Completed Research Projects (1997-2017)
This project, in conjunction with Webwise, the Irish Internet Safety Awareness Centre, and the National Parents Council Primary (NPC) undertook an online survey with a sample of 1500 parents with a focus on:
- Strategies for digital parenting
- Attitudes towards children’s internet use
- Concerns about online risks
- Appropriate age for social networking
The report was launched as part of Safer Internet Day 2017.
Final report : Farrugia, L., Grehan, S., & O’Neill, B. (2017) Webwise 2017 Parenting Survey.Dublin.
Available at: https://www.webwise.ie/news/webwise-2017-parenting-survey/
This research was commissioned by, the irish Research Council on behalf of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. It was conducted in partnership with the Centre for Early Childhood Research at Mary Immaculate College (CERAMIC). The Principal Investigators were Dr. Maire Mhic Mhathuna (CSER) and Dr. Emer Ring (CERAMIC). View the research report
A report commissioned by European Schoolnet (EUN) with support of the Kaspersky Helpline Fund, 2016.
The aim of this project was to produce a background report for the Children’s Rights Division of the Directorate General of Democracy, Council of Europe for policy guidance on empowering, protecting and supporting children in the digital age.
The report was coordinated by Professor Sonia Livingstone, London School of Economics and Political Science with contributions by Prof Eva Lievens, Ghent University, Dr.Sharon McLaughlin, Letterkenny Institute of Technology,Mr David Miles, Child Protection Online consultant, Prof Brian O'Neill, Dublin Institute of Technology and Dr Valerie Verdoodt, University of Leuven
This research was commissioned by European Schoolnet (EUN) with support of the Kaspersky Helpline Fund and in collaboration with EU Kids Online partners in Malta, Romania and Belgium. The aim of the research was to investigate factors that would assist in the development of the effectiveness of children’s helplines within the Insafe network.
Final Report: Dinh, T., Farrugia, L., O’Neill, B., Vandoninck, S., & Velicu, A. (2016). Insafe Helplines:
Operations, effectiveness and emerging issues for internet safety helplines. Brussels.
Available at:
http://arrow.dit.ie/cserrep/57/
The research was commissioned by the Childhood Development Initiative (CDI) in Tallaght West to evaluate the implementation of the Community Safety Initiative. The Principle Investigator was Dr Matt Bowden.
Peer Reviewed International Journal Article based on this research (Bowden, 2017): http://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/s41300-017-0018-3 doi:10.1057/s41300-017-0018-3
Supported by the Department of Education and Skills and the National Digital Strategy Unit – Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources.
Funded under the Safer Internet Programme and involving a comparative survey-based study of 7 European countries, the project aimed at studying the post-desktop media ecology that children inhabit and its consequences on young people’s online experiences.
Final Report (Ireland): O’Neill, B., & Dinh, T. (2015). Net Children Go Mobile: Full findings from
Ireland. Dublin. Available at: http://arrow.dit.ie/cserrep/55
Mobile Technologies and the Incidence of Cyberbullying in Seven European Countries: Findings from Net Children Go Mobile: http://arrow.dit.ie/cserart/61/
An independent, expert Internet Content Governance Advisory Group (ICGAG) was established to report on a range of issues related to online content following a number of incidents. ICGAG conducted a public consultation taking particular account of issues of online safety arising from children and young people’s use of the Internet. ICGAG’s report was brought to Cabinet and published in June 2014.
Final Report: ICGAG. (2014). Report of the Internet Content Governance Advisory Group. Dublin.
Available at: http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Broadcasting/ICG/21
Supported by the Department of Education and Skills and the National Digital Strategy Unit – Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources.
Funded under the EC Safer Internet Programme, EU Kids Online is a multinational research network that seeks to enhance knowledge of European children's online opportunities, risks and safety using multiple methods to map children's and parents' experience of the internet. The founding project of the initiative was a random stratified sample of 25,142 children aged 9-16 who use the internet, plus one of their parents, was interviewed during Spring/Summer 2010 in 25 European countries. A further phase of data collection is in preparation.
