Revisiting Theoretical and Methodological Aspects of a Scientific Inquiry of Migration in the Era of Digitalisation

Abstract

This paper discusses how new information technologies will change the inquiry of social processes, particularly regarding migration studies. Modern innovations in the sphere of collection and processing of information, like digitalisation, analysis of Big data, and the development of data science, might transform theoretical approaches to migration studies. Applying Babbie’s (2021) macro and micro theory of social process inquiry, the intention in the current article is to add a nano level, which will be increasingly utilised in the coming years, particularly in the sphere of inquiry of population migration using personal biological (fingerprints, eye features, and even DNA) characteristics. The paper underlines that modern information technologies will not only allow for a deeper understanding, but also for a broader capture of social processes. Moreover, these technologies will facilitate the use of mixed method research, i.e. incorporating quantitative and qualitative approaches. It is also important to understand the continued importance of ethical principles regarding the protection of personal information.

Data on the demographic forecast of the Kazakhstan population

“…Thus, the 1990s were characterized by mass immigration, only in 1991 the negative balance of migration of the republic amounted to 59,140 people. During this period, the negative balance of migration exceeded the natural population growth by more than 2 times, which decreased in the 1990s by almost 2 times, due to a sharp decrease in the number of births and an increase in the number of deaths compared to the previous decade [ 5 ].

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Factor Model for The Migration Processes Development in Kazakhstan

“…Language, customs, and traditions are an important, if not the main, characteristic of ethnic migration. If the political, economic, and social factors are important for all types of migration, then cultural ones are not only distinctive but the most important and main factor in the analysis of ethnic migration (Tatibekov Hanks, 2017).…”