Peter van den Besselaar

Prof. Dr. Peter van den Besselaar

Research Area Research System and Science Dynamics
Acting Head of Department
  • +49 30 2064177-0
  • +49 30 2064177-99

Prof dr Peter van den Besselaar studied mechanical engineering, mathematics and philosophy at the universities of Eindhoven, Utrecht and Amsterdam. He started his career as an assistant and associate professor at the Department of Social Informatics of the University of Amsterdam. In 2002 he moved to the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) to become director of the Netherlands Social Science Data Archive, and in 2005 Peter founded the Department of Science System Assessment of the Rathenau Instituut (also KNAW). From 2004 to 2010 he was a professor of communication science at the University of Amsterdam and after that professor of organization sciences at the Free University Amsterdam. Peter published extensively on a wide range of topics within social informatics and science studies. Since October 2020 he is contracted by DZHW as acting head of department 2 (Research System and Science Dynamics).

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Publications

List of publications

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Is there gender bias in awarding cum laude for the PhD thesis?

van den Besselaar, P., & Mom, C. (2024).
Is there gender bias in awarding cum laude for the PhD thesis? Scientometrics, 1-23 (online first). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-024-04985-6
Abstract

In the Dutch academic system, PhD theses can be awarded with cum laude and at most 5% of all PhD graduates receive this selective distinction for their thesis. In this paper, we investigate whether there is gender bias in awarding cum laude, using data from one of the major Dutch research universities. A main result is that the set of PhD theses receiving cum laude on average do not have a higher quality than the best theses not getting cum laude. A second main result is that, after controlling for the quality of the PhD theses, women still have a substantially lower probability to receive cum laude. These results strongly suggest that the distribution of awards suffers from gender bias.

The Costs of Competition in Distributing Scarce Research Funds.

Schweiger, G., Barnett, A., van den Besselaar, P., Bornmann, L., De Block, A., ... & Conix, S. (2024).
The Costs of Competition in Distributing Scarce Research Funds. Arxiv Preprint. Ithaca, NY: Arxiv.
Abstract

Research funding systems are not isolated systems - but embedded in a larger scientific system with an enormous influence on the system. This paper aims to analyze the allocation of competitive research funding from different perspectives: How reliable are decision processes for funding? What are the economic costs of competitive funding? How does competition for funds affect doing risky research? How do competitive funding environments affect scientists themselves, and which ethical issues must be considered? We attempt to identify gaps in our knowledge and propose recommendations for policymakers and funding agencies, including empirical experiments of decision processes and collection of data on these processes.

Authorship regulations in performance-based funding systems and publication behaviour – A case study of German medical faculties.

Aman, V., & van den Besselaar, P. (2024).
Authorship regulations in performance-based funding systems and publication behaviour – A case study of German medical faculties. Journal of Informetrics, 18(2) (online first). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2024.101500

What to do against gender bias in grant allocation?

van den Besselaar, P., Mom, C., Cruz-Castro, L., Sanz Menéndez, L., Möller, T., ... & Husu, L. (2023).
What to do against gender bias in grant allocation? Amsterdam: TMC.
Abstract

This text summarized the recommendations that can be distilled from the research done in the GRANteD project, and from the interactions with the Stakeholder Committee, the Scientific Advisory Board, and at other exchanges with researchers in the field and with stakeholders in different interactions.

Gender and grants: lessons from nine cases in six European countries.

Möller, T., & van den Besselaar, P. (2023).
Gender and grants: lessons from nine cases in six European countries. Berlin, Amsterdam: DZHW / TMC (nicht zur Veröffentlichung vorgesehen).

Identifying and explaining gender differences in grant decision outcomes: The results of the case studies.

Möller, T., van den Besselaar, P., Cruz-Castro, L., Sanz Menéndez, L., Sandström, U., & Mom, C. (2023).
Identifying and explaining gender differences in grant decision outcomes: The results of the case studies. Berlin, Amsterdam: DZHW / TMC (nicht zur Veröffentlichung vorgesehen).

What is research funding, how does it influence research, and how is it recorded? Key dimensions of variation.

Thelwall, M., Simrick, S., Viney, I., & van den Besselaar, P. (2023).
What is research funding, how does it influence research, and how is it recorded? Key dimensions of variation. Scientometrics , 128, 6085-6106.
Abstract

Evaluating the effects of some or all academic research funding is difficult because of the many different and overlapping sources, types, and scopes. It is therefore important to identify the key aspects of research funding so that funders and others assessing its value do not overlook them. This article outlines 18 dimensions through which funding varies substantially, as well as three funding records facets.

