Dr Delma Byrne

    Sociology

    Lecturer

    Auxilia House
    1.4
    (01) 708 3723

    Biography

    • My research interests focus on social stratification and the sociology of education in particular, and the role of education in shaping life chances over the life-course, including labour market experiences. I have been working on these research areas for some time now, having worked on these issues during my time as a Research Assistant and Post Doctoral Research Fellow at the Economic and Social Research Institute, Dublin (2001-2003 and 2007-2010 respectively) and at the University of Edinburgh where I obtained a PhD in Educational Sociology (2003-2007). 
    • There is a particular focus on inequalities relating to gender, social class, race/ethnicity, disability and special educational needs in my work. This work cross-cuts research in comparative education and labour market research, with a particular focus on the structure of education systems and the graduate labour market.
    • I use a variety of research designs, research methods and data to include the use of both quantitative and qualitative methods in empirical educational research, which underpins my teaching in the fields of sociology and education. My use of data includes both cross-nationally comparative data such as the European Labour Force Survey and Reflex data, as well as longitudinal data such as the Growing up in Ireland data, and qualitative data collection. 

    Research Interests

    Stratification in Education and Training and the Labour Market, School-to-Work Transitions, Graduate Labour Market, Social Inequality: Gender, Social Class, Race/Ethnicity/Migrant Status Inequality, Comparative Data Analysis, Social Science Research Methods (Quantitative, Qualitative, Mixed Methods)

    Research Projects

      Project Role Funding Body / Program Description Start Date End Date Award (€)
    An Evaluation of the Doodle Families Programme Principal Investigator / Childhood Development Initiative 15-SEP-18 31-JUL-19
    The Irish Graduate Labour Market in European Comparative Aspect Primary Investigator / 01-JUN-17 01-JUN-19
    The Position of the Middle Class in European Countries Contributor / 01-MAR-17 30-SEP-17
    A Review of Barriers and Supports Impacting on Lone Parent Access to Higher Education Principal Investigator / 01-JUL-16 27-APR-17 19606
    National Evaluation of the DARE/HEAR Widening Access to Participation in Higher Education Principal Investigator / 01-OCT-12 30-JUN-13 76653
    Working Out? Family Employment and Childcare Strategies and the Impact on Child Well-Being Principal Investigator / 01-OCT-12 30-OCT-13 46800
    Thresholds of Inequality: A Cross National Evaluation of Effectively Maintained Inequality in Education Co-Investigator / 01-JAN-11 01-JAN-15 16000

    Books

      Year Publication
    2010 Behind the Scenes? A Study of Parental Involvement in Second Level Education.
    Byrne, D., and Smyth, E. (2010) Behind the Scenes? A Study of Parental Involvement in Second Level Education. : The Liffey Press in association with the ESRI & DES. [Details]
    2010 No Way Back? The Dynamics of Early School Leaving.
    Byrne, D., and Smyth, E. (2010) No Way Back? The Dynamics of Early School Leaving. : The Liffey Press in association with the ESRI, NCCA & DES. [IR Link] [Details]
    2005 The Transition Year Programme: An Assessment.
    Smyth, E., Byrne, D., and Hannan, C. (2005) The Transition Year Programme: An Assessment. : The Liffey Press in association with the ESRI. [Details]

    Book Chapters

      Year Publication
    2017 'Student retention in higher education'
    McCoy S.;Byrne D. (2017) 'Student retention in higher education' In: Economic Insights on Higher Education Policy in Ireland: Evidence from a Public System. [DOI] [Details]
    2017 'The Middle Class in Ireland’'
    Byrne, D (2017) 'The Middle Class in Ireland’' In: Siegmann, A., Schafer, M (eds). No Robots: The Position of Middle-Class Households in Nine European Countries. The Netherlands: Quantes. [Details]
    2012 'New School, New System: The experiences of immigrant students in Irish schools'
    Darmody, M., Smyth, E., Byrne, D., and McGinnity, F. (2012) 'New School, New System: The experiences of immigrant students in Irish schools' In: International Handbook of Migration, Minorities and Education. Springer. [Details]

