René Bekkers
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View article: A Modular Approach to Research Quality
A Modular Approach to Research Quality Open
A dashboard of transparency indicators signaling trustworthiness Our Research Transparency Check (Bekkers et al., 2025) rests on two pillars. The first pillar is the development of Metacheck (formerly known as Papercheck, DeBruine &
View article: # <scp>BloodDonation</scp> : How European Blood Banks Use Social Media to Reach Donors and Non‐Donors
# <span>BloodDonation</span> : How European Blood Banks Use Social Media to Reach Donors and Non‐Donors Open
In recent years, social media has become increasingly central to the communication strategies of non‐profit organizations. While the body of research on social media use in philanthropy is extensive and growing, it predominantly focuses on…
View article: A 25 year old successful replication
A 25 year old successful replication Open
While reviewing a paper, I suddenly remembered the first replication of an experimental study I ever conducted. It's 25 years old. In March 2000, I taught a workshop for a sociology class of 25 undergraduate students at Utrecht University.
View article: The High Five: A Checklist for the Evaluation of Knowledge Claims
The High Five: A Checklist for the Evaluation of Knowledge Claims Open
As the wave of LLM generated research swells, how can you tell whether it is legit?
View article: Let us be Clear: Why and how to Demonstrate data and Methods Transparency in Nonprofit Research
Let us be Clear: Why and how to Demonstrate data and Methods Transparency in Nonprofit Research Open
Transparency means being honest and open about one’s practices. Transparency is considered a gold standard in the nonprofit sector and associated with a range of positive outcomes. We propose that transparency should also become a guiding …
View article: Let's be clear: Why and how to demonstrate data and methods transparency in nonprofit research
Let's be clear: Why and how to demonstrate data and methods transparency in nonprofit research Open
Transparency means being honest and open about one’s practices. Transparency is considered a gold standard in the nonprofit sector and associated with a range of positive outcomes. We propose that transparency should also become a guiding …
View article: Replication Value: A Comment and Alternative
Replication Value: A Comment and Alternative Open
Which claims in science should receive more thorough scrutiny in replication attempts? Isager, Van ‘t Veer, & Lakens (2024) approach replication value from a utilitarian perspective, and propose a formula to quantify it. The value of a…
View article: Hop in and Drop Out: How are Changes in the Life Course Related to Changes in Volunteering for Humanitarian Organizations?
Hop in and Drop Out: How are Changes in the Life Course Related to Changes in Volunteering for Humanitarian Organizations? Open
This article examines to what extent life course changes are associated with the likelihood to start humanitarian volunteering, and how many people start, quit or continue humanitarian volunteering over a longer time period, in the Netherl…
View article: Let's be clear: Why and how to demonstrate data and methods transparency in nonprofit research
Let's be clear: Why and how to demonstrate data and methods transparency in nonprofit research Open
Transparency means being honest and open about one’s practices. Transparency is considered a gold standard in the nonprofit sector and associated with a range of positive outcomes. We propose that transparency should also become a guiding …
View article: Increasing Knowledge about Plasma and Plasma-Donation through a Serious Game: Evidence from a Mixed-Method Study
Increasing Knowledge about Plasma and Plasma-Donation through a Serious Game: Evidence from a Mixed-Method Study Open
Many European countries are facing plasma shortages, with lack of awareness and knowledge about plasma donation being a potential explanation for low donor numbers. One approach to increasing knowledge and awareness about plasma is through…
View article: #BloodDonation: How European Blood Banks Use Social Media to Reach Donors and Non-Donors
#BloodDonation: How European Blood Banks Use Social Media to Reach Donors and Non-Donors Open
In recent years, social media has become increasingly central to the communication strategies of non-profit organizations. While the body of research on social media use in philanthropy is extensive and growing, it predominantly focuses on…
View article: Let's be clear: Why and how to demonstrate data and methods transparency in nonprofit research
Let's be clear: Why and how to demonstrate data and methods transparency in nonprofit research Open
Transparency means being honest and open about one’s practices. Transparency is considered a gold standard in the nonprofit sector and associated with a range of positive outcomes. We propose that transparency should also become a guiding …
View article: Detecting Bad Science: Reviewing and Improving Social Science Research
Detecting Bad Science: Reviewing and Improving Social Science Research Open
Check out Detecting Bad Science, a new website I’ve created to help you identify weaknesses in empirical research reports. For each weakness you’ll find suggestions to avoid or repair it, or mitigate its consequences. The materials help yo…
View article: What helped me advance in academia?
