Context as a part of our cases: the potential of qualitative work in welfare attitudes research

Survey-based research on welfare attitudes has produced high-quality knowledge on welfare state attitudes. At the same time, there is a broad interest in qualitative research in welfare legitimacy. Despite vivid debates in both research strands, the two have rarely been brought together. However, existing mixed methods approaches show that there is large potential in a more widespread introduction of qualitative work in the quantitative welfare attitude strand. To foster dialogue, the chapter introduces the concept of ‘context’ as a bridge between the epistemologies of qualitative and quantitative research on welfare attitudes. The chapter discusses existing approaches of qualitative welfare attitude research and links between qualitative and quantitative work in the field. These approaches are then discussed with an analytical focus on the role of context. Finally, illustrating its claim with data from qualitative group discussions in Germany, the chapter opens new routes for qualitative and mixed-method welfare attitude research.