Dr Thomas Delahunty
Biography
Dr. Tom Delahunty (PhD, MSc. Psych, B.Tech(ed), CPsychol) joined the Department of Education in Maynooth in January 2022. He has previously held academic posts at the University of Birmingham, University College Cork, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Limerick. He holds dual qualifications as a second-level teacher and psychologist and is a chartered member of the British Psychological Society.
Tom teaches across the suite of programmes in the department, in particular foundational studies in psychology and sociology on the BSc. Education programmes (Mathematics, Science & Computer Science) as well as the Professional Masters in education. He teaches research methods on the doctoral programmes (PhD and EDD) and actively supervises doctoral and masters research. He is the Programme Director for the BSc. Education programme.
Tom is a Critical Psychologist working on issues related to the impact of psychological knowledge (the psy-complex) and research on education, particularly in relation to the construction of certain visions of childhood and adolescence motivated by the increasing neoliberalisation of education. He has a passion for decolonial theory and how this can help us to deconstruct these effects and reimagine alternative educational futures based on plurality and relationality. In addition, he is engaged in ongoing research in critical policy analysis, anti-racism, and exploring the connection of these issues in education with the broader authoritarian and right-wing political emergences across Ireland and Europe.
Tom’s has also conducted research in STEM education across all levels of schooling, where he is particularly interested in issues of equality (e.g. gender) as well as the interaction of presage variables with mathematics performance and identity. He also has core interests in the psychology of problem solving and in particular how cognitive processes of conceptualisation and representation affect performance in mathematics and science. He actively researches in the broad area of teacher education and is committed to critical analysis of policy as it applies to practice and identity formation/change in teaching and learning contexts. He is also active in research concerning the impact of gender stereotypes on STEM identity formations in modern schooling, and engaged in several other areas related to the RAISE (Research, Application, and Inclusion in STEM Education) group, which he currently chairs. See www.raise-stem.ie for more.
Tom is a co-editor of Irish Educational Studies, which is the foremost journal in educational studies in the Irish context with an international readership and contribution.
Research Interests
Presage Variables, Student Motivation, & Subjectivities
Postcolonial theory and Decolonisation
Quant-Crit Methodology and Research Methods
Education Policy
Teacher Education
Research Projects
Peer Reviewed Journal
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Audrey Bryan; Delma Byrne; Maura Coulter; Thomas Delahunty; Elaine Keane; Karl Kitching; Déirdre Ní Chróinín (2024) '‘Bearing witness to negativity’: towards just futures of education'. Irish Educational Studies, . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2024 | Delahunty, T. (2024) 'Unearthing the coloniality of neoliberalised curricular discourses to promote a public orientation towards secondary science education'. International Journal of Science Education, . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2023 | Delahunty, T.; Shúilleabháin, A.N.í.; Waters, L. (2023) 'Unpacking the motivational variables which impact engagement in Lesson Study: Mathematics teaching self-efficacy and attitudes towards self-development'. Irish Educational Studies, . [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2021 | Delahunty, T.; Kimbell, R.; (2021) '(Re)framing a philosophical and epistemological framework for teaching and learning in STEM: Emerging pedagogies for complexity'. British Educational Research Journal, . [DOI] [Full-Text] | |
| 2021 | Thomas Delahunty; Mark Prendergast; Máire Ní Ríordáin (2021) 'Teachers' Perspectives on Achieving an Integrated Curricular Model of Primary STEM Education in Ireland: Authentic or Utopian Ideology?'. Frontiers In Education, . [DOI] [Full-Text] | |
| 2020 | Delahunty, T.; Seery, N.; Dunbar, R.; Ryan, M.; (2020) 'An exploration of the variables contributing to graphical education studentsâ CAD modelling capability'. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, . [DOI] | |
| 2020 | Thomas Delahunty; Niall Seery; Raymond Lynch (2020) 'Exploring problem conceptualization and performance in STEM problem solving contexts'. Instructional Science, . [DOI] | |
