Street Epistemology International is supporting a scientific study on Street Epistemology at LMU Munich. The research team is currently seeking volunteers who are willing to conduct Street Epistemology conversations on democracy.
Call
A research team at LMU Munich (Germany), led by Prof. Dr. Alexander Wuttke, is running a study funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The project rigorously examines the effectiveness of Street Epistemology (SE) as a method of engagement. Specifically, the study investigates whether SE conversations can influence how people reflect on and evaluate democracy.
To carry out this research, the team is building a pool of experienced SE practitioners who are willing to conduct structured, one-on-one Zoom conversations as part of a randomized controlled trial.
What You Would Do
- Conduct SE-style 1:1 Zoom conversations following a standardized study protocol
- Each session lasts approximately 20 minutes
- Topic: claims related to democracy
Time Commitment & Timeline
- Fall 2026: Onboarding and training (to ensure consistency across interviewers)
- 2027: Approximately 5–25 conversations per interviewer, depending on availability
- Languages: English or German
The research team will handle participant recruitment, scheduling, reminders, technical setup, study design, and academic evaluation.
What We Ask From Volunteers
- Prior experience practicing Street Epistemology or motivation to acquire the necessary skills
- Willingness to follow a standardized protocol
- Commitment to maintaining confidentiality
- Access to a quiet space and stable internet connection for Zoom conversations
What You Receive
- The opportunity to contribute to one of the first large-scale scientific evaluations of Street Epistemology in a real-world intervention setting
- Structured training and calibration with other practitioners
- Early updates on study progress and findings
- Optional feedback on protocol adherence and conversation techniques
Ethics & Privacy
- All participants will provide informed consent
The study will undergo review by LMU Munich’s ethics committee
Sessions will be recorded by the research team for research and quality assurance purposes
Recordings will be stored securely and used exclusively for scientific analysis
Full details will be provided during onboarding.
Next Steps
The research team is currently estimating the number of potential volunteers, which is necessary for finalizing the study design and sample size calculations.
Detailed information about the next steps will be shared in Summer 2026.
