The missing link: Theory in social psychology as key contribution to transdisciplinary research

Naomi Ellemers

doi:10.1080/10463283.2025.2489867

The missing link: Theory in social psychology as key contribution to transdisciplinary research

Naomi Ellemers^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

Abstract

Recent developments in social psychology advocate methodological and statistical innovations, suggesting there is “one best way” of doing research. However, each research approach has its own benefits and limitations. A combination of multiple perspectives, methods, and samples is needed for additional theory development, and facilitates exchanges with other disciplines in transdisciplinary research programs. The cognitive, emotional, and behavioural mechanisms studied in social psychology provide a crucial missing link that connects population-level patterns and trends to group-level concerns and individual decisions. Theory and research on group dynamics and intergroup relations are of particular relevance in this context. Recent studies showcase the important role social psychologists have to play in theory development as well as the resolution of social problems.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	268-297
Number of pages	30
Journal	European Review of Social Psychology
Volume	36
Issue number	2
Early online date	13 Apr 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/10463283.2025.2489867
Publication status	Published - 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Funding

This work was supported by the Dutch Research Council (Netherlands Organization of Scientific Research, NWO), and the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) Gravitation grant number [024.003.025] and by a NWO Spinoza grant. Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek [Spinoza Award]; Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek [Gravitation Program SCOOP Sustainable Cooperation].

Funders	Funder number
Dutch Research Council (Netherlands Organization of Scientific Research, NWO)
Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) Gravitation	024.003.025
NWO Spinoza grant
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek

Keywords

Preregistration
multi-method
replication
theory of change
transdisciplinary

Access to Document

10.1080/10463283.2025.2489867Licence: CC BY

The missing link Theory in social psychology as key contribution to transdisciplinary researchFinal published version, 1.65 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{8ed432396fe845b5acf84a6866ee44a4,

title = "The missing link: Theory in social psychology as key contribution to transdisciplinary research",

abstract = "Recent developments in social psychology advocate methodological and statistical innovations, suggesting there is “one best way” of doing research. However, each research approach has its own benefits and limitations. A combination of multiple perspectives, methods, and samples is needed for additional theory development, and facilitates exchanges with other disciplines in transdisciplinary research programs. The cognitive, emotional, and behavioural mechanisms studied in social psychology provide a crucial missing link that connects population-level patterns and trends to group-level concerns and individual decisions. Theory and research on group dynamics and intergroup relations are of particular relevance in this context. Recent studies showcase the important role social psychologists have to play in theory development as well as the resolution of social problems.",

keywords = "Preregistration, multi-method, replication, theory of change, transdisciplinary",

author = "Naomi Ellemers",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor \& Francis Group.",

year = "2025",

doi = "10.1080/10463283.2025.2489867",

language = "English",

volume = "36",

pages = "268--297",

journal = "European Review of Social Psychology",

issn = "1046-3283",

publisher = "Taylor and Francis",

number = "2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The missing link: Theory in social psychology as key contribution to transdisciplinary research

AU - Ellemers, Naomi

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Recent developments in social psychology advocate methodological and statistical innovations, suggesting there is “one best way” of doing research. However, each research approach has its own benefits and limitations. A combination of multiple perspectives, methods, and samples is needed for additional theory development, and facilitates exchanges with other disciplines in transdisciplinary research programs. The cognitive, emotional, and behavioural mechanisms studied in social psychology provide a crucial missing link that connects population-level patterns and trends to group-level concerns and individual decisions. Theory and research on group dynamics and intergroup relations are of particular relevance in this context. Recent studies showcase the important role social psychologists have to play in theory development as well as the resolution of social problems.

AB - Recent developments in social psychology advocate methodological and statistical innovations, suggesting there is “one best way” of doing research. However, each research approach has its own benefits and limitations. A combination of multiple perspectives, methods, and samples is needed for additional theory development, and facilitates exchanges with other disciplines in transdisciplinary research programs. The cognitive, emotional, and behavioural mechanisms studied in social psychology provide a crucial missing link that connects population-level patterns and trends to group-level concerns and individual decisions. Theory and research on group dynamics and intergroup relations are of particular relevance in this context. Recent studies showcase the important role social psychologists have to play in theory development as well as the resolution of social problems.

KW - Preregistration

KW - multi-method

KW - replication

KW - theory of change

KW - transdisciplinary

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105002729151

U2 - 10.1080/10463283.2025.2489867

DO - 10.1080/10463283.2025.2489867

M3 - Review article

SN - 1046-3283

VL - 36

SP - 268

EP - 297

JO - European Review of Social Psychology

JF - European Review of Social Psychology

IS - 2

ER -

The missing link: Theory in social psychology as key contribution to transdisciplinary research

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this