Generation What?

The multimedia project Generation What? is a cross-national study of the young generation in Europe. In addition to Germany, 12 other countries participated. The study was developed and led by broadcasters from the participating countries – in Germany by Bayerischer Rundfunk, Südwestfunk and Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen. Internationally, it was coordinated by the European Broadcasting Union. SINUS-Institut was responsible for evaluating the German data.

Between April 2016 and April 2017, around 165,200 young people took part in the study in Germany alone, and almost one million across Europe. This makes Generation What? one of the largest youth studies ever. Europe’s young people provided information on a wide range of topics via an interactive online questionnaire: in addition to goals in life, wishes, hopes and fears, the research was also about the extent to which young people trust the judiciary, politics, the media and religious institutions in their country.

An article on the study entitled “How do Europe’s youth feel about Europe and the European idea?” is available for download here. A summary of the results of this study on institutional trust can be found here.