EliA - Parenthood in the Adoption Process

Adoptions are a phenomenon that has been little researched from a sociological perspective. Although there are a few studies on what happens after adoptive parents and children are matched, we know next to nothing about the preceding adoption process.

Our research project "EliA - Parenthood in the Adoption Process" addresses the question of how suitable parents are found for an adoptive child. The project is a collaboration between the Technical University of Dortmund and the University of Duisburg-Essen.

We are researching how the adoption process is organized jointly by adoption mediators and adoption applicants. We are interested in the day-to-day work of the mediators as well as the applicants' perspective on the adoption process. As part of our research, we will observe the entire process of adoption placement: from the first personal interview between mediators and applicants to the matching of a child with the adoptive parents. Our research teams will conduct interviews with both adoption mediators and applicants. These will take place at regular intervals during the adoption process.

Duration: 2024-2027

Third-party donor: DFG

GEPRIS: 524945366