Final Report (Ireland): O’Neill, B., Grehan, S., & Ólafsson, K. (2011). Risks and safety for children on the internet: the Ireland report. LSE, London. Available at: http://arrow.dit.ie/cserrep/22/]
Other reports can be found here:
Bullying in a new ground: cyberbullying among 9-16 year olds in Ireland
Cyberbullying Among 9-16 Year Olds in Ireland: http://arrow.dit.ie/cserrep/31/
Children and The Internet in Ireland: Research and Policy Perspectives http://arrow.dit.ie/aaschmedcon/32/
Digital Literacy, Digital Opportunities http://arrow.dit.ie/cseroth/42/
This paper builds on the data collected in Ireland by the cross-national EU Kids Online II project- a large 25 country survey which investigated children’s experiences of the internet, focusing on issues of use, activities, risks, and safetyi . This article explores incidences, forms and consequences of cyberbullying among Irish children, as well as discussing possible prevention and intervention strategies.
http://arrow.dit.ie/aaschmedart/93/
This report was produced by researchers from DIT's Centre for Social and Educational Research (CSER) for the Implementaion team of President Michael D. Higgins' youth consultation initiative, 'Being Young and Irish'.
This report was produced by researchers from DIT's Centre for Social and Educational Research (CSER) for the Implementation team of President Michael D. Higgins' youth consultation initiative, 'Being Young and Irish'. The report details the many suggestions, ideas and comments made by respondents to President Higgins’ ‘Being Young and Irish’ consultation. A total of two hundred and ninety four people participated in the Regional Workshops. Four hundred and thirty nine individual submissions were received from 17-26 year olds. In addition, six group submissions were received representing the views of seventy four participants. Thirty two individuals engaged with both parts of the process. Final Report: Lalor, K., Bowden, M., Griffin, K., McElvaney, R., Quinn, B., Kelleher, C. (2012). Take charge of change: Being young and Irish, Full Report. Dublin: Áras an Uachtaráin. Available at:
This research was commissioned by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs. The Principal Investigator was Dr. Kevin Lalor and the research team wwas drawn from the School of Social Sciences and Law and the School of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Cathy Kelleher, Rachel Christie, John Fox, Matt Bowden, Cora Ó'Donnell. This reserach report is available http://arrow.dit.ie/cserrep/23/
Right by Children - Children’s Rights and Rights Based Approaches to Policy Making in Early Chidhood Education and Care
Funded by: Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI)
Media literacy is increasingly viewed as essential to maintaining inclusivity in a rapidly changing environment for converged information and communication services. Its insertion within the agreed terms of the Audiovisual Services Directive is an indicator of the significance attached to the concept by the European Commission. Internationally, Ofcom has provided the principal model for a public regulatory approach. This research asks what other models and considerations may be important in the likely Irish context whereby the proposed Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) will assume a similar responsibility.
In order to further the BCI’s objective of being a leading source of information on trends in Ireland and abroad, and in anticipation of important new developments within public media literacy, this research will contribute knowledge in three main areas:
- The international state of the art of public regulatory approaches to media literacy, via a desk-based review of policy and relevant academic literature;
- Current trends in media literacy thinking via an interview-based survey of international experts in the field;
- Public attitudes towards media literacy in Ireland via a series of focus groups.
Research findings will inform decision-making in Ireland within a regulatory perspective and make recommendations for effective and socially responsive communications policy.
Lead Researcher: Dr. Brian O’Neill, Head of Research
Research funded by: Canal Communities Partnership
Through community based participatory research, this project seeks to develop a model of good practice for accessing the views of parents and children on matters affecting them through engagement with parents and children in the Canal Communities Area. Project research methods represent a shift from the traditional research hierarchies and relationships to more collaborative research processes involving the community and aims to encourage co-learning and capacity building among the research partners and participants. Resulting from the project the CCP will have high quality information from parents and children on their views around issues affecting them.