    Peer Reviewed Journals

      Year Publication
    2019 'Who Goes to College via Access Routes? A Comparative Study of Widening Participation Admission in Selective Universities in Ireland and England'
    O'Sullivan, K, Byrne, D., Robson, J., and Winters, N. (2019) 'Who Goes to College via Access Routes? A Comparative Study of Widening Participation Admission in Selective Universities in Ireland and England'. Social Inclusion, 7 (1):38-51 [IR Link] [Details]
    2017 'Effectively Maintained Inequality in Educational Transitions in the Republic of Ireland'
    Byrne D.;McCoy S. (2017) 'Effectively Maintained Inequality in Educational Transitions in the Republic of Ireland'. American Behavioral Scientist, 61 (1):49-73 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2017 'Seven Principles for Assessing Effectively Maintained Inequality'
    Lucas S.;Byrne D. (2017) 'Seven Principles for Assessing Effectively Maintained Inequality'. American Behavioral Scientist, 61 (1):132-160 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2017 'Effectively Maintained Inequality: An Introduction'
    Lucas, S.R., and Byrne, D. (2017) 'Effectively Maintained Inequality: An Introduction'. American Behavioral Scientist, 61 (1):3-7 [IR Link] [Details]
    2016 'Determinants and Effects of School Age Childcare on Children's Cognitive and Socio-Emotional Outcomes at Age 13'
    Byrne, D (2016) 'Determinants and Effects of School Age Childcare on Children's Cognitive and Socio-Emotional Outcomes at Age 13'. Economic And Social Review, 47 :543-575 [Details]
    2015 'Review of Irish Higher Education: A Comparative Perspective, by Patrick Clancy'
    Byrne, D (2015) 'Review of Irish Higher Education: A Comparative Perspective, by Patrick Clancy'. All Ireland Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (AISHE-J), 7 (2):2381-2384 [Details]
    2015 'Born abroad and educated here: examining the impacts of education and skill mismatch among immigrant graduates in Europe'
    McGuinness S.;Byrne D. (2015) 'Born abroad and educated here: examining the impacts of education and skill mismatch among immigrant graduates in Europe'. IZA JOURNAL OF MIGRATION, 4 (1) [DOI] [Details]
    2014 'Cumulative disadvantage? Educational careers of migrant students in Irish secondary schools'
    Darmody, M;Byrne, D;McGinnity, F (2014) 'Cumulative disadvantage? Educational careers of migrant students in Irish secondary schools'. Race Ethnicity and Education, 17 :129-151 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2014 'Bottom of the class? The leaving certificate applied programme and track placement in the Republic of Ireland'
    Banks, J;Byrne, D;McCoy, S;Smyth, E (2014) 'Bottom of the class? The leaving certificate applied programme and track placement in the Republic of Ireland'. Irish Educational Studies, 33 :367-381 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2013 'IDENTIFYING AND EXPLAINING HIDDEN DISADVANTAGE WITHIN THE NON-MANUAL GROUP IN HIGHER EDUCATION ACCESS'
    Byrne, D;McCoy, S (2013) 'IDENTIFYING AND EXPLAINING HIDDEN DISADVANTAGE WITHIN THE NON-MANUAL GROUP IN HIGHER EDUCATION ACCESS'. Comparative Social Research, 30 :293-315 [DOI] [Details]
    2012 'The Determinants and Effects of Training at Work: Bringing the Workplace Back in'
    O'Connell, PJ;Byrne, D (2012) 'The Determinants and Effects of Training at Work: Bringing the Workplace Back in'. European Sociological Review, 28 :283-300 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2012 'Too Much of a Good Thing? Gender, 'Concerted Cultivation' and Unequal Achievement in Primary Education'
    McCoy, S;Byrne, D;Banks, J (2012) 'Too Much of a Good Thing? Gender, 'Concerted Cultivation' and Unequal Achievement in Primary Education'. Child Indicators Research, 5 :155-178 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2011 ''The sooner the better I could get out of there': barriers to higher education access in Ireland'
    McCoy, S;Byrne, D (2011) ''The sooner the better I could get out of there': barriers to higher education access in Ireland'. Irish Educational Studies, 30 :141-157 [DOI] [IR Link] [Details]
    2010 'Immigration and School Composition in Ireland'
    Byrne, D., McGinnity, F., Smyth, E. and Darmody, M. (2010) 'Immigration and School Composition in Ireland'. Irish Educational Studies, Special Issue on 'Race', migration and education in a globalised context, 29 :271-288 [IR Link] [Details]
    2008 'BERA Review 2006: Education Research and Policy'
    Byrne, D., and Ozga, J. (2008) 'BERA Review 2006: Education Research and Policy'. Research Papers in Education, Research Papers in Education, 23 :377-405 [IR Link] [Details]
    2007 'Language Approaches Used with Deaf Pupils in Scottish Schools: 2001-2004'
    Grimes, M., Thoutenhoofd, E.D. and Byrne, D (2007) 'Language Approaches Used with Deaf Pupils in Scottish Schools: 2001-2004'. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, 12 :530-551 [IR Link] [Details]
    2006 'An Introduction to Computerised Analysis of Qualitative Data'
    Darmody, M. and Byrne, D. (2006) 'An Introduction to Computerised Analysis of Qualitative Data'. Irish Educational Studies, 25 :121-133 [IR Link] [Details]

