Research on Societal Participation and Health Services Research

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dagmar Meyer (external link, opens in a new window)

• Prof. Dr. rer. medic. Ludger Batzdorfer  
• Prof. Dr. Daniela Eidt-Koch  
• Prof. Dr. rer. medic. habil. Martina Hasseler
• Prof. Dr. Hilko Holzkämper
• Prof. Dr. Michael Lichtblau
• Prof. Dr. Melanie Lietz
• Prof. Dr. Maria Anna Marchwacka
• Prof. Dr. rer. pol. Felix Miedaner

• Prof. Dr. Björn Hermstein
• Prof. Dr. Markus Arthur Launer

• Prof. Dr. Tobias Dörnbach
• Prof. Dr.-Ing. Reinhard Gerndt
• Prof. Dr. Michaela Huhn
• Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Carsten Meyer
• Prof. Dr. Ina Schiering

• Prof. Dr. Heiko Jahn
• Prof. Dr. Claudia Kaiser
• Prof. Dr. phil. Ludger Kolhoff
• Prof. Dr. jur. habil. Ernst-Wilhelm Luthe
• Prof. Dr. Sina Motzek-Öz
• Prof. Dr. Timo Schreiner
• Prof. Dr. rer. nat. habil. Sandra Verena Müller
• Prof. Dr. phil. Tanja Witting

• Prof. Melanie Beisswenger
• Prof. Dr. Andreas Jain

Although they come from different disciplines, Professors Sandra Verena Müller (Faculty of Social Work), Ina Schiering (Computer Science) and Martina Hasseler (Public Health) have a lot in common. In this interview, they explain what unites them and why their research is particularly important right now.

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The faculties of healthcare, social work, computer science and electrical engineering at Ostfalia work together in participation and healthcare research. But why are the boundaries between these disciplines dissolving here?

Martina Hasseler: "Because this is the only way we can come up with new ideas. We are developing technical and social solutions to enhance healthcare provision and participation opportunities for vulnerable people, as we refer to them in science. We can only achieve this by collaborating with researchers who think differently to us.

Ina Schiering: We are part of a generational change. Universities fulfil a different role today than they did a few years ago. If we are to address many social problems, we must work interdisciplinarily and avoid blinkered thinking.

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Viele Techniker wie Ingenieure, Informatiker und Elektrotechniker arbeiten unter Ihrem Forschungsdach. Was sind die Gründe dafür?

Ina Schiering: Die fortschreitende Digitalisierung und der Siegeszug des Smartphones. Die technischen Anwendungen bieten uns in der Teilhabe- und Versorgungsforschung viel Potenzial. Ein einfaches Beispiel: Mit der Smartwatch können wir Menschen mit Störungen der Exekutivfunktionen, also ihrer Handlungsplanung, helfen, die alltäglichen Ziele nicht aus den Augen zu verlieren. Indem die Uhr ihnen das Signal gibt, ihren Einkauf zu erledigen oder den nächsten Bus zu erreichen.

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What connects you and your fellow researchers?

Sandra Verena Müller: Our shared goal. We want to enable more people to participate in society, so they can organise their everyday lives independently, pursue a career, and take part in cultural life. Our target groups are very diverse and include stroke, tumour and traumatic brain injury patients, as well as people with intellectual disabilities.

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What is one of your projects?

Sandra Verena Müller: 'For the first time in Germany, we have developed a procedure for the early detection and diagnosis of dementia in people with intellectual disabilities. Knowledge of dementia or suspected dementia enables sufferers, their relatives, and staff at institutions to adapt and provide appropriate treatment.

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You conduct research with people, for people. What does that mean for your work?

Ina Schiering: 'As a computer scientist, I specialise in IT security and data protection. In Germany, the fundamental right to informational self-determination applies. This means that people decide for themselves what happens to their personal data. As we work with sensitive information that must not be leaked, my job is to strengthen people's rights, for example by handling data sparingly and anonymising or pseudonymising it wherever possible.

Sandra Verena Müller: The Senate Commission on Research Ethics, which I chair, assesses every research application to ensure it meets the ethical criteria, such as whether participants are properly informed about their rights and how their data is collected and processed. If the applicant does not fulfil the criteria, we make additional demands.'

Martina Hasseler: 'We work with people who are particularly vulnerable due to their physical and mental constitution. This makes it all the more important that we plan the research design carefully.'

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Why is your research particularly important at this time?

Martina Hasseler: 'More and more people in the health and care sector are experiencing quality deficits. The keyword here is shortage of skilled labour. Our studies provide evidence that the underprovision of long-term care is a reality, not just an idea. We conduct applied research and aim to use our projects to improve healthcare.

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Is your research changing society?

Martina Hasseler: ‘We identify the trends in society. Ideally, we then change society.’

Sandra Verena Müller: 'We anticipate changes and react to them. We are facing many challenges, from demographic change to migration. We are already considering how we want life to be in twenty years' time.

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Why is Ostfalia a good place for research?

Sandra Verena Müller: 'Because Ostfalia is very open to research.

Martina Hasseler: ‘... and my university brings me together with colleagues from other faculties.’

Ina Schiering: 'Interdisciplinarity is our success factor.'

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Last but not least: How would you sum up in one sentence why you enjoy your work?

Sandra Verena Müller: ‘Because I deal with important social issues every day and gain insights that benefit people.’

Ina Schiering: ‘Because I can help people exercise their right to informational self-determination, and because I work with many young, interesting people in a university environment.’

Martina Hasseler: Expanding my knowledge in my area of expertise while improving healthcare — that's what motivates me.

EF004: Digitale Bildungsdokumentation in Kitas 

In this episode, Maria Pfützner, a research assistant at the Faculty of Health and Health Care Sciences in Wolfsburg, discusses digital educational documentation in daycare centres. She explains how digital tools can support the documentation of children's educational and developmental processes, and discusses her involvement in developing the 'Childhood Education and Health' degree programme. This episode offers an exciting insight into the future of early childhood education and digital innovations in this field.

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