Research Team: Dr. Noirin Hayes, Dr. Helen McQuillan and Jonathan Ilan.
Research funded by: UNICEF
This project, commissioned by UNICEF Regional Office for Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CEE/CIS), will develop curriculum training materials for journalism and professional communications departments in CEE/CIS on the subject of Journalism and Children’s Rights. Reform and modernisation of the curriculum of journalism schools in the region is recognised as the most effective means of ensuring a responsible media. The educational materials will provide an understanding of children’s rights as articulated in the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, and develop among trainee journalists news reporting skills that encompass the rights of the children in all matters relating to children’s participation in the media.
The news media in the CEE/CIS region have a very different history to other parts of the world, and very little consideration has been given to a critically-informed, rights-based approach to the representation of children or the reporting of children’s issues in the media. Journalistic ethics, central to the curriculum of journalism education in modern western societies, do not feature in the curriculum of journalism schools in CEE/CIS and the tradition of an independent, responsible media as a fourth pillar of democracy is virtually non-existent. The project will develop appropriate educational and training materials designed to embed at source the concept of children’s rights among students of journalism/media/communications for specific implementation in relevant media training schools of the CEE/CIS.
Research team: Michael Foley, Lecturer in Journalism (School of Media), Dr Noirin Hayes and Dr Brian O’Neill.
The team has extensive experience of media and journalism development projects in Eastern Europe, particularly in partnership with BBC World Service Trust. This is the first CSER project to be supported by UNICEF.
The project, commissioned by UNICEF Regional Office for Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CEE/CIS), developed curriculum training materials for journalism and professional communications departments in CEE/CIS on the subject of Journalism and Children’s Rights. The training materials are designed to embed at source the concept of children’s rights among students of journalism / media / communications for specific implementation in relevant media training schools of the CEE/CIS.
Final Report: Foley, M. Hayes, N. and O’Neill, B. Children’s Rights and Journalism Practice: A Rights-
Based Perspective. Dublin Institute of Technology/UNICEF.
Available at: http://arrow.dit.ie/cseroth/32/
This project, commissioned by the Radharc Media Trust was jointly conducted by Dublin Institute of Technology and Dublin City University. This research documented media literacy and education practices in Ireland and sought to develop a rationale for a sustainable pedagogy enabling children and young people to acquire both the critical media awareness and practical skills.
Final Report: Barnes, C., Flanagan, B., O’Neill, B., & Corcoran, F. (2007). Critical Media Literacy in
Ireland. Dublin. Available at: http://arrow.dit.ie/cserrep/19/
Research funded by: Barnados
The paper aimed to provide an introductory context for key considerations and potential approaches to inform discussion regarding the organisation’s response to supporting parents whose children experience behavioural problems locally. The paper provides a contextual overview of the type and prevalence of behavioural problems of children and young people in Ireland and a sample of community support programmes which may help parents in coping with and responding to behavioural problems. The paper is also intended to assist the organisation in planning and conducting primary research, due to commence in October 2007, which will assess the scale and extent of child and youth behavioural problems in the area and the support needs of parents in coping/responding to these.
This needs analysis study was conducted by CSER on behalf of the Ballymun Development Group to inform the design of a ten year strategy to improve mental well-being and learning outcomes for children and young people growing up in the area. The study focused on the needs of children aged 4, 11 and 16, providing a sound base from which to plan actions, services and supports for the children and young people of Ballymun. The Ballymun Development Group has since been awarded co-funding from the Atlantic Philanthropies and the Office of the Minister for Children to roll out the first five years of the designed programme.
As part of DIT's move to a new campus development in the Grangegorman area of Dublin, the Institute is developing a series of educational and community initiatives with local residents, one of which is the Grangegorman Online Project (GO). It is intended that GO will build a self-sustaining eCommunity using ICT to deliver education, training and entertainment programmes.
The CSER conducted a retrospective evaluation of the Project’s first year of operation, to capture and analyse the learning that arose in the implementation phase of the project. In particular, the evaluation assessed the effectiveness of the GO project in the promotion of ICT in the Grangegorman/DIT area, in order to build a sustainable eCommunity in the future.
