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.

Overview 

Around the world, democracy is often regarded as a foundation for freedom, justice, and human flourishing. Yet many societies are experiencing declining trust in institutions, increasing political polarization, and growing support for more authoritarian forms of governance. While political scientists have documented these trends extensively, we still know surprisingly little about how political systems shape people's everyday psychological experiences.

The Global ABC Project addresses this question from a new perspective. Rather than focusing solely on political attitudes or institutional characteristics, we investigate the psychological mechanisms through which societies influence human functioning. Drawing on Self-Determination Theory, we examine whether people perceive their society as supporting their basic psychological needs for autonomy (feeling free to make meaningful choices), competence (feeling effective and capable), and relatedness (feeling connected and valued), and how these experiences relate to well-being, trust, civic engagement, and support for democracy.

This makes the Global ABC Project different from existing international surveys. While many cross-national studies measure democracy, political trust, ideology, and participation, our project seeks to explain why democracy matters psychologically by identifying the basic human needs that connect social and political environments to people's well-being and behavior.

By bringing together researchers from more than 50 countries, the Global ABC Project aims to become one of the largest international psychological studies of democracy, basic psychological needs, and human flourishing ever conducted. Our ultimate goal is to develop a deeper scientific understanding of how societies can create conditions in which people, and democracies, can thrive.

© 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.

Vision and mission

Vision

The Global ABC Project seeks to transform how psychological science understands human well-being across societies. Rather than merely testing whether principles from Self-Determination Theory generalize across countries, we aim to examine how diverse cultural, political, and societal contexts reshape and deepen these principles.

We envision a future in which global psychological science learns from the world rather than simply generalizing to it. In doing so, we aim to contribute to a more inclusive, context-sensitive understanding of human motivation, well-being, and flourishing, particularly in relation to democratic and societal functioning.

Mission

The mission of the Global ABC Project is to advance a next-generation model of global psychological science by integrating strong theory, large-scale collaboration, and contextual sensitivity.

Specifically, we aim to:

  • Re-examine core psychological principles across contexts
    Investigate how basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness function across diverse societies, and how these contexts inform, refine, and potentially challenge existing theory.
  • Move beyond average effects toward meaningful heterogeneity
    Leverage large-scale, cross-national data to identify both universal patterns and context-specific variations, recognizing that pooled effects can obscure important differences between individuals and societies.
  • Ensure methodological rigor in global research
    Critically evaluate assumptions such as measurement invariance and comparability across cultures, acknowledging that large datasets can amplify both insight and error.
  • Bridge structural and psychological perspectives
    Examine how societal conditions, such as democratic functioning, relate to well-being through psychological mechanisms, while recognizing that individuals’ interpretations of these conditions are central.
  • Foster participatory and collaborative science
    Build an international network of researchers who contribute not only data but also contextual expertise, moving toward a more participatory model of science that values local knowledge and perspective.
  • Promote humility and reflexivity in theory development
    Position global research as a two-way process in which theory is continuously refined through engagement with diverse worldviews, rather than treated as universally fixed.

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

Join the project

Why joining the project?

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 collaborating researchers?

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 erequired)

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.

Contact the coordinating research team

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 (FAQ)

🤝 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.