| 2018 | Delahunty, T., Pérez, L.C, and Rivera-Reyes, P. (2018) 'Exploring the role of spatial skill in electrical circuits problem solving'. Engineering Design Graphics Journal, 82 (2):31-35. | |
| 2018 | Delahunty, T.; Seery, N.; Lynch, R.; (2018) 'Exploring the Use of Electroencephalography to Gather Objective Evidence of Cognitive Processing During Problem Solving'. Journal of Science Education and Technology, . [DOI] | |
| 2018 | Delahunty, T., Perez, L.C., Rivera-Reyes, P., Psota, E., Molfese, D. (2018) 'The relationship between spatial ability and electrical circuits problem solving in an engineering degree program'. Cognitive Processing, 19 (1). | |
| 2013 | Delahunty, T.; Seery, N.; Lynch, R.; Lane, D.; (2013) 'Investigating student teachers' approach to solving applied analytical graphical problems'. Engineering Design Graphics Journal, . | |
| 2012 | Delahunty, T., Seery, N. and Lynch, R. (2012) '*An Evaluation of the Assessment of Graphical Education at Junior Cycle in the Irish System'. International Journal of Design Education, . | |
| 2019 | Seery, N.; Buckley, J.; Delahunty, T.; Canty, D.; (2019) 'Integrating learners into the assessment process using adaptive comparative judgement with an ipsative approach to identifying competence based gains relative to student ability levels'. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, . [DOI] |
Book Chapter
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Máire Ní Ríordáin; Thomas Delahunty (2022) 'Conclusions and Future Directions in STEM Education Research Approaches' In: [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2022 | Delahunty, T. (2022) 'Neurocognitive and physiological measurment of STEM learning processes' In: International Encyclopedia of Education: Fourth Edition. [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2022 | Thomas Delahunty; Máire Ní Ríordáin (2022) 'Introduction' In: [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2022 | Thomas Delahunty (2022) 'The learning sciences as a mindset for STEM education research' In: [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2023 | Thomas Delahunty; Thomas Delahunty; (2023) 'Neurocognitive and physiological measurment of STEM learning processes' In: International Encyclopedia of Education(Fourth Edition). [DOI] | |
| 2022 | Thomas Delahunty; (2022) 'The learning sciences as a mindset for STEM education research' In: Perspectives in Contemporary STEM Education Research. UK : Routledge. [DOI] | |
| 2022 | Máire Ní Ríordáin; Thomas Delahunty; (2022) 'Conclusions and Future Directions in STEM Education Research Approaches' In: Perspectives In Contemporary Stem Education Research. UK : Routledge. [DOI] | |
| 2022 | Thomas Delahunty; Máire Ní Ríordáin (2022) 'Introduction' In: Perspectives in Contemporary STEM Education Research. UK : Routledge. [DOI] | |
| 2019 | Thomas Delahunty (2019) 'Enhancing the Teaching of Problem-Solving in Technology Education' In: Contemporary Issues in Technology Education. Netherlands : Springer. [DOI] |
Edited Book
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Thomas Delahunty and Máire Ní Ríordáin (Ed.). (2022) Perspectives in Contemporary STEM Education Research. UK: Routledge, [DOI] |
Other Journal
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Thomas Delahunty; (2022) 'Unpacking the motivational variables which impact engagement in Lesson Study as a form of professional development among practicing mathematics teachers' [], . [DOI] |
Conference Publication
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Delahunty, T., and Ní Shúilleabháin, A. (2022) Educational Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference 2022 Attitudes to lesson study and the relationship to perceived teaching self-efficacy in mathematics among practicing teachers Merino Institute of Education, Dublin, | |
| 2022 | Delahunty, T., Ní Ríordáin, M., and Prendergast, M. (2022) Educational Studies Association of Ireland Annual Conference 2022 Gender stereotypes and self-concept as predictors of pre-service early childhood teachers’ STEM attitudes Merino Institute of Education, Dublin, | |
| 2012 | Delahunty, T., Seery, N. and Lynch, R. (2012) PATT 26 The growing necessity for graphical competency Stockholm, | |
| 2012 | Delahunty, T., Seery, N. and Lynch, R. (2012) Engineering Design Graphics Division 67th Mid Year Conference Examining Neuronal Function during the Completion of Established Graphical Tasks Limerick, Ireland, | |
| 2013 | Seery, N. and Delahunty, T. (2013) Engineering Design Graphics Division 68th Mid Year Conference Capturing Graphical Capability Through Ipsative Enquiry Using Adaptive Comparative Judgement Worcester, Massachusetts, | |