This needs analysis study was conducted by CSER on behalf of the Ballymun Development Group to inform the design of a ten year strategy to improve mental well-being and learning outcomes for children and young people growing up in the area. The study focused on the needs of children aged 4, 11 and 16, providing a sound base from which to plan actions, services and supports for the children and young people of Ballymun. The Ballymun Development Group has since been awarded co-funding from the Atlantic Philanthropies and the Office of the Minister for Children to roll out the first five years of the designed programme.
Researching the views and needs of young people in Co. Kildare
'Our views: anybody listening' describes the results of a survey of 988 adolescents in Co Kildare, carried out between December 2004 and February 2005. The research was commissioned by Kildare Youth Services and the aim was to give young people a voice in the provision of services; specifically, to explore and identify what young poeple have to say about community facilities, leisure activities, worries and concerns and sources of support.
Evaluation funded by: Business in the Community Ireland (BITC)
The Interim Evaluation of the Linkage Programme was undertaken by the Centre for Social and Educational Research, Dublin Institute of Technology, and funded by Business in the Community Ireland (BITC) in 2006. The evaluation commenced in June 2006 and was completed over a six month period. The main aim of the Interim Evaluation was to review the effectiveness of the Linkage Programme in reducing the rate of recidivism through education, training and employment.
Quality in early childhood education is a construct that has generated academic papers, debate, argument and counter-argument. However, different people may mean different things when they use the term quality and we have little research data on either quality in early education or on what it means to different groups of Irish people. To attempt an understanding of quality within a given context, it is important to gather a variety of data on different perspectives. This research seeks to gather such data from a variety of sessional and full day care settings across the 0 to 6 age range and to gain insight into the multiple perspectives on the meaning of quality including the views of parents, children and staff. The project also assesses the perspectives of policy makers and key personnel driving quality initiatives at local and national levels in contemporary times.
The research was commissioned by the Centre for Early Childhood Care and Education.
Commissioned by the CECDE, this research project focuses on the development of a Framework and Guidelines to assist in identifying indicators of risk of educational disadvantage among rural infants and toddlers and to identify strategies, processes and interventions to counteract this risk at individual, family and community level.
This research, commissioned by the Office of the Minister for Children examined the role of technology in the play activities of Irish children (4-8 and 8-12), identifying technologies used in daily play patterns and looking at the wider implications for physiological and behavioural development, education and lifestyle. The project presented children’s perspectives on the meanings, interpretations and value placed on technology-based play as well as documenting the views of parents and teachers on the opportunities and dangers involved.
Final Report: O’Neill, B., Hayes, N., & Downey, S. (2005). Play and Technology: a Study Of ICTs In Play
Activities Of Irish Children (4-8 and 8-12).
Available at: http://arrow.dit.ie/cserrep/2/
The CSER conducted original research into the design of a subsidised supply model of childcare to promote equity of access to early childhood education and care services for all children inIrelandon behalf of the NWCI. The research included a review of international childcare policies to inform the development of an appropriate model in the current Irish childcare context and involved consultative sessions with on-the-ground childcare providers and voluntary and community organisations to ensure the proposed model is reflective of and adaptable to current childcare needs in Ireland. The research also involved extensive collaboration and consultation with the various NCOs, government departments, the Equality Authority and the Combat Poverty Agency.
In December 2002, the Probation and Welfare Service commissioned the Centre for Social and Educational Research at the Dublin Institute of Technology to undertake research on the number, profile and progression routes of homeless individuals appearing before the courts and in custody in the Dublin Metropolitan area. Although the relationship between crime and homelessness has received significant attention in the international literature (Carlen, 1996; McCarthy & Hagan, 1992), it is an area that has received little formal attention in the Irish context. The study had the following aim:
- To obtain accurate information about the numbers and the profile of homeless persons appearing before the courts and in custody in the Dublin Metropolitan area.
