG)

Yes. The DFG has confirmed that international collaborations — including arrangements with partners in other countries and the distribution of work packages across institutions — are possible within SPP 2431.

Applicants planning such a collaboration should describe clearly in their proposal how the international partnership contributes to the goals of the programme.

For further information, please contact Dr. Eckard Kämper (DFG)

Proposed projects may build on existing panel studies and ENTAILab provides support for this integration process. Each panel study has different characteristics in their target population, sampling and research design, survey frequency, and possibilities for types of add-on projects. For more information about each panel study, see below.

SOEP Innovation Sample (SOEP-IS)

The SOEP Innovation Sample (SOEP-IS) is a mixed-mode household panel survey data collection infrastructure established in 2011. It was designed to enable innovative data collection for the research community and is particularly well suited to establishing new and target-group-specific measurement instruments in long-term surveys, to conducting short-and long-term experiments, and to collecting non-survey data (such as biomarkers). Past SOEP-IS modules include economic behavioral experiments, implicit association tests (IAT), and complex procedures for measuring time use with day reconstruction method (DRM).

SOEP-IS

Detailed information 

GESIS Panel

The GESIS Panel consists of two samples: the well-established GESIS Panel.pop Population Sample (Gesis Panel.pop) and the new GESIS Panel.dbd Digital Behavioral Data Sample (GESIS Panel.dbd). The quarterly fielded GESIS Panel.pop is a self-administered probability-based mixed-mode (CAWI and PAPI) panel of the German-speaking adult population permanently residing in Germany with a total sample size of about 5,000 respondents. Established in 2013, it is open to the academic public for primary and secondary research. While about 75% of all respondents participate online, the remaining quarter of our panelists participate in the mail mode (over 1,000 respondents), which we deem important since not everyone in Germany has access to the Internet, the skills to use it, or does want to participate in surveys online. The GESIS Panel.pop pursues a unified mixed-mode design with a mobile-first approach to reduce mode measurement effects. Due to the limitations of the mail mode, we only allow a maximum of four experimental groups per wave. The GESIS Panel.pop allows the submission of cross-sectional as well as longitudinal studies. It is especially suited for drawing inferences about the general population.

GESIS Panel

Detailed information 

NEPS next

NEPS next is the continuation of the long-running starting cohorts of the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS) in a wide-meshed surveying design with a mixed-mode survey (NEPS cohort design). The primary objective of NEPS next is to enhance understanding of the long-term effects of education on individuals’ lives. The study examines changes and continuities since the last survey, with a particular focus on (formal) educational outcomes (e.g., attainment/highest certificates), returns on the labor market (e.g., occupation, job characteristics, income, poverty) or non-monetary returns (e.g., satisfaction, health other noncognitive or socioemotional outcome measures) as well as social, political and cultural participation including background Information (household, family, children, place of residence). In combination with the rich NEPS data collected before wide-meshed surveying started, additional data from NEPS next enable further research into the long-term impacts and effects of education across the lifespan.

NEPS

Detailed information on their website 

We encourage project proposals that leverage the expertise of private survey research institutes (e.g., infas, Verian, etc.). Because the DFG offers various pathways for these collaborations—including direct service contracting—we recommend discussing your specific project goals with us and the DFG representatives early in the planning process.

DFG information on collaborations with for-profit companies [in German]

If you are developing a project that would benefit from the expertise of a survey research institute, we can help facilitate connections with interested partners at organizations such as Verian and infas. You are welcome to reach out to us for an individual conversation (connect@lifbi.de).