| 2013 | Delahunty, T., Seery, N., Lynch, R. (2013) Engineering Design Graphics Division 68th Mid-Year Conference Conceptualisation in Visuospatial Reasoning Tasks: A Research Direction Worcester, Massachusetts, | |
| 2015 | Seery, N. and Delahunty, T. (2015) 29th PATT Conference 'Cognitive load as a key element of instructional design and its implications for Initial Technology Teacher Education Marseille, France, | |
| 2016 | Delahunty, T., Sorby, S., Seery, N. and Pérez, L. (2016) 70th Engineering Design Graphics Division Annual Mid-Year Conference 'Spatial Skills and Success in Engineering Education: A Case for Investigating Etiological Underpinnings Daytona Beach, Florida, | |
| 2017 | Seery, N., Delahunty, T., Canty, D. and Buckley, J. (2017) Pupils Attitudes Towards Technology 2017 'Illustrating Educational Development through Ipsative Performance in Design Based Education Philadelphia, PA, | |
| 2018 | Delahunty, T., Pérez, L.C, and Rivera-Reyes, P. (2018) 72nd Engineering Design Graphics Division Mid-Year Conference Exploring the role of spatial skill in electrical circuits problem solving | |
| 2018 | Seery, N., Sadowski, M.A., Sorby, S.A and Delahunty, T. (2018) 72nd Engineering Design Graphics Mid-Year Conference Adaptive Comparative Judgement as an Alternative to the Delphi Method for Establishing a Concept Inventory for Graphics Montego Bay, Jamaica, | |
| 2018 | Delahunty, T., Pérez, L.C, Rivera-Reyes, P., Molfese, D.L and Psota, E. (2018) The International Conference on Spatial Cognition Investigating the relationship between spatial ability and electrical circuits problem solving in an engineering degree program | |
| 2019 | Rivera-Reyes, P.; Perez, L.C.; Delahunty, T.; (2019) Proceedings - Frontiers in Education Conference, FIE Assessing the Demand of Problems in an Undergraduate Electrical Engineering Course [DOI] | |
| 2019 | Duffy, G.; Sorby, S.; Reves, P.R.; Delahunty, T.; Perez, L.; Ravishankar, J.; (2019) Proceedings of 2018 IEEE International Conference on Teaching, Assessment, and Learning for Engineering, TALE 2018 The Link between Spatial Skills and Engineering Problem-Solving [DOI] | |
| 2015 | Delahunty, T.; Seery, N.; Lynch, R.; (2015) 6th Research in Engineering Education Symposium: Translating Research into Practice, REES 2015 Spatial skills and success in problem solving within engineering education | |
| 2015 | Seery, N.; Buckley, J.; Delahunty, T.; (2015) 6th Research in Engineering Education Symposium: Translating Research into Practice, REES 2015 Developing a spatial ability framework to support spatial ability research in engineering education | |
| 2014 | Delahunty, T.; Seery, N.; Lynch, R.; Lane, D.; (2014) ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings Considering cognitive load as a key element in instructional design for developing graphical capability | |
| 2013 | Delahunty, T.; Seery, N.; Lynch, R.; Lane, D.; (2013) ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings An exploratory study of students' approaches to generating, maintaining and communicating visual-mental images | |
| 2012 | Delahunty, T.; Seery, N.; Lynch, R.; Lane, D.; (2012) ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings Investigating student teachers' approach to solving applied analytical graphical problems |
Invited papers
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Thomas Delahunty (2022) Improving STEM Education... But for Whom?. Dublin: [Invited papers] [Link] |
Newspaper Articles
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Ní Shúilleabháin A, and Delahunty, T. (2022) It is time to financially support student teachers’ education. [Newspaper Articles] [Link] |
Manuscript
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Thomas Delahunty; Máire Ní Ríordáin; Mark Prendergast; (2022) An investigation of STEM Interest, Mathematics Beliefs and gender stereotypes among pre-service early childhood educators. [Manuscript] [DOI] |
Other Publication
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Supple, B. and Delahunty, T. (2019) Learning Connections 2019 Conference (Edited conference proceedings). [Edited Book] [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2019 | 2. Delahunty, T., Kelly, D. & Mcinnis, J.(Eds). (2019) 73rd Engineering Design Graphics Division (ASEE), Mid-Year Conference: The visualizing instinct in contemporary education (Edited conference proceedings). [Edited Book] [Link] |
Honors and Awards
Committees
Employment
Outreach Activities
| Organisation | Type | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Scientific Galway and RAISE Undergraduate STEM Teacher Bursary | Civic Society | [Link] |