Personal profile
Personal profile
https://www.linkedin.com/in/wander-van-der-vaart-12876939?trk=hp-identity-name
Wander van der Vaart is Associate Professor Theory of Science, Methodology and Research Methods at the University of Humanistic Studies, Utrecht (The Netherlands) and the university's Graduate School Director.
He has a background in quantitative and qualitative research methods, political science and psychology. His main interests are in mixed-methods research, social-cognitive aspects of data collection, tailored approaches for hard-to-study populations and impact evaluation.
His research is embedded in themes of the university’s research program that address issues on meaning in life, life course and ageing, and social resilience. Scientific publications appear both in methods oriented journals (e.g., on data collection) and in merely substantive journals (e.g.: on ageing and well-being).
Van der Vaart is Vice-President and Board Member of RC33, the Research Committee on Logic and Methodology of the International Sociological Association. RC33 is the methodology division of ISA: in addition to further professional activites, it organizes the methodology tracks of ISA's four yearly world conferences and RC33-conferences on research methodology world-wide.
External positions
Member editorial board of peer-reviewed journal, “Survey Methods", Mannheim / Lausanne
Referee for peer-reviewed scientific journals, Family Planning Studies, Survey Methods, Field Methods, Public Opinion Quarterly, Applied Cognitive Psychology, International Journal of Public Opinion Research, Journal of Official Statistics, Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition
Vice-president and Board Member of the Research Committee on Logic and Methodology (ISA-RC33), International Sociological Association (ISA)
Keywords
- mixed-method research
- flexible survey designs
- social and cognitive aspects of survey methodology
- data collection
- hard-to-study populations
- ageing
- well-being
Research themes
- Meaning making and chaplaincy
- Life course, loss and grief
- Democracy, citizenship and education
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
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Impactonderzoek Maatschappelijk Dienst Tijd Missie
van der Vaart, W. (Principal Investigator)
1/02/26 → 1/01/27
Project: Research
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PhD- en evaluatieproject Maatschappelijk Dienst Tijd ‘Meaning making and mental health of young people in the transitional life stage’
van der Vaart, W. (Principal Investigator) & Hendrick, L. (Principal Investigator)
1/01/24 → 1/01/29
Project: Research
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Onderzoek naar project Maatschappelijke Diensttijd
Machielse, A. (Principal Investigator), van der Vaart, W. (Researcher) & Hendrick, L. (Researcher)
1/09/22 → 31/05/23
Project: Research
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Zin in Bellen - Telefonische groepsgesprekken voor ouderen
Machielse, A. (Principal Investigator) & van der Vaart, W. (Principal Investigator)
Centrum voor Levensvragen Rotterdam e.o.
1/09/21 → 1/01/23
Project: Research
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SEE ME: Social inclusion through Meaningful ageing
Machielse, A. (Principal Investigator) & van der Vaart, W. (Researcher)
1/01/21 → 31/12/22
Project: Other
File
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Combining a Life Grid with a Biographical Narrative Approach in Reconstructing the Living Situation of Metro Manila’s Street Dwellers
Reyno, I., Quetulio-Navarra, M. & van der Vaart, W., 2025.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › Academic
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Embedding creative methods in the Life History Calendar approach: Enhancing data quality of biographical research in vulnerable populations
van der Vaart, W. & Torres van Grinsven, V., 2025.Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract › Academic
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Testing a ‘Meaning in Life’ Scale for Vulnerable Older People versus Higher Educated Younger People: Does Item Wording Make a Difference?
van der Vaart, W., 2025.Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract › Academic
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The impact of religious identity on intergroup encounters
Leder, D., van der Vaart, W. & Machielse, J. E. M., 3 Apr 2025, In: Archive for the Psychology of Religion.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open Access -
The International Sociological Association’s RC33 Research Committee ‘Logic and Methodology’ Spring Newsletter
Weichbold, M., Aragona, B., van der Vaart, W., Gaizauskaite, I., van Meter, K. M., Amato, F., Shamon, H., Andersen, H., Liao, P.-S., Onaka, F., Andrade, A. G., Deshmukh, Y., Wagner, C. & Topepoel, V., Apr 2025, In: Bulletin de methodologie sociologique. 165-166, 1-2, p. 268-280 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › Professional
Activities
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Consultant on Research into euthanasia in Japan and the Netherlands from a comparative sociological perspective. With Karen Yamaguchi and Fumiya Onaka.
van der Vaart, W. (Consultant)
Oct 2025Activity: Consultancy
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Training en advies “Methodologische aspecten van het onderzoeksproces”
van der Vaart, W. (Consultant)
Jun 2025Activity: Consultancy
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The 11th International Conference on Social Science Methodology (External organisation)
van der Vaart, W. (Member)
2025 → …Activity: Membership › Membership of committee
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RC33 11th international conference on social science methodology
Torres van Grinsven, V. (Organiser) & van der Vaart, W. (Organiser)
2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Organising a conference, workshop, ...
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5th ISA forum of sociology
van der Vaart, W. (Organiser) & Torres van Grinsven, V. (Organiser)
2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Organising a conference, workshop, ...