Teacher: Beatrice Bobba (Utrecht University, the Netherlands)

Abstract: Longitudinal data is often of utmost importance to developmental scientists. Analyzing longitudinal data not only allows us to better understand how young people develop, but also to better comprehend within-person processes controlling for between-person differences. In this way, longitudinal data can help distinguish developmental processes from individual differences. Furthermore, longitudinal data can inform us about individual differences in developmental processes. Therefore, applying techniques to analyze longitudinal data is a necessary skill for researchers studying development and developmental processes.

In this workshop, you will acquire hands-on knowledge on conducting advanced SEM analyses to study developmental order and processes controlling for individual differences (Random-Intercept Cross Lagged Panel Models), growth (Latent Growth Curve Models), and individual differences in developmental processes (Latent Class Growth Analysis/Growth Mixture Models). The workshop will focus mainly on applications in Mplus but also provide syntax and codes for analyses in R.

Specific information: This workshop is aimed at researchers who want to extend their knowledge about SEM longitudinal modelling techniques, and learn how to use these models in their own analyses. Participants should be familiar with basic SEM models (e.g., path analysis, growth models) and should have experience with running analyses in Mplus (and/or R). To follow the applied part of the workshop, at least one of these programs (Mplus demo version 9 can be freely found here https://www.statmodel.com/demo.shtml; R program can be freely found here: https://cran.r-project.org/) should be installed on your computer.

Teacher bio: Dr. Beatrice Bobba is a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science at Utrecht University, the Netherlands. Her research examines the contextual and cross-cultural factors associated with trends in adolescents’ mental health. More broadly, she adopts an ecological perspective to study the development and adjustment of youth, focusing on the role of individual and socio-contextual factors that shape how adolescents thrive in current multicultural societies. She is well versed in advanced longitudinal analyses which she applies to tackle complex interpersonal and intergroup phenomena in adolescence.

Teacher: Michaela Zambelli (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy)

Abstract: Network Psychometric Analysis is an innovative approach that allows researchers to conceptualize psychological processes as networks of interacting elements and to investigate their reciprocal dynamics of influence and change over time (Borsboom et al., 2021). This methodology is based on the visualization of patterns of relationships between nodes (i.e., variables or indicators) as weighted edges (i.e., strength of correlation), allowing the researcher to detect significant structures in the data to describe the functioning of complex psychological processes.

If you are interested in delving into the systemic perspective of the network psychometric approach, this pre-conference workshop is perfect for you!

During this workshop, you will learn:
a) the theoretical assumptions of the network psychometric approach;
b) how to interpret a network model and its basic features;
c) how to apply network models to cross-sectional data using the freely available software R and JASP.

Specific information: No prior knowledge is required to participate in the workshop. It is recommended to download the software R and RStudio https://posit.co/download/rstudio-desktop/), and JASP (https://jasp-stats.org/download/) onto your laptop.

Teacher: Valeria Bacaro (University of Bologna, Italy)

Abstract: This pre-conference workshop will provide participants with the fundamental knowledge and practical skills needed to understand, plan, and conduct systematic reviews and meta-analyses in psychological research, with a specific focus on adolescence research. The session will combine short lectures, interactive discussions, and hands-on activities, and will provide materials for conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses following international guidelines. The workshop will cover the key steps and skills required to conduct a systematic review with meta-analysis, including:  major reporting guidelines knowledge; formulating research questions; defining inclusion and exclusion criteria; conducting comprehensive literature searches; preparing pre-registration, coding protocols, and meta-analytic databases; computing effect sizes and overall estimates.

Specific information: Participants may find it useful to review introductory material such as PRISMA guidelines to conduct systematic review and meta-analysis. No advanced statistical background is required, although basic familiarity with quantitative research methods would be beneficial. Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop. Some practical demonstrations may use Excel or other commonly used tools, but no software installation is strictly necessary.

Teacher bio: Dr. Valeria Bacaro is a post-doctoral researcher at the Department of Psychology “Renzo Canestrari” at the University of Bologna, Italy. She is a psychologist, psychotherapist, and holds a PhD in Psychology. She is currently part of the ERC Consolidator Grant IDENTITIES project. Her research interests focus on adolescents’ sleep health and psychosocial development. She has conducted and supervised several systematic reviews and meta-analyses involving different study designs (longitudinal, cross-sectional, intervention studies, and randomized controlled trials). Her expertise includes literature searching strategies, the development of eligibility criteria and coding protocols, assessment of risk of bias using major guidelines (e.g., Cochrane RoB, GRADE), and meta-analytic computations with various statistical software. She also has extensive knowledge of major reporting standards, including PRISMA, MARS, and MOOSE.

Teacher: Sander Thomaes (Utrecht University, the Netherlands)

Abstract: Writing and publishing scientific papers can be challenging, but it is a skill you can learn and continue to refine. This workshop is designed to help you strengthen that skill. We will explore how to communicate your research with clarity, style, and persuasive force. How to organize the main sections of your paper, your paragraphs, and your sentences? How to avoid some common pitfalls of academic writing? How to select a target journal to publish in? How to handle reviews and respond to reviewer comments? Throughout the workshop, you will learn straightforward strategies and work on hands-on exercises aimed at writing clearly, concisely, and effectively. The workshop is intended for PhD candidates and other early career scholars—both those who are new to writing scientific papers and those who have already written one or more.

