Multi-sited comparative research designs in migration studies

Migration presents researchers with the challenge of how to gain insight into the multiple affective and material ties that connect people and places in migrant origin countries to the areas that migrants transit through, to countries where migrants reside, and beyond. A further challenge is the simultaneity of flows that these linkages engender, be they money, goods, ideas, or communication. Modern technologies from airplanes to social media have contributed to making such flows increase in speed and frequency, ultimately contributing to a compression of time and space. The challenges that simultaneity poses for migration research methodologies have led to the increasing use of multi-sited comparative designs. Yet, how exactly to conduct such research remains a challenge ever since Marcus’ enticing yet problematic trope of following the people, thing, metaphor, story, biography, and conflict. This contribution will lay out different methodologies to conduct multi-sited comparative research and reflect on the advantages and some of the challenges that they pose for migration researchers.