Preface ANNUAL REPORT 2005

Transcription

1 ANNUAL REPORT 2005 Preface This annual report describes the research activities carried out in the Psychology Research Institute of the University of Amsterdam in It includes brief summary statements describing the various research programs, and provides an overview of the scientific output of each of these programs. Amsterdam, April 2005 Joop van der Pligt director 1

2 RESEARCH POLICY Introduction Mission All six research programs of the Psychology Research Institute emphasize quantitative, experimental research on basic processes that shape and determine human behavior. This has been a long-standing characteristic of the Institute, and this orientation is also reflected in the teaching program of the School of Psychology. Research at the Institute tends to be mono-disciplinary, but recent years have seen an increased emphasis on inter-disciplinary collaboration. Researchers from the Institute collaborate with a variety of other disciplines including biology, medicine, environmental sciences, health education, linguistics, cognitive neuroscience, and mathematics. The Institute s orientation toward basic, quantitative research does not imply that more applied issues are ignored in the various research programs. Applied issues are addressed in most of the programs and figure quite prominently in workand organizational psychology, clinical psychology, social psychology, and experimental psychology. Examples are the treatment of psychological dysfunctions, health behavior, decision-making in groups, consumer decisionmaking, and conflict resolution. The principal concern, however remains the provision of a solid theoretical basis of human behavior that should also be of relevance in more applied contexts. Research programs The Institute participates in four national research schools: EPOS (experimental psychology), KLI (social psychology and its applications), EPP (experimental psychopathology) and IOPS (psychometrics & sociometrics). The Institute supports these research schools by financing 25 PhD student positions, as well as by providing advanced postgraduate courses and additional travel funds for PhD students to enable them to present their work at international workshops and conferences. In 2004 the extended MSc degree in Psychology was formally approved by the National Accreditation Committee. All research programs participate in this degree. The degree was submitted by the School of Psychology in close collaboration with the Psychology Research Institute. This two year degree is research oriented and is expected to prepare students for a PhD in Psychology. A first cohort of students was selected early in 2005, and September 2005 saw the start of this new degree course with a total of 30 students. The course attracted students from a variety of countries. 2

3 ANNUAL REPORT 2005 In 2005 the Master s degree in cognitive neuroscience also provides courses in this multi-disciplinary degree. The degree is a collaborative effort in which other disciplines such as biology, information science, and logic was formally recognized by the National Accreditation Committee. Strategy and policy In the recent past we reshaped the technical support unit and upgraded and extended our laboratory facilities. A total of k 2000 was spent to build the present facilities. All rooms were renovated and equipped with new furniture and, where necessary, new computers and equipment to measure behavioral and physiological parameters, as well as neural activity. In this stage we also built additional units with PC s in separate cubicles and/or in a small classroom setting. In a second stage we extended the laboratory by adding several units with EEG facilities, a sleep research unit, and a number of small scale meeting rooms for research practicals. We now also participate in the 3-Tesla fmri facility at the University Hospital AMC, which is dedicated to research for a substantial amount of time. In 2005 all our research programs were assessed by an international committee. The assessment covered the period of Three programs received the highest ranking (5) for quality: Psychonomics, clinical psychology and social psychology. The remaining programs were rated 4 ( very good ). The committee noted that output and impact (reflected in high citation scores) underlined the international impact of our research in the evaluation period, and concluded that all programs were managed very well, and most even excellently. Overall the Institute will continue to build on its strengths: empirical, mostly experimental research on basic processes in adequately sized groups with an international orientation. This aim will probably require additional financial resources in order to maintain the present research facilities and to prepare for the future. 3

4 RESEARCH POLICY Key data 1. University Universiteit van Amsterdam Faculty Department Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences Faculteit der Maatschappij- en Gedragswetenschappen Department of Psychology Afdeling Psychologie 2. Research groups Clinical Psychology Developmental Psychology Psychological Methods Psychonomics Social Psychology Work & Organizational Psychology 3a. Research schools EPOS (Experimental Psychology) (commissioner) KLI (Social Psychology and its applications) 3b. Research schools EPP (Experimental Psychopathology) (participant) IOPS (Psychometrics and Sociometrics) 4a. Income in 2005 direct funding : k 4,868 NWO / KNAW : k 2,272 contract research : k 0,240 4b. Costs in 2004 personnel costs : k 5,383 other costs : k 2,012 4

5 ANNUAL REPORT a. Human resources in 2005 academic staff : support staff : b. Students in 2005 : 2724 (December count) 6. Input of academic staff in 2005 (fte) 1. Psychological dysfunction and health Cognitive development Validity of empirical research in psychology Brain and cognition Social cognition, emotion and identity Groups and individuals at work Total

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