Michiel De Vydt

Interpersonal protest recruiting

I am a PhD candidate in social science: political science at the University of Antwerp, Belgium, where I study political participation and protest mobilization.

For my doctoral research I have focused on individual-level predictors and outcomes of interpersonal protest recruiting (IPR). Although extensive research exists on the role of social ties in micro-mobilization, most of our understanding of IPR comes from studying recruits—those who are asked to join. For my dissertation research, I have examined IPR from the perspective of recruiters—those who do the actual recruiting.

As individuals nowadays increasingly prefer loose bonds with political organizations or groups, traditional protest organizers can rely less and less on stable group- or membership-based channels to reach potential participants. Instead, protest organizers must complementarily but increasingly mobilize through network-based channels, such as online social media, but also by stimulating their sympathizers to extend the invitation; to recruit among their own social ties. It is therefore relevant to get a fuller understanding of interpersonal protest recruitment.

My work has been published in journals such as Social Science Research, Environmental Politics, Social Movement Studies, and Politics of the Low Countries.

Skillset

Survey design & data integration

My methodological approach is primarily quantitative and often relies on two-wave panel data. Through this work, I have developed a knack for survey design, particularly using Qualtrics. I currently support academic professionals in designing surveys and merging datasets. 

Data analysis

While the goal remains to contribute to substantial research questions, I would say I have a methodological inclination: I enjoy theory and history of statistical techniques (e.g., I love papers like this). In terms of actual statistical techniques/models, I can confidently say I currently master (multilevel) logistic regression.

Open Science

I am currently employed at the FWO where I work as a community manager for the Flemish Research Data Network.