Conflicts of Interest
If there is anything psychological research has shown us, it is that conflicts of interest have a clear tendency to influence our judgments and behaviour. I try my best not to let my interests influence me when I comment on something publicly or make decisions that affect others, but I know that it will not always succeed.
To enable others to make an independent assessment of my independence, I share my interests here.
Updated October 3, 2022
Employer
Foundation Dam
I am employed in a full-time position as the Chief Program Officer at Stiftelsen Dam . My main responsibility is the quality assurance and development of the foundation's programs (funding schemes). Approximately NOK 350 million is distributed annually through the programs and the funds come from the profits of the national lottery (Norsk Tipping). I have written a report on application processing and the foundation has clear opinions on Norwegian gambling policy and the prevention of gambling addiction.
The foundation has approximately NOK 300 million in financial investments. Investments are made according to principles agreed by the foundation's board and it is Grieg Investor who manages the investments on behalf of the foundation.
Areas of greatest conflict: Research funding, application processing, open research, gambling policy, prevention of gambling addiction
Professional interests
Talks and consultancy
I run the sole proprietorship Hesselberg Rådgivning. About 90 per cent of the activity in the company is lecture activities. Since 2012, I have given around 250 paid lectures, approximately half of which are for private actors. The permanent assignments at the present time are for the Court Administration and the business lawyers at Wiersholm.
Among those I have previously undertaken assignments for are Danske Bank, DNB, Venstre, Equinor, Virke, Tekna, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Trade and Fisheries, Kongsberggruppen, Høyre and NVE.
Areas of greatest conflict: Psychology of decision-making, strategies for improving decision-making quality
National Research Ethics Committee for Medicine and Health Sciences (NEM)
I am one of twelve members of NEM. Among other things, the committee processes complaints under the Health Research Act on decisions in Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics (REK). The committee members are appointed by the Ministry of Education and Science following a recommendation from the Research Council of Norway. I have been a member since 2017 and am now in my second and final four-year term.
Areas of greatest conflict: Research policy, open research
Research
I am a PhD student at the Department of Psychology at the University of Oslo. My employer, Stiftelsen Dam, finances the research. The project deals with disagreement in peer review in research - whether it is in connection with research funding (grant peer review) or publication (journal/editorial peer review).
Areas of greatest conflict: Application processing, research funding, open research
Political and ideological interests
I am a member of Effective Altruism Norway , the Human-Ethical Association and the Norwegian Psychological Association .
I am not and have not been a member of any political party, but am fundamentally positive about equalizing economic differences, both nationally and internationally, and believe that this is best done through taxation. I am an atheist and a strong supporter of public institutions being ideologically neutral.
I describe myself as an empirical or scientific skeptic and am generally critical of claims that lack scientific support.
Areas of greatest conflict: Aid, distribution of resources, outlook and religion, alternative medicine
Financial interests
I currently have no board positions or financial investments in individual companies.
Non-financial interests
Norwegian Psychological Association
I am a member of the Norwegian Psychological Association and since 2015 have been a member of the jury that awards Psykologprisen.