Eldad Davidov

Eldad Davidov is a Professor at the Department of Sociology and Social Psychology at the University of Cologne, Germany, and is also a Visiting Scholar at the Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics (CEE) at Sciences Po, Paris, from January 2025 to February 2026. He previously served as Professor of Sociology at the University of Zurich and was co-director of its Research Priority Program ‘Social Networks’.

His research interests span both methodological and substantive domains in sociology and social psychology. Methodologically, he specializes in structural equation modeling, measurement invariance across cultural and temporal contexts, and longitudinal data analysis. Substantively, his work focuses on human values (especially the Schwartz value theory), attitudes toward immigrants and minorities, antisemitism, and rational choice theories. He emphasizes rigorous measurement and comparability in cross-national survey research.

Eldad Davidov has held numerous leadership and advisory roles, including President of the European Survey Research Association (ESRA) from 2015 to 2017. He has served on editorial boards of major journals such as Social Science Research, Survey Research Methods, and Migration and Society. He has also contributed as a guest editor for special issues on immigration, measurement invariance, and comparative survey analysis. His involvement includes consultancy for the OECD, the European Commission, and scientific advisory roles in projects like the EU COST Action on LGBTI+ inequalities and the German-Israeli Foundation.

He has directed the Institute of Sociology and Social Psychology at the University of Cologne and chaired the research ethics committee. He is actively engaged in methodological advancements and promotes high standards in empirical social research through editorial work, peer review, and academic mentorship.

He advises students on quantitative thesis projects involving structural equation modeling, scale development, and theory-driven analysis of values and immigration attitudes using datasets like the European Social Survey. He emphasizes empirical rigor and theoretical grounding in student research.

He is affiliated with research centers including GESIS and the Minerva Center on Intersectionality in Aging at the University of Haifa. His international collaborations span Europe, Israel, and beyond, reflecting his central role in advancing comparative social science.