- To track and determine how homeless persons progress through the court and prison systems, with particular reference to any involvement by the Probation and Welfare Service.
- The overall objective is to generate path-finding information relevant to Probation and Welfare Service policy formulation, service development, planning and deployment of resources.
- To suggest new responses to proof state institutions and services against contributing to the problem of homelessness, marginalisation and disadvantage. http://arrow.dit.ie/cserrep/10/
Commissioned by the CECDE, this research project focuses on the development of a Framework and Guidelines to assist in identifying indicators of risk of educational disadvantage among rural infants and toddlers and to identify strategies, processes and interventions to counteract this risk at individual, family and community level.
The CSER conducted original research into the design of a subsidised supply model of childcare to promote equity of access to early childhood education and care services for all children inIrelandon behalf of the NWCI. The research included a review of international childcare policies to inform the development of an appropriate model in the current Irish childcare context and involved consultative sessions with on-the-ground childcare providers and voluntary and community organisations to ensure the proposed model is reflective of and adaptable to current childcare needs in Ireland. The research also involved extensive collaboration and consultation with the various NCOs, government departments, the Equality Authority and the Combat Poverty Agency.
Commissioned by the 'National Children's Office', the Play & Technology Project explores the play activities of Irish children, identifying the range of technologies accessed by children and how they are used in their daily play patterns. The project presents children’s perspectives on the meanings, interpretations and value placed on technology-based play as well as documenting the views of parent and teachers on the opportunities and dangers involved. Preliminary findings are offered evaluating the extent of the penetration of technology into children’s lives and looking at the wider implications for physiological and behavioural development, education and lifestyle. The project will offer valuable comparative data which to identify the most important issues for future research and greatly complement existing research within this underdeveloped field.
This project is investigating the experiences of young people inIrelandas victims and as perpetrators of criminal activities, in the public and private sphere. It aims to provide vital and critical data to sustain future research, curricula development and policy-making.
This is an interdisciplinary project which draws, methodologically, on the tools, methods, concepts and theories from the social sciences and legal studies to better inform, critique and widen our understanding of young people’s experiences of crime. The project is carrying out original research through three integrated and interdisciplinary sub-streams. These include a focus upon:
- Young people as Victims;
- Young People as Perpetrators of Domestic Violence;
- Young People and Street Violence.
A National Youth Crime archive of all available research on youth crime and juvenile justice inIrelandhas been created as a reference-only resource at the library in DIT Mountjoy Square.
The Young People's Experiences of Crime Project shall develop core research strength within DIT by building an inter-disciplinary group, the Youth Crime Research Group, as a sustainable high-level inter-disciplinary and internationally recognized Centre of Excellence at DIT.
In December 2002, the Probation and Welfare Service commissioned the Centre for Social and Educational Research at the Dublin Institute of Technology to undertake research on the number, profile and progression routes of homeless individuals appearing before the courts and in custody in the Dublin Metropolitan area. Although the relationship between crime and homelessness has received significant attention in the international literature (Carlen, 1996; McCarthy & Hagan, 1992), it is an area that has received little formal attention in the Irish context. The study had the following aim:
- To obtain accurate information about the numbers and the profile of homeless persons appearing before the courts and in custody in the Dublin Metropolitan area.
- To track and determine how homeless persons progress through the court and prison systems, with particular reference to any involvement by the Probation and Welfare Service.
- The overall objective is to generate path-finding information relevant to Probation and Welfare Service policy formulation, service development, planning and deployment of resources.
- To suggest new responses to proof state institutions and services against contributing to the problem of homelessness, marginalisation and disadvantage. http://arrow.dit.ie/cserrep/10/
In consultation with the CECDE, the CSER chose seven countries for inclusion within the review. These were chose to attain a good representation of particular models of ECCE provision internationally. The countries profiled areGermany,Italy,Northern Ireland,Portugal,Sweden,Norway andNew Zealand. It was considered important to includeNorthern Irelandby virtue of our geographical proximity and our aspiration towards enhanced harmonisation of policies under the Good Friday Agreement.