Determinants of cognitive mobility.

Mom, C., Möller, T., & van den Besselaar, P. (2023).
Determinants of cognitive mobility. In ISSI (Hrsg.), Proceedings of ISSI 2023 - the 19th International Conference of the International Society of Scientometrics and Informetrics (ISSI 2023). Bloomington, United States: International Society for Scientometrics and Informetrics.

Two Longitudinal Papers Concerning Gender Disparities in Science Careers.

Sandström, U., Sandström, E., Mom, C., van den Besselaar, P., & Möller, T. (2022).
Two Longitudinal Papers Concerning Gender Disparities in Science Careers. Stockholm, Amsterdam, Berlin: Forskningspolitik Sverige AB, TMC BV, DZHW (nicht zur Veröffentlichung vorgesehen).

What is researcher independence and how can it be measured?

Möller, T., van den Besselaar, P., & Mom, C. (2022).
What is researcher independence and how can it be measured? 26th International Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (STI 2022), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6975311

Factors influencing the academic career – an event history analysis.

Mom, C., van den Besselaar, P., & Möller, T. (2022).
Factors influencing the academic career – an event history analysis. Proceedings of the 26th International Conference on Science and Technology Indicator (STI 2022), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6975565

Evidence and consequences of academic drift in the field of dental research: A bibliometric analysis 2000-2015.

van der Wouden, P., Van der Heijden, G., Shemesh, H., & van den Besselaar, P. (2022).
Evidence and consequences of academic drift in the field of dental research: A bibliometric analysis 2000-2015. BDJ Open, 8(3).
Abstract

The mission of academic excellence has resulted in a science system that incentivises publications within high impact, often basic science journals, and less in application-oriented journals. For the dental research field this so-called academic drift can result in a research portfolio that moves away from research that serves dental healthcare. Using bibliometric data, our findings suggest that the dental research portfolio is influenced by academic drift. This academic drift has increased the disbalance towards basic science, and away from care oriented research. It presents a challenge for the scientific progress in dental healthcare services.

Presentations

List of presentations & conferences

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A tale of two paths: Gender-based academic trajectories.

van den Besselaar, P., Mom, C., & Möller, T. (2023, Oktober).
A tale of two paths: Gender-based academic trajectories. Vortrag auf der Konferenz Analysing gender bias in research funding. 2nd GRANteD Stakeholder Conference, Wien, Österreich.

Where is the gender bias in grant allocation? Empirical findings, conclusions and further lessons.

van den Besselaar, P., Mom, C., & Möller, T. (2023, Oktober).
Where is the gender bias in grant allocation? Empirical findings, conclusions and further lessons. Vortrag im Rahmen des Meeting of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Granted Project., Wien, Österreich.

Findings and lessons from the project GRant AllocatioN Disparities from a gender perspective (GRANteD).

van den Besselaar, P., Mom, C., & Möller, T. (2023, Oktober).
Findings and lessons from the project GRant AllocatioN Disparities from a gender perspective (GRANteD). Vortrag auf dem Workshop Stakeholder-Commitee on Research Funding, Wien, Österreich.

Determinants of cognitive mobility.

Mom, C., Möller, T., & van den Besselaar, P. (2023, Juli).
Determinants of cognitive mobility. Vortrag auf der Konferenz International Society of Scientometrics and Informetrics (ISSI 2023), Bloomington, USA.

Cognitive distance as predictor of cognitive mobility.

van den Besselaar, P., Möller, T., & Mom, C. (2022, November).
Cognitive distance as predictor of cognitive mobility. Vortrag auf dem Workshop Cognitive mobility in the sciences: social, technological and cultural dynamics, DZHW, Berlin.

What is researcher independence and how can it be measured?

Möller, T., van den Besselaar, P., & Mom, C. (2022, September).
What is researcher independence and how can it be measured? Vortrag auf der Konferenz Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (STI 2022), Granada, Spain.

Factors influencing the academic career – an event history analysis.

Mom, C., van den Besselaar, P., & Möller, T. (2022, September).
Factors influencing the academic career – an event history analysis. Vortrag auf der Konferenz Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators (STI 2022), Granada, Spain.

Factors influencing academic careers. Does grant success affect the academic career and does this work differently for women compared to men?

van den Besselaar, P., Mom, C., & Möller, T. (2022, Juni).
Factors influencing academic careers. Does grant success affect the academic career and does this work differently for women compared to men? Vortrag im Forschungskolloquium, DZHW, Berlin.