    Other Journals

      Year Publication
    2015 'A Whole New Spectrum of Queries, Concerns and Anxieties'
    O'Toole, C., and Byrne, D. (2015) 'A Whole New Spectrum of Queries, Concerns and Anxieties' Children's Research Digest, 2 (2) :9-14. [IR Link] [Details]

    Conference Contributions

      Year Publication
    2017 Field of Study and Early Graduate Outcomes Before and During the Recession.
    Byrne, D (2017) Field of Study and Early Graduate Outcomes Before and During the Recession. [Oral Presentation], Increasing mobility and reducing inequality: What guidance is provided by sociological research?, Columbia University, New York , 08-AUG-17 - 10-AUG-17 [Details]
    2013 43rd Annual Conference of the Psychological Society of Ireland, 6-9th November 2013, Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa, Sligo.
    Byrne, D. and O’Toole, C. (2013) 43rd Annual Conference of the Psychological Society of Ireland, 6-9th November 2013, Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa, Sligo. [Oral Presentation], Childcare and Child Development at Age Three: A Cross Sectional Analysis of Growing up in Ireland Data, Sligo [Details]
    2013 Higher Education Authority (HEA) National Access Office (NAO) Conference 'How Equal? Access to Higher Education in Ireland', November 7th, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin.
    Byrne, D., Doris, A. and Sweetman, O. (2013) Higher Education Authority (HEA) National Access Office (NAO) Conference 'How Equal? Access to Higher Education in Ireland', November 7th, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin. [Oral Presentation], Summary of Findings from the National Evaluation of the HEAR and DARE Schemes, Dublin [Details]
    2013 Conference Paper.
    Byrne, D. and Cummins, L. (2013) Conference Paper. [Oral Presentation], Navigating the Childcare Market, Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Annual Conference, ''Educational Policy in Changing Times: Consultation, Implementation and Impact', Limerick, 21st-23rd March 2013 [Details]
    2013 Conference Paper.
    Byrne, D., and Lucas, S. R. (2013) Conference Paper. [Oral Presentation], Thresholds of Educational Inequality: A Cross-National Assessment of Effectively Maintained Inequality, Sociological Association of Ireland (SAI) Annual Conference [Details]
    2013 Conference Presentation.
    Byrne, D. and O'Toole, C. (2013) Conference Presentation. [Oral Presentation], Learning experiences in early years: an investigation using the Growing up in Ireland dataset, Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Annual Conference, ''Educational Policy in Changing Times: Consultation, Implementation and Impact', Limerick, 21st-23rd March 2013 [Details]
    2012 Presentation Prepared for New Perspectives on Family Change in Ireland, NUI Maynooth, 11th-12th December 2012.
    Byrne, D., O'Toole, C. (2012) Presentation Prepared for New Perspectives on Family Change in Ireland, NUI Maynooth, 11th-12th December 2012. [Oral Presentation], Using Growing up in Ireland to Explore Family Employment and Childcare Dynamics in a Context of Child Well-Being, Maynooth [Details]
    2012 Paper Presented at Growing up in Ireland Annual Conference 2012,.
    Byrne, D., with Banks, J., and McCoy, S. (2012) Paper Presented at Growing up in Ireland Annual Conference 2012,. [Oral Presentation], Self-fulfilling Prophecy? Academic Expectations Among Teachers and Parents of Children with SEN, Dublin [Details]
    2012 Paper Presented at AERA ESAI Symposium 'Educational Research in a Time of Transformation: Perspectives from Post-Celtic Tiger Ireland', AERA Vancouver April 14th 2012.
    Byrne, D., Malone, R. (2012) Paper Presented at AERA ESAI Symposium 'Educational Research in a Time of Transformation: Perspectives from Post-Celtic Tiger Ireland', AERA Vancouver April 14th 2012. [Oral Presentation], Transforming the Transition: Irish Students and the Transition to Higher Education, Vancouver, Canada [Details]