Following an outline of the context of the review and a brief analysis of the complexity of the concept of quality in ECCE, each country is profiled individually. Owing to the variations in structure and operation of ECCE provision in all countries, the review is presented within a broad framework.
Research report commissioned by the Young Families Matter Consortium, 2003.
Research carried out for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Government of Ireland, 2003.
- Final Evaluation Report Childminding Ireland 2001-2003
- 2003 Garda Youth Diversion Project Guidelines: Dept of Justice and Law Reform
- 2003 Evaluation of the Tallaght Young Parents Services Barnados
- Crime Prevention Directory (2002) - Research commissioned by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, 2002. http://www.cser.ie/ - http://arrow.dit.ie/cserrep/5/
- Parents, Children and Prison. Effects of Parental Imprisonment on Children (2002) - Research report commissioned by the Combat Poverty Agency, Ireland, 2002. http://www.cser.ie/ - http://arrow.dit.ie/cserrep/4/
- Final Evaluation Report of the Teen Parents Support Initiative (2002) - Research report commissioned by Department of Health and Children, Government of Ireland, 2002. http://www.cser.ie/ - http://arrow.dit.ie/cserrep/3/
- 2002 Final Evaluation Report of the Teen Parents Support Initiative Department of Health & Children
- 2002 Crime Prevention Directory Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, DIT
- 2002 Evaluation of Childcare Network Loch Garman Childcare Network, Loch Garman
- 2002 Parents, Children and Prison: Effects of Parental Imprisonment on Childcare Combat Poverty Agency
- 2002 Fingal County Childcare Plan 2002-2005 Fingal County Childcare Committee
- 2002 Final Evaluation Report of the Teen Parents Support Initiative Department of Health & Children
- Unaccompanied Minors: An Information Booklet (2001)
- 2001 Seven Years Old: School Experience in Ireland : National Report fo the IEA Preprimary Project Dublin: DIT
- 2001 Feasibility Study on measuring the Impact of the Lifestart programme in the Offaly-Kildare Region Lifestart Offaly
- 2001 Supporting Parents: A study of Parents Supports Needs Dublin: Department of Social Community & Family Affairs
- 2001 Unaccompanied minors: An Information Booklet Barnardos
- 2001 Supporting Parents. A study of Parents Supports Needs Department of Social, Community & Family Affairs, Families Research Unit
- 2001 Study of Participants in Garda Speical Projects. Dublin: Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform
- 2000 ‘The Grove’ Through Care Unit, Finglas Child and Adolescent Unit
- 1999 A Small Impact Study of Outcomes of Assessment of Young Offenders, DIT, The National Assessment and Remand Centre
- 1999 Safe Caring in Residential Childcare: The Irish Report of the European Study
- 1999 Public Policy on Children’s Play in Ireland: An Examination of Central and Local Government Policies on Children’s Play in Ireland, DIT, Trinity College Dublin
- 1999 Enhancing Quality in the Early Years, Report of Proceedings of a Conference, 19th and 29th November 1999, Clontarf Castle, Dublin
- 1999 What Happens After School?: A Study of After School Care, Dublin, DIT
- 1999 It Makes You Think: A Review of Safe Caring Policies in Four European Countries, EUROARRCC (European Association for Research into Residential Childcare)
- 1998 Childcare Facilities in Crumlin and Drimnagh: A report to the KWCD Partnership, KWCD Partnership
- 1998 Care to Listen – A Review of Residential Child Care in Four European Countries, EUROARRCC (European Association for Research into Residential Childcare)
- 1998 Childcare Facilities in the Wexford Partnership Area ‘Final Report and Feasibility Study to the Partnership’s Childcare Working Group’, Wexford Area Partnership
- 1998 Family Day Care in Ireland: An Overview, Report prepared for the Expert Working Group on Childcare, Dublin
- 1998 Learn to Listen – The Irish Report of a European Study on Residential Child Care
- 1997 A window on Early Education in Ireland: The first National Reprot of the IEA Preprimary Project Dublin DIT