At UCD, we aim to create a positive research culture. We want to create an environment that enables excellent research and where all contributions to research are recognised. Our goal is to create a pathway for the future development of UCD’s Research Culture, identifying areas of good practice, opportunities for development, and gaps in our knowlege. Surveys provide a snapshot of the views of our research community and allow us to further develop emerging themes through follow-on focus groups and interviews, and actions to address communications, training, and policy.
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Mental Health, Wellbeing and Research Culture
The first UCD Research Culture survey, did not explicitly include a focus on mental health and wellbeing, however while conducting the survey a number of responses indicated that members of the research community perceive wellbeing-related factors as central aspects of research culture. In response, we are conducting research to further evaluate aspects of research culture which support mental health and wellbeing and those which need improvement.
Survey Outputs
Reports from both the 2023 and 2021 Research Culture Surveys were created, each providing unique input into our research culture at UCD.
The 2021 Survey generated 3 reports:
- 2021 UCD Research Culture Survey - Quantitative Report
- 2021 UCD Research Culture Survey - Quantitative Report Supplementary Material
- 2021 UCD Research Culture Survey - Gender Report
And 1 report was generated from the 2023 Survey:
Feedback forums were run during the World Café after conducting the 2021 Survey and a report was created from the findings of the feedback:
Two other outputs were produced from the survey and feedback forum:
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Thomas, Colleen and Deschênes, Sonya and Mulcahy, Grace and Ottewill, Adrian and Boyle, Gillian M. and McGrath, Charles Ivar and Maura Hiney, 'Research Culture Challenges among Early Career Researchers: A qualitative study, Exchanges: The Interdisciplinary Research Journal, v11.3 (2024), 225-238. Available at: (opens in a new window)Research Culture Challenges among Early Career Researchers: A qualitative study | Exchanges: The Interdisciplinary Research Journal
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Fulham-McQuillan,Hugh and Thomas, Colleen and Boyle, Gillian M. and Mulchay, Grace and Ottewill, Adrian and McGrath, Charles Ivar and Hiney, Maura and Deschênes, Sonya, 'The Intersection of Research Culture and Researcher Mental Health and Wellbeing: A Quantitative Study'. Available at: (opens in a new window)The Intersection of Research Culture and Researcher Mental Health and Wellbeing: A Quantitative Study by Hugh Fulham-McQuillan, Colleen Thomas, Gillian M. Boyle, Grace Mulchay, Adrian Ottewill, Charles Ivar McGrath, Maura Hiney, Sonya Deschênes :: SSRN