Humanising research on migration decision-making: a situated framework

This essay, published on Open Research Europe, the open access publishing platform of the European Commission, deals with one of the most fundamental questions in migration research: why do some people decide to migrate or re-migrate, while others remain where they are? To answer this, Asuncion Fresnoza-Flot develops a “humanising framework” for studying migration decision-making. Unlike mainstream approaches that tend to emphasise rational choice or focus narrowly on a limited set of life dimensions, this framework foregrounds the full humanity of individuals: their subjectivities, emotions, relationships, social embeddedness, and lived experiences. It advances three analytical directions: thick contextualisation, which situates decisions within wider historical, structural, and personal contexts; life dimensions-focused analysis, which recognises the interplay between different aspects of life such as family, work, and wellbeing; and time-situated inquiry, which acknowledges that aspirations and intentions evolve across the life course.

In addition, the paper calls for more inclusive and reflexive research practices by advocating gender-sensitive analyses and decolonised methodologies that better capture the diverse realities of individuals. By doing so, it not only enriches the theoretical landscape of migration studies but also responds to broader calls for scholarship that is more humane, inclusive, and grounded in people’s everyday lives.

This humanising perspective is central to the AspirE project: it guides the way the research team engages with migrants’ voices, analyses their aspirations, and develops tools that move beyond abstract models to capture the complexities of real lives. As the conceptual starting point of AspirE, this essay ensures that the project remains committed to an approach that sees individuals not just as rational actors, but as whole persons navigating migration decisions within dynamic contexts.

Disclaimer: This paper is a revised version and remains a work in progress.