Social Sciences ConneXions at LIT

Social Sciences ConneXions is a collective of 3 research groups located in the Department of Applied Social Sciences at Limerick Institute of Technology. Founded in September 2013, the collective is comprised of: Loss and Grief research group, Genders and Sexualities research group, and HEALR (Health, Education And SociaL Research) To date, Social Sciences ConneXions has leveraged more than €300,000 in funding for post-graduate research projects.
The aim and vision of Social Sciences ConneXions is to promote social inclusion, provide a voice for those who are not heard, and enrich the body of academic knowledge informing social and community practitioners from a variety of disciplines. With this in mind, we are engaged in collaborative efforts with organisations supporting those who are vulnerable through graduate research projects, media appearances, conference and workshop presentations, publications and community research events.
The Loss and Grief Research Group promotes research around traditional topics in loss such as death, bereavement, and suicide, but also focuses on non-death related losses across the lifespan. The group takes a unique multidisciplinary approach towards the examination of grief and loss as it is encountered in various life events, and aims to increase public awareness of the effects of loss and encourage the effective emotional understanding and management of these experiences. Current research projects include: loss and grief for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren; cultural grief for migrants in Limerick; the experiences of people who have a family member who identifies as transgender, and how students in higher education manage bereavement.
The Genders and Sexualities Research Group investigates a broad range of topics related to the ways in which genders and sexualities impact on people in contemporary society. Genders and Sexualities are described in the plural as an acknowledgement of the many ways in which these aspects of identities can be expressed and defined. Current research projects include: participatory action research examining social and cultural capital formation amongst young single mothers; discursive constructions of rape and sexual assault in tabloid media; young gay men’s negotiations of masculinities; and intergenerational work with families in which young single motherhood is present.
HEALR (Health, Education And SociaL Research) conducts research incorporating health, education and social contexts. In addition to the range of commonly-used qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, HEALR utilises a diverse range of data collection methods in its projects, including GIS systems, participant-selected photographic observations, and content analysis of marketing materials. Current research projects include: an examination of smoking advertising in Ireland; training and community based learning for people in marginalised areas; mapping children’s experiences of the city; and the relationship between alcohol and advertising in sport.