Conference of the DFG Research Training Group "Consequences of Social Services"
The DFG Research Training Group “Consequences of Social Services” is hosting the conference “SURPRISING FINDINGS” at the University of Siegen on March 11 and 12, 2026 – Empirical, method(olog)ical, and theoretical considerations from interdisciplinary research on consequences of social service.” The conference is organized by doctoral candidates from the Research Training Group and brings together researchers from various disciplines and career stages, as well as students in the fields of education, humanities, and social sciences.
"Surprising Findings"
The focus is on moments when research unfolds differently than expected: when something in the field turns out differently than assumed, when recipients experience or use social assistance differently than intended, when data do not fit theoretical assumptions, or when a finding defies clear classification. Surprises can arise not only in the results themselves, but also in data collection, analysis, interpretation, or in the interaction with the research field.
Research into the consequences of social assistance, in particular, offers numerous opportunities for such surprises. Social assistance is linked to specific goals and expectations, but its consequences do not necessarily align with them. It can unintentionally bring about further changes, take on different meanings for various stakeholders, or only become apparent in interaction with other social contexts. What appears to be a desired effect from one perspective may be experienced from another perspective as a burden, a restriction, or an unexpected side effect—and vice versa.
“Surprising Findings” therefore refers to more than just the unexpected in the sense of an unusual result. Surprises can serve as starting points for scientific insight: They can point to previously overlooked perspectives, challenge familiar notions about social assistance and its consequences, expand theoretical considerations, or shed new light on methodological decisions. At the same time, they raise questions about what we actually expect when we conduct research, how these expectations shape our research, and what remains visible or invisible.
The conference thus views “Surprising Findings” as an invitation to take such disruptions seriously and to regard them as productive moments of scholarly engagement. Through interdisciplinary exchange, we aim to explore what the unexpected can tell us about social assistance, its consequences, and, not least, our own research practices.
Everything at a glance
More Information
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Keynote Speeches
2 staff members from the “Villa Stöckle” shelter | Association for Protection Against Psychiatric Violence, Inc.
Judith Eckert | University of Osnabrück
Sophia Richter | Vorarlberg University of Education -
Organizer
Conference of the DFG Research Training Group “Consequences of Social Services” -
Contact
University of Siegen
DFG Research Training Group “Consequences of Social Services”
Hölderlinstraße 3
57076 Siegen -
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+49 271 740-4141 (Administration: Gabi Basten)
Information | Call for Papers | Downloads
Conference Venue
University of Siegen
Unteres Schloss Campus
Obergraben 25, 57072 Siegen
You can find information on the map and directions here.
Paid parking is available in the immediate vicinity:
CONTIPARK Unteres Schloss Underground Parking Garage
Old Town Parking Garage
Parking lot at the Löhrtor Indoor Swimming Pool
We have reserved a block of rooms for you at several hotels. Please book early and use the code: Folgentagung.
Please note that booking, payment, and any cancellations must be handled directly with the hotel. We cannot guarantee room availability or cover the associated costs. However, we recommend using the following reserved room allocations . We would like to point out that some of these are special rates that apply only when booking directly with the hotel, not when booking through other portals! Therefore, it is best to use the email address provided.
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Adapt Apartments Siegen |
Concorde Hotel Siegen
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Dorint Parkhotel Siegen |
Timberjacks Motel Siegen |
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Holiday Inn Express Siegen |
You can find additional lodging options in the Siegen areahere.
The Call for Papers (CfP) is currently open until October 4, 2026. It is available under “Downloads.” You can also find more information under the “Call for Papers” tab.
We look forward to receiving your submissions.
The conference program will be published after the submitted papers have been selected (expected in the first quarter of 2027).
"Surprising Findings"
Social services such as parenting support, psychotherapy, or integration assistance are accompanied by specific goals and expectations: they are intended, for example, to enable participation, promote independence, or reduce stress. But what consequences do they have beyond what was intended? What happens when social support measures have effects or are experienced differently than intended—or when the research process reveals that our assumptions do not hold true?
“Surprising Findings” refers, first and foremost, to the fact that social assistance programs can produce consequences that are not programmatically planned or intended and that are evaluated differently depending on one’s perspective. For example, they can provide relief while simultaneously creating new dependencies, promote participation while altering existing affiliations, or offer support while also giving rise to experiences of stigmatization or external control. Research into such unintended consequences can thus reveal unexpected developments and challenge established notions about what social assistance achieves and how its consequences arise. Such ambiguities and deviations from expectations can bring to light what has so far gone unnoticed in research—and open up new questions about social assistance and its consequences.
The conference will also focus on moments in the research process when things unfold differently than expected: when fieldwork reveals something other than what was assumed, when data do not fit theoretical assumptions, or when a finding defies clear classification. Surprises can arise not only in the results but also in data collection, analysis, interpretation, or in the encounter with the research field itself.
“Surprising Findings” therefore refers to more than just an unexpected result. Surprises can serve as starting points for scientific insight: They can point to previously overlooked perspectives, challenge familiar notions about social assistance and its consequences, broaden theoretical considerations, or shed new light on methodological decisions. At the same time, they raise questions about what we actually expect when we conduct research, how these expectations shape our research, and what remains visible or invisible.
Submissions
We welcome contributions that take empirical findings, methodological experiences, theoretical reflections, or reflexive perspectives on such moments as their starting point.
Further information on the thematic focus areas, contribution formats, and the submission process can be found in the full Call for Papers:
Submission deadline: October 4, 2026
We look forward to receiving numerous submissions and engaging in an interdisciplinary exchange about what in research surprises, unsettles, and inspires further reflection.
Registration for the conference will open here at the end of 2026.
There are no conference fees.
The members of the Research Training Group “Consequences of Social Services” are responsible for the conference’s program. We warmly welcome you to Siegen and look forward to exchanging ideas with you!
The organizing team can be reached at: folgentagung@uni-siegen.de
Johanna Bück
Vanessa Dobbener
Katharina Hector
Kai Frederik Kaussow
Margarete Killian
Nicolas Krumpe
Christian Menschik
Niklas Pöhnert
Nikolai Schayani
Nadine Stelzer
Janne Tetzlaff
Nina Thielges
Antonia Vogt
Lea Wulf
Jirka Wunsch
Christine Zinke
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