Previous Research

EDC Logo dr s k- murray

Sylwia pictured with Paul Downes and Gerry Shiel, ERC

Dr. Sylwia Kazmierczak- Murray, Research Associate with the Centre, conducted the following research as part of her Doctoral thesis. A systems level focus on the efficacy of the sound field amplification on the speech / language development of children in 8 urban primary schools on the Dublin area. This study examines the efficacy of classroom sound field amplification systems (SFA) for the development of language in children aged 4-7 from 8 designated disadvantaged urban schools in Dublin. It evaluates the benefits of SFA through a systems theory where SFA is considered to be a part of a complex microsystem of the classroom, which is influenced by other meso, exo and macrosystemic levels (Bronfenbrenner, 1979). A series of case study designs evidencing individual responses to intervention include analyses of environments and the situations when SFA is not working, to discover and not to prove the hypothesis. Such heuristic perspective constitutes a novelty in the contexts of research to date on this topic, many of which followed the traditional dichotomy of ‘cause and effect’ to arrive at their conclusions. Dr. Kazmierczak-Murray successfully defended her thesis in June 2011.

Jo-Hanna Ivers a Research Associate with the Centre has successfully completed her thesis Fear of Success among North Inner City Youth as part of her MA degree which was awarded to her in November 2008.

Cathríona Ryan, Research Associate with the Centre, has successfully completed her thesis The Experiences of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and their Families in Ballyfermot as part of her MA degree which was awarded to her in November 2008.

ADM - Sound Field Amplification System

The Educational Disadvantage Centre was awarded a grant of 158,158 Euro from the Pobal Dormant Accounts Fund to install sound-field amplification systems in 8 primary schools in Ballyfermot and North Inner City Dublin, and to engage in a 2 year research programme on their benefits for speech and language, behaviour management and prevention of Attention Deficit Disorder.

The aim of this research was to study the impact of classroom sound field amplification on individual children from designated disadvantaged schools who were considered by their teachers to experience the most severe speech/language problems. The report on the study will present findings from a series of case studies illustrating individual responses to intervention.