The Global ABC Project

A cross-national research project that investigates how national structures, like democratic governance, economic infrastructure and inequality, relates to citizens’ psychological well-being through the satisfaction and frustration of basic psychological needs.

© 2026 Global ABC Project. All rights reserved. The Global ABC Project logo may not be reproduced, modified, distributed, or used without prior written permission from the coordinating research team.

Understanding how societies shape, and are shaped by, human flourishing

Join the project

How can I join the project?

Researchers interested in joining the Global ABC Project are invited to follow these steps:

  1. Read the collaboration agreement describing the structure of the project.

  2. Sign and return the agreement to the research coordinator Joachim Waterschoot. The agreement defines the roles and responsibilities of collaborators, data ownership and publication procedures, confidentiality and data protection rules and intellectual property arrangements

  3. Receive access to the project manual and survey materials.

  4. Prepare for data collection in your country.

Once the agreement is received, collaborators will be added to the project communication list, where updates, materials, and timelines will be shared.

Why?

The project is designed as a large international scientific collaboration. 

  • Collaborators will be recognized according to the CRediT authorship framework as Data Curators for their contribution to data collection.
  • After anonymization (by Ghent University), collaborators will receive access to the project dataset for academic research and educational purposes.
  • Collaborators become part of a global research network, enabling future joint research initiatives.

What is expected from me?

As a collaborating partner, you are expected to:

  • Recruit at least 300 adult participants in your country or region
  • Aim for a diverse and preferably representative sample
  • Collect data before the end of the calendar year 2026
  • Use the standardized online questionnaire provided by the coordinating team (no translation required)

1. Why this project matters

People’s lives are shaped by the political, economic, and social contexts in which they live. Political institutions, economic opportunities, inequality, social relationships, and cultural norms can all influence how people think, feel, and behave.

Yet we still know surprisingly little about the psychological processes through which these societal conditions affect human motivation, well-being, and flourishing.

2. What we study

The Global ABC Project examines how societies influence human motivation, well-being, and behavior. Drawing on Self-Determination Theory, we investigate whether societies support people’s needs for:

  • Autonomy: feeling free to make meaningful choices
  • Competence: feeling capable and effective
  • Relatedness: feeling connected and valued

We study how these experiences relate to well-being, trust, civic engagement, and support for democracy.

3. What makes the project different

Most international surveys describe differences in democracy, trust, ideology, and participation. We seek to explain why societal conditions matter by identifying the psychological processes connecting them to people’s well-being and behavior.

Researchers from more than 50 countries contribute both data and local expertise, enabling us to examine shared patterns and meaningful differences across societies.

4. Our mission

We aim to build a more inclusive and context-sensitive global psychological science, one that learns from the world rather than simply generalizing to it.

Our goal is to refine psychological theory, strengthen cross-cultural research methods, and better understand how societies can create conditions in which people, and societies, thrive.

Project updates

  • November 2024: first round of invitations
  • Autumn 2025: ethical approval Ghent University and preparation of Joint Research Agreement
  • March 2026: re-invitation + preparation of survey and manual
  • May 2026: study materials available for joined collaborators
  • June 2026: pilot study conducted in Belgium
  • September 2026: survey finalized and translated

Contact

Do you have questions about the Global ABC Project, are you interested in joining the collaboration, or would you like more information about the study? Whether you would like to discuss participation, translations, ethics procedures, data collection, or other aspects of the project, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Frequently Asked Questions

🤝 Participation & collaboration

Can I still participate if I cannot reach 300 participants?

We strongly encourage reaching this target to ensure sufficient statistical power across countries. However, if this is not feasible, please contact us. We are happy to think along about possible solutions or alternative contributions (e.g., facilitating collaboration with researchers already involved in the project from your country).

Can multiple researchers from the same institution or country participate?

Yes. We welcome collaborations within countries. Coordination between local collaborators is encouraged to optimize recruitment and avoid overlap. We can help facilitate this contact, if desired.

What if I need institutional approval before participating?

Many collaborators require approval from legal or research offices. We recommend initiating this process as soon as possible. Any supporting documents can be shared by contacting the project coordinator Joachim Waterschoot (joachim.waterschoot@ugent.be).

📝 Questionnaire & data collection

How is the data collected?

Data are collected through an online survey (Qualtrics) hosted by Ghent University.

Can participants skip questions?

Yes. Participation is fully voluntary, and respondents can skip any question or stop at any time.

How long does the survey take?

The questionnaire takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete.

Are translations of the questionnaire available?

We will coordinate translations centrally

  • We will first identify existing validated translations
  • New translations will be created where needed
  • Collaborators will be invited to review translations for accuracy

Can I adapt or add items to the questionnaire?

To ensure cross-national comparability, the core questionnaire should remain unchanged. If you are interested in adding country-specific items, please contact the project coordinator Joachim Waterschoot (joachim.waterschoot@ugent.be) to discuss possibilities.

🔒 Ethics, data protection & GDPR

Has the project received ethical approval?

Yes. The project has been approved by the Ethical Committee of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences at Ghent University.

How is participant privacy protected?
  • Data are fully anonymous
  • All data are stored securely on Ghent University servers
  • The project complies with GDPR regulations

Do participants need to give informed consent?

    Yes. All participants provide informed consent before starting the survey.

    📊 Data use & authorship

    Who owns the data?

    The dataset will be centrally managed by Ghent University and shared with collaborators in an simplified and anonymized format after data collection.

    Will I have access to the data?

    Yes. Collaborators will receive access to the anonymized dataset after the data collection phase.

    What are the authorship opportunities?

    Collaborators who have signed the agreement and contributed to data collection:

    • Will be listed on the project website
    • Will be included as co-author on the first main paper, in line with the collaboration agreement and standard scientific authorship guidelines (as role of data curator)

    Co-authorship is primarily based on:

    • A substantial data contribution (e.g., ~300 participants or more)
    • Signing the collaboration agreement

    Can I use the data for my own publications?

      Yes, in line with the collaboration agreement. We encourage additional projects and collaborations within the consortium. 

      📅 Practicalities & timeline

      What is the timeline of the project?
      • Spring-Summer 2026: Project rollout & preparation
      • Autumn-Winter 2026: Data collection
      • After data collection: Data cleaning, sharing, and analyses

      When do I need to confirm participation?

      As soon as possible, to allow time for administrative procedures and preparation of translations.

      📄 Administrative questions

      What is the collaboration agreement for?

      The agreement formalizes the collaboration at the institutional level, as required by Ghent University.

      Who needs to sign the agreement?

      A representative from your institution (this can be you as the researchers involved)

      What if I had issues completing the form (e.g., missing dates or fields)?

      No problem, just send us what you have completed. We will review and let you know if anything needs adjustment.

      📬 Communication & support

      How will communication be organized?
      • Regular updates via email
      • This website with all key information
      • Potential online briefings about procedures and the questionnaire

      Who can I contact for questions?

        You can always reach out directly to the project coordinator Joachim Waterschoot (joachim.waterschoot@ugent.be). We are happy to help with any questions, big or small.