Mosques, Muslims, Methods: the Role of Mosques in Research about Muslims in Europe

The authors examine the methodological debate surrounding the use of mosques as recruiting grounds for research on Muslims in Europe. While acknowledging critiques regarding sampling bias and the 'lived religion' perspective, they argue that terms like 'organized' or 'member' are too imprecise to invalidate mosque-based sampling. Using the FINEX project in the Nordic countries as a case study, they suggest that the 'technologization' of mosques (via social media and email) and their institutional role in European societies actually increase their utility as research entry points. They recommend a stratified approach to sampling and the separation of recruitment from the actual data collection environment to ensure ecological validity.

• Critics of using mosques as research entry points argue that such methods suffer from sampling bias because mosque attendees do not represent the total Muslim population's diversity in terms of age, gender, or theological viewpoints, and may overrepresent conservative or orthodox perspectives.
• The authors contend that methodological critiques of mosque-based research often rely on unstable and imprecise definitions of 'organized' versus 'non-organized' Muslims, which vary significantly across different national contexts and funding regimes.
• In the Nordic countries, mosque membership rates vary widely; for example, registered members of mosque organizations represent approximately 75% of the Muslim population in Norway, compared to 27% in Sweden, 20% in Finland, and 17% in Denmark (based on 2016/2017 estimates).
• To minimize 'desirability bias' and the influence of the religious environment on responses, researchers should conceptually and practically separate the recruitment of participants through mosque networks from the actual data collection process.
• The 'technologization' of mosques—specifically the use of Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and email—has expanded their reach, allowing them to connect with a broader range of Muslims, including those with only loose or occasional affiliations.
• The process of 'churchification' in Europe, where Islamic organizations are adapted to national legal and bureaucratic frameworks, has led to mosques being legitimized as representatives of Islam within their respective countries.

APA

Brekke, T., Kühle, L., Larsson, G., & Martikainen, T. (n.d.). Mosques, Muslims, Methods: the Role of Mosques in Research about Muslims in Europe. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/49021761-b4be-4c7f-b21f-3c869fcaa2ba/Mosques Muslims Methods the Role of Mosques in Research about Muslims in Europe.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Brekke, Torkel, Lene Kühle, Göran Larsson, and Tuomas Martikainen. Mosques, Muslims, Methods: the Role of Mosques in Research about Muslims in Europe. Peace Research Institute Oslo, n.d. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/49021761-b4be-4c7f-b21f-3c869fcaa2ba/Mosques Muslims Methods the Role of Mosques in Research about Muslims in Europe.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Brekke |first1=Torkel |last2=Kühle |first2=Lene |last3=Larsson |first3=Göran |last4=Martikainen |first4=Tuomas |title=Mosques, Muslims, Methods: the Role of Mosques in Research about Muslims in Europe |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/49021761-b4be-4c7f-b21f-3c869fcaa2ba/Mosques Muslims Methods the Role of Mosques in Research about Muslims in Europe.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{brekkendmosques, author = {Brekke, Torkel and Kühle, Lene and Larsson, Göran and Martikainen, Tuomas}, title = {{Mosques, Muslims, Methods: the Role of Mosques in Research about Muslims in Europe}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/49021761-b4be-4c7f-b21f-3c869fcaa2ba/Mosques Muslims Methods the Role of Mosques in Research about Muslims in Europe.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }