We are excited to announce preconference workshops! The preconference workshops will take place on Sunday 14th, between 9 am - 12 pm.
Instructor: Daniel Leising, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
Number of available slots: 25
This workshop is supposed to encourage participants to engage in systematic consensus-building processes (CBPs), and to think about a concrete project of this type that they would find worthwhile and could see themselves pursuing together with some of their peers. For decades, it has been bemoaned that many branches of (e.g., social and personality) psychology do not value this crucial type of academic work enough, resulting in (e.g.) ambiguous terminology, uneven methodology, and an overall lack of efficiency and traceable progress.
I will begin by briefly reviewing the arguments that can be made in favor of systematic consensus-building, as well as against it. I personally am convinced that the benefits clearly outweight the risks, although the latter do have to be taken seriously and kept in check. To help with this, I recently published a “tentative roadmap for consensus building processes", together with a group of colleagues (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/27000710241298610 ). Using this roadmap, we will devote the main part of the workshop to exploring possible CBPs regarding topics that that the participants themselves are most interested in and find most important. Among the questions that we will grapple with are: Who would you want to work with? How would you manage the overall process? What is a realistic timeline? What would be important milestones along the way? What would an optimal outcome look like? And when would the process have to be considered a failure? I will also spend some time introducing the Visual Argument Structure Tool (VAST; https://open.lnu.se/index.php/metapsychology/article/view/2911), which may be used to structure a discussion over the actual content matter of a CBP.
Instructors:
Franziska Stanke, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
Le Vy Phan, University of the Bundeswehr Munich, Munich, Germany
Number of available slots: 25
Surveys conducted by the DGPs indicate that power abuse is an issue that also occurs in academic settings (Bössel et al., 2023; Elson et al., 2020) and can have a lasting impact on the academic environment. This workshop aims to provide an opportunity to openly and practically address this sensitive topic, which is of central importance to the academic community. Power abuse can manifest in various relationships within universities, such as between doctoral candidates and supervisors, employees and assistants, or instructors and students. As a result, it is a relevant issue for academics at all career stages. The workshop will cover various forms of power abuse as well as legitimate uses of power in academia. After a brief introduction to theoretical foundations, the workshop will focus on discussing systemic factors that contribute to power abuse, as well as exploring possible courses of action tailored to the structures and demands of universities and research institutions. In a safe environment, participants will be invited to reflect on their own experiences based on case studies and discuss them in small groups. Using these examples, participants are invited to discuss concrete strategies to identify and appropriately respond to both subtle and overt cases of power abuse at an early stage. The goal of the workshop is to create a space for dialogue on power abuse and power use in academia and, ultimately, to foster a culture of mutual respect and transparency that contributes to a productive and respectful academic environment.
Instructors:
Andreas Glöckner, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Susann Fiedler, WU Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Fiona tho Pesch, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Number of available slots: up to 50
As in all other scientific fields, theories in psychology should meet at least minimal scientific criteria, including objectivity, coherence, and non-tautology. However, most theories in social psychology are formulated as verbal narratives, which only partially meet these standards. We propose that all psychological theories should be formally specified to ensure these minimal criteria are fulfilled. The Theory Specification Challenge for Bochum 2025 aims to address this issue using a “many theorists” approach and a simple Proposition-Based Theory Specification methodology. In this workshop, we will (a) present the methodology for theory specification, consensus building, and theory rating used in the challenge, (b) discuss the materials and guidelines, and (c) share results, insights, and problems identified in the many theorists project. In the second part of the workshop, we will (d) provide hands-on practice in applying the theory specification methodology and (e) encourage participants to contribute to the continuation of this approach.
Instructors:
Vanessa Clemens, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Pinar Ugular, Özegin University, Istanbul, Turkey
Angela Dorrough, University of Cologne, Cologne/Fernuniversität Hagen, Germany
Number of available slots: 25
Target Audience
This workshop is designed for researchers at all career stages, from early-career scholars new to cross-cultural research to established researchers seeking to expand their networks. The diversity of perspectives will enrich discussions and inspire innovative collaborations.
The workshop will consist of two main parts, each addressing a critical aspect of cross-cultural research:
Part 1: Best Practices and Challenges in Cross-Cultural Studies
This session will focus on practical and methodological issues encountered at various stages of cross-cultural research projects. Topics will include: Funding, Study Design and Material Preparation, Data Collection, Data Analysis and Interpretation
The session will feature short expert presentations followed by breakout discussions where participants can share experiences and strategies for conducting cross-cultural research.
Part 2: Directions for Future Collaborations
This session will explore opportunities for collaboration and innovation in cross-cultural research, with a focus on multi-site studies and new approaches.
An online resource hub will be created to share materials and contacts, ensuring participants can continue their collaborations after the preconference.
Planned Schedule
9:00–9:15: Welcome and Introduction
9:15–10:30: Part 1 – Best Practices and Challenges in Cross-Cultural Studies
Expert presentations (45 minutes).
Breakout discussions (30 minutes).
10:30–10:45: Coffee Break
10:45–12:15: Part 2 – Directions for Future Collaborations
Lightning talks (5–10 minutes each).
Collaborative brainstorming session (30 minutes).
12:15–12:30: Closing Remarks and Next Steps
Expected Outcomes
Participants will:
Gain insights into overcoming challenges in cross-cultural research.
Learn innovative methods for conducting culturally inclusive studies.
Build connections with researchers for future collaborations.
Leave with actionable ideas and resources for new projects.
This workshop opportunity is available only to early-career researchers at the late PhD/Postdoc level. Applying for a professorship is a pivotal career step for academics, especially for those venturing into the process for the first time.
Organized by the Early Career Representatives of the Social Psychology Division (Jungmitgliedervertretung der Fachgruppe Sozialpsychologie) Dorothee Mischkowski and Therese-Maria Friehs, this workshop provides early-career researchers with a comprehensive guide through each stage of the application procedure, from legal frameworks and application materials to delivering a trial lecture and mastering the interview with the appointment committee.
Practical exercises will prepare you for typical questions, and the session will conclude with insights into the appointment process and negotiation strategies.
The workshop will be held at the Ruhr University Bochum on Wednesday, September 17th, the day following the conference, between 9 am and 3 pm. It will be conducted in German by an experienced coach, Dr. Margarete Hubrath.
More information on the workshop’s content can be found here. You can indicate your interest in participating when registering for the conference.
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Last update: Apr 14, 2025