    Published Reports

      Year Publication
    2019 The Early Impact of the Revised Leaving Certificate Grading Scheme on Student Perceptions and Behaviour.
    McCoy, S., Byrne, D., O’Sullivan, J., and Smyth, E. (2019) The Early Impact of the Revised Leaving Certificate Grading Scheme on Student Perceptions and Behaviour. The Economic and Social Research Institute, Dublin. [Details]
    2017 An Independent Review to Identify Supports and Barriers for Lone Parents in Accessing Higher Education and to Examine Measures to Increase Participation.
    Byrne, D., and Murray, C. (2017) An Independent Review to Identify Supports and Barriers for Lone Parents in Accessing Higher Education and to Examine Measures to Increase Participation. Department of Education and Skills, Dublin. [IR Link] [Details]
    2015 The Influence of Childcare Arrangements on Child Well Being from Infancy to Middle Childhood.
    Byrne, D. and O'Toole, C. (2015) The Influence of Childcare Arrangements on Child Well Being from Infancy to Middle Childhood. TUSLA in association with Maynooth University, TUSLA in association with Maynooth University. [IR Link] [Details]
    2015 An Evaluation of the HEAR and DARE Supplementary Admission Routes to Higher Education.
    Byrne, D., Doris, A., Sweetman, O., Casey, R., and Raffe, D. (2015) An Evaluation of the HEAR and DARE Supplementary Admission Routes to Higher Education. IUA, http://www.iua.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/HEAR-DARE-Evaluation-Report.pdf. [IR Link] [Details]
    2010 Changing Workplace: A Survey of Employees’ Views and Experiences.
    O’Connell, P.J., Russell, H., Watson, D., and Byrne, D. (2010) Changing Workplace: A Survey of Employees’ Views and Experiences. National Centre for Partnership and Performance, Dublin. [IR Link] [Details]
    2010 Engaging Young People? Student Experiences of the Leaving Certificate Applied.
    Banks, J., Byrne, D., McCoy, S. and Smyth, E. (2010) Engaging Young People? Student Experiences of the Leaving Certificate Applied. Report Commissioned by the NCCA and Published as an ESRI Research Series Publication 15, in associat, Dublin. [IR Link] [Details]
    2009 School Leavers’ Survey 2007.
    Byrne, D., McCoy, S., and Watson, D. (2009) School Leavers’ Survey 2007. ESRI in association with DES, Dublin. [IR Link] [Details]
    2009 Adapting to Diversity: Irish Schools and Newcomer Students.
    Smyth, E., Darmody, M., McGinnity, F. and Byrne, D. (2009) Adapting to Diversity: Irish Schools and Newcomer Students. ESRI, Report commissioned by the Department of Education and Skills, and published as an ESRI Research Se. [IR Link] [Details]
    2005 Establishing a UK ‘home international’ comparative research programme for post-compulsory learning LSRC.
    Byrne, D. and Raffe, D. (2005) Establishing a UK ‘home international’ comparative research programme for post-compulsory learning LSRC. Report commissioned and published by the Learning and Skills Development Agency UK, London. [IR Link] [Details]