What helped me advance in academia? Open
Looking back at my career thus far, I see four things that helped me advance in academia: freedom, help from others, coincidence, and quirkiness. Plus privilege, health, naive optimism, and openness.
View article: Autobiography of a Career Split
Autobiography of a Career Split Open
It’s time for a career split: in the coming years, I am adding meta science and research integrity as a second line of research, next to the science of philanthropy. It’s a split, not a switch. I’m far from done with research on research o…
View article: Generating Generosity
Generating Generosity Open
Why is the share of income and wealth that people give to charities lower when their income and wealth are higher? Are more generous persons less likely to accumulate wealth? Or does wealth make people care less about those in need? Can fu…
View article: Declining generosity
Declining generosity Open
Both in the Netherlands and in the USA, generosity has been declining in the past years. In the USA, the value of donations in 2023 declined by 2.1%, adjusted for inflation, according to recent findings from Giving USA. We found a similar …
View article: Replication Value Increases With Transparency, Test Severity, and Societal Impact
Replication Value Increases With Transparency, Test Severity, and Societal Impact Open
Which claims in science should receive more thorough scrutiny in replication attempts? Isager, Van ‘t Veer, & Lakens (2024) approach replication value from a utilitarian perspective, and propose a formula to quantify it. The value of a…
View article: Replication Value: A Comment and Alternative
Replication Value: A Comment and Alternative Open
Which claims in science should receive more thorough scrutiny in replication attempts? Isager, Van ‘t Veer, & Lakens (2024) approach replication value from a utilitarian perspective, and propose a formula to quantify it. The value of a…
View article: Data? What Data?
Data? What Data? Open
Scientific research is based on data. How should researchers treat and document the data they analyze? Research Data Management policies recommend that data should be “as open as possible, and as closed as necessary”. What does that mean i…
View article: 5 ways students do not use ChatGPT and AI (you won’t believe #2!)
5 ways students do not use ChatGPT and AI (you won’t believe #2!) Open
Gotcha. Or did the clickbait title not get you here? Regardless, I will try not to disappoint you. But before we get to the promised list, here’s why it is important. The nightmare of every business: suddenly a new competitor emerges, wipi…
View article: Civic-Mindedness Is More Than Personality
Civic-Mindedness Is More Than Personality Open
Many colleges and universities have embraced the goal of increasing students’ civic-mindedness. The research associated with theorizing and measuring civic-mindedness, however, has thus far progressed in a silo away from the established li…
View article: Let's be clear: Why and how to demonstrate data and methods transparency in nonprofit research
Let's be clear: Why and how to demonstrate data and methods transparency in nonprofit research Open
Transparency means being honest and open about one’s practices. Transparency is considered a gold standard in the nonprofit sector and associated with a range of positive outcomes. We propose that transparency should also become a guiding …
View article: Let's be clear: Why and how to demonstrate data and methods transparency in nonprofit research
Let's be clear: Why and how to demonstrate data and methods transparency in nonprofit research Open
Transparency means being honest and open about one’s practices. Transparency is considered a gold standard in the nonprofit sector and associated with a range of positive outcomes. We propose that transparency should also become a guiding …
View article: New Research Plan: Wealth and Generosity
New Research Plan: Wealth and Generosity Open
To what extent does the accumulation of wealth reduce feelings of responsibility for society and behavioral manifestations of generosity, such as charitable giving and bequeathing? Since 2003, the level of generosity of the Dutch populatio…
View article: Where did all the time go?
Where did all the time go? Open
It’s one of those days – at 13.25 I have not yet worked on any of the main tasks I envisioned for myself. Where did all the time go this morning? I do know that I handled a lot of messages I received through e-mail. I can even feel a littl…
View article: Blood, it runs in the family: Intergenerational transmission of blood-donor behaviour
Blood, it runs in the family: Intergenerational transmission of blood-donor behaviour Open
Parents may, directly and indirectly, influence their children in developing prosocial behaviour. However, it is uncertain to what extent and how blood donor behaviour is transmitted from one generation to the next. We used linked data fro…
View article: How not to collect data on Qualtrics
How not to collect data on Qualtrics Open
If you’re using the Qualtrics platform to collect data, in most cases you will not need the exact IP address or geolocation data such as longitude and latitude coordinates. As a rule, you don’t want to collect personal information that you…