Specific information: Ahead of the workshop, participants will be invited to share a few questions that they would like to see addressed. No additional preparation is required.

Teacher bio: Sander Thomaes is Professor of Developmental Psychology and Vice-Dean for Research and Impact at Utrecht University, The Netherlands. His research centers on the overarching question of how young people navigate an increasingly complex and rapidly changing society. For example, how can youth cope and engage with the reality of climate change? As an administrator, Sander invests in fostering science-society alliance, open science, fair distribution of science funding, and healthy workplace culture. As an educator and mentor, Sander teaches professional development to early career scholars.

Teachers: Sauro Civitillo & Philipp Jugert (Utrecht University, the Netherlands / Universität Duisburg-Essen, Germany)

Abstract: Researchers investigating migration and integration face ongoing challenges in accurately reflecting the diverse experiences tied to ethnicity, race, religion, heritage, and culture. This workshop will encourage participants to explore the complexities within social categories when studying migration through quantitative methods. Quantitative research is highly regarded due to its perception as being objective and reliable. However, many researchers overlook the socially constructed nature of such data and the biases inherent in their interpretations. Building on frameworks like QuantCrit (Garcia et al., 2018; Gillborn et al., 2018) and CritQuant (Arellano, 2022; Tabron & Thomas, 2023), this workshop will emphasize the role of racism, challenge the neutrality of numbers, and question the assumed naturalness of categories like “migration background” or “migrant.” Participants will engage in critical reflection on these concepts and learn how to apply quantitative research methods to race, ethnicity, migration, and integration in a reflexive manner while considering the particularities of these concepts in their own contexts.

Specific information: No need for some additional knowledge. This workshop is intended for researchers who use quantitative research methods and are interested in studying migration-related issues among adolescents. No obligatory reading.

Teacher bio: Philipp Jugert is professor of social and intercultural psychology at the University of Duisburg-Essen. His research focuses on intergroup relations, social identity, diversity, and migration, with a particular emphasis on adolescence and youth development. His work examines how social identities shape attitudes, behavior, and participation in diverse societies, including topics such as discrimination, civic engagement, and collective action.

Sauro Civitillo is an Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Social Science at the European Research Centre on Migration and Ethnic Relations (ERCOMER). His research lies at the intersection of educational, developmental, and social psychologies. Broadly, his work explores how teaching practices and school contextual characteristics shape youth’s development and academic success. More specifically, he investigates (1) how teachers become culturally responsive educators and address inequities in schools, and (2) how adolescents navigate constraints and barriers (e.g., interpersonal racial and ethnic discrimination, stereotypes and prejudice in school) to express their potential.

Teacher: Elisabetta Crocetti & Fabrizia Giannotta (Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna/University of Turin, Italy)

Abstract: Building a research career in academia can be challenging. This workshop focuses on networking and funding opportunities as two key allies for scholars in developing and advancing their research interests within a scholarly community. The workshop will explore how networking can support access to relevant communities, collaborations, and informal opportunities, and how different types of funding can be strategically used to deepen and sustain a research agenda. Through concrete examples and practical guidance, participants will gain insights into effective networking approaches and best practices for preparing a grant proposal. The workshop will take a concrete, participatory approach, in which teachers will provide examples from their experience as grantees funded by national and European agencies (e.g., Marie Curie, ERC) and as project evaluators, and will stimulate interactions and exchanges among participants.

Specific information: Ahead of the workshop, participants will be invited to prepare and share a brief project proposal (1,5 pages) using a template and specific criteria provided in advance. During the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to improve their proposals, discuss them with other participants, and receive feedback from the teachers.

Teacher bio: Elisabetta Crocetti is Full Professor of Social Psychology at the Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna Italy. She is the President of the European Association for Research in Adolescence (EARA) and Responsible of the IDENTITIES Lab. She is the Editor-in-Chief of Identity: An International Journal of Theory and Research and a member of the editorial board of several international journals, such as Adolescent Research Review, European Review of Social Psychology, and Journal of Youth and Adolescence. Her primary scholarly interest concerns the processes of identity formation in adolescence. She is the PI of the ERC-Consolidator  project IDENTITIES “Managing Identities in Diverse Societies: A Developmental Intergroup Perspective with Adolescents” which aims to shed light on how the interactions that adolescents with and without a migrant background have in different spheres of life and socialization contexts affect their identities and their physical, psychological, and social well-being.

Fabrizia Giannotta is Associate Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Turin, Italy, and Guest Researcher at the Department of Public Health at Stockholm University, Sweden. She serves as Secretary of the European Association for Research in Adolescence (EARA) and is a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of Youth and Adolescence and Identity An International Journal of Theory and Research. Her research focuses on risk and protective factors for mental health during adolescence, as well as interventions aimed at promoting adolescent well-being. She has received funding from the European Commission (Intra-European Marie Curie Fellowship, FP7) and national agencies (Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare) to support research in this area. She is currently leading a longitudinal, cross-national project investigating protective factors for adolescent mental health, with particular attention to socio-economic inequalities.