Marcel van Assen

Prof. Marcel van Assen holds the position of Professor by Special Appointment at Utrecht University's Department of Sociology within the Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences. His work is embedded in the research of the Department and the research school ICS (Interuniversity Center for Social Science Theory and Methodology), contributing to the research line on Cooperation in Social and Economic Relations. He has been affiliated with Utrecht University since at least 2016, following his inaugural lecture on 08 September 2016.

His research expertise spans meta-analysis, replication research, research methodology, and statistical analysis, with a focus on social dilemmas, frailty in aging populations, and detecting research misconduct. He also investigates psychological phenomena such as autonomy-connectedness and its implications for mental health, particularly in multicultural contexts and anxiety disorders.

Recent articles reflect his commitment to advancing reproducibility in psychological science, analyzing publication bias, and exploring interventions for anxiety. His publications consistently emphasize methodological rigor, statistical best practices, and interdisciplinary approaches to social, behavioral, and health-related research.

• Contributes to the Tilburg Frailty Indicator research, examining its predictive validity for adverse health outcomes.
• Collaborates with researchers like Dr. R. van Aert and Dr. J. Wicherts on meta-analytic techniques and replication studies.
• Active in developing tools like the Meta-Plot to improve meta-analysis interpretation.

Labs/Teams: His research is part of the Department of Sociology and the ICS research school, focusing on interdisciplinary projects involving social networks, solidarity, inequality, and cooperative behaviors.