prof.dr. W (Willem) de Koster

Biography

As a cultural sociologist, I aim to rigorously scrutinize how social groups give meaning to social issues, how this informs their actions and how it shapes their responses to new information and the (urban) environment they live in.

Scholars and policymakers increasingly recognize that such an eye for culture is crucial for understanding pressing social issues, ranging from societal clashes about democratic institutions and policies to unresponsiveness to information campaigns, and from obesity to resistance to governmental health campaigns.

I aim for interdisciplinary research endeavors addressing contemporary social issues through both quantitative and qualitative methods, ranging from multilevel analyses, survey experiments, Implicit Association Tests and Diagonal Reference Models to qualitative content analyses, focus groups and in-depth interviews. Currently, I collaborate with scholars in arts and culture studies, psychology, public administration, public health, urban geography and sociology.

My research has been supported by grants (Conflict & Security and personal VENI and VIDI grants) awarded by The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), an EUR Fellowship and several smaller grants.

I am proud that the Erasmus Graduate School of Social Sciences and the Humanities has given me the award for "Best PhD Supervisor".

In addition to my research activities, I teach various courses, among others in Erasmus University's Master specialization Politics & Society (which I co-founded) and the top-rated Research Master in Sociology of Culture, Media and the Arts.

I also serve as board member of the Netherlands Sociological Association, as reviewer for various journals, and on the editorial board of the Dutch-Flemish peer-reviewed journal Tijdschrift Sociologie.

For an up-to-date overview of my research and teaching, please visit my Google Scholar Profile and my personal website.

Research interests: cultural conflict, political attitudes and behaviors, information provision, voting behavior, populism, welfare chauvinism, obesity, health behaviors

Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences

Full professor | Governance and Pluralism
Email
dekoster@essb.eur.nl

Work

  • Kjell Noordzij, Willem de Koster & Jeroen van der Waal (25 May 2024) - Een volkse uitstraling is het halve werk
  • Willem de Koster & Jeroen van der Waal (21 October 2023) - British Journal of Sociology Prize Awarded to Kjell Noordzij, Willem De Koster, and Jeroen Van Der Waal
  • Willem de Koster & Jeroen van der Waal (19 October 2023) - British Journal of Sociology Prize awarded to Kjell Noordzij, Willem de Koster, and Jeroen van der Waal

  • Michael Berghman, Julian Schaap, Koen Eijck, Willem Koster & Jeroen Waal (2020) - Learning from Latency in Sociological Research: Using the Implicit Association Test to make sense of Timed-Surveys (Speaker)
    Activity: Oral presentation Academic
  • Willem Koster (2010) - 'I Like to Stand up Against Injustice': On a Social Movement Emerged at “Your Guide Against Senseless Speed Controls (Speaker)
    Activity: Oral presentation Academic
  • Willem Koster (2010) - European Journal of Political Research (Journal) (Editor)
    Activity: Publication Peer-review Academic
  • Willem Koster (2010) - Information, Communication and Society (print) (Journal) (Editor)
    Activity: Publication Peer-review Academic
  • Willem Koster (2010) - Sociologie (Journal) (Editor)
    Activity: Publication Peer-review Academic
  • Willem Koster (2009) - Information, Communication and Society (online) (Journal) (Editor)
    Activity: Publication Peer-review Academic
  • Willem Koster (2009) - Sociologie (Journal) (Editor)
    Activity: Publication Peer-review Academic
  • Willem Koster (2008) - Sociologie (Journal) (Editor)
    Activity: Editorial work Academic
  • Willem Koster (2008) - Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion (Journal) (Editor)
    Activity: Publication Peer-review Academic
  • Willem Koster (2008) - Social Forces (print) (Journal) (Editor)
    Activity: Publication Peer-review Academic

  • Kjell Noordzij, Willem de Koster & Jeroen van der Waal (2023) - BJS Prize 2022

NWO

Start date approval
September 2022
End date approval
September 2025
Place
DEN HAAG
Description
Lid Wetenschappelijk Adviescollege NWO

Tijdschrift Sociologie

Start date approval
September 2022
End date approval
September 2025
Place
AMSTERDAM
Description
Lid redactieraad

European Social Survey

Start date approval
November 2023
End date approval
November 2026
Place
LONDEN
Description
Scientific Advisory Board European Social Survey

4.1 The Social Bases of Politics

Year
2024
Course Code
FSWS-710

1.1C Introduction to Sociology

Year
2024
Course Code
ESSB-S1010

Advanced Quantitative Methods

Level
MA-1
Year Level
MA-1
Year
2024
Course Code
CS5005

3.2 Sociologische Vraagstukken 5

Year
2024
Course Code
ESSB-S3010

1.1C Introduction to Sociology

Year
2024
Course Code
FSWS-1010

4.1 Maatschappelijke polarisatie

Year
2024
Course Code
ESSB-MS1000

  • Micha Kahlen

    Virtual Power Plants of Electric Vehicles in Sustainable Smart Electricity Markets

News regarding prof.dr. W (Willem) de Koster

ODISSEI supports research on inequality in citizen participation

Vivian Visser, Willem de Koster and Jeroen van der Waal from the department of Public Administration and Sociology have received an ODISSEI grant.

British Journal of Sociology Prize awarded to Kjell Noordzij, Willem de Koster, and Jeroen van der Waal

The authors show that less-educated citizens believe that politicians are distant to their life-world and feel looked down on by them

Science close to society

In the foreword of Spark, read the conversation between Professor Willem de Koster and student Melanie Ouwendijk about their background, work field and ambition

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