University of Limerick Department of Psychology

UL Psychology has been building expertise in innovative methods for exploring social systems with networks and computational social science. The attached image of issue coordination among political party supporters in the US is an example that got lots of attention.

🔗The paper can be accessed at the link in our bio.

If you are a student interested in this work, we have a new programme for you! July 17 is the application deadline for our new 1 year MSc in Applied Social Data Analytics. No prior coding skills are required.

🖊️For more info and to apply click the link in our bio.

StudyAtUL

📢 The closing date for applications to the MSc Psychological Science is this Thursday 16th July.

📝 Apply now to secure your place!

https://www.ul.ie/study/postgraduate/psychological-science-msc-psychology

You can watch a recent programme information webinar here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ59OgzHm2w

⚠️Extended Closing Date⚠️

Our MSc in Psychological Science is now accepting applications until 16th July.

🔗More info and link to apply in our bio

👇 Happening today! 👇

Our informal drop-in session for prospective students to the MSc in Applied Social Data Analytics is taking place today at 4pm-5pm (Irish time).

You can join the session here: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/396931906617637?p=qcxpBZTyiQO8v2TyTt
(Meeting ID: 396 931 906 617 637 ; Passcode: Kt6ug9Kw)

If you can't make it you can watch a recent recording of an information session about the programme here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIDcPdJBNTE.

✨Survey participants needed✨

One of our MA Psychology students is seeking participants to take part in a survey for their Masters Research Project. The topic is on how people evaluate different types of written summaries. If you would like to participate, please click the link below. More information is provided there. Thank you for taking part.

https://unioflimerick.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eyRZyFGGlAg8ZWm

This research study has received Ethics approval from the Education and Health Sciences Research Ethics committee (2026_03_08). If you have any concerns about this study and wish to contact someone independent, you may contact: Chairperson Education and Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, EHS Faculty Office,

University of Limerick

Tel: (061) 234101

Email: [email protected]

‼️We are running online drop-in sessions for the next few Thursdays at 4pm (Irish time) about our new MSc Applied Social Data Analytics — Starting September 2026‼️.

The Teams link to join the sessions is here: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/396931906617637?p=qcxpBZTyiQO8v2TyTt
(Meeting ID: 396 931 906 617 637. Passcode: Kt6ug9Kw).

Designed for social science graduates, this one‑year MSc combines behavioural insight and data analytics, two high‑demand skill areas. Learn to code in R, analyse real‑world social data and apply network analysis methods. No prior coding experience required.

By graduation, you’ll be able to process, visualise and interpret complex social data, with career pathways across tech, media, public policy and healthcare.

🎓 MSc (NFQ Level 9) | ⏱ 1 year, full‑time | 📅 Starts September

👉 Applications are still open. Apply here: https://www.ul.ie/gps/courses/applied-social-data-analytic-msc

Our colleague Dr Páraic Ó Súilleabháin was a contributor to a paper just published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. The paper was led by Tomiko Yoneda and Eileen Graham.

The researchers found that loneliness really does appear to be consistently associated with an elevated risk of cognitive impairment and mortality risk across statistical approaches, even after adjusting for other important factors, like social isolation (e.g., involvement in groups, degree of social connection etc).

Conclusion: Loneliness is a robust proximal predictor of major aging outcomes.

https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fpspp0000606

✨Applications close next week ✨

Consider the 'MSc in Psychological Science' at UL! It provides you with a general Masters degree while its streams in Clinical Psychology, Community and Health, Social Psychology, and Research Methods will deepen your expertise in your area of interest.

https://www.ul.ie/gps/course/psychological-science-msc

Applications close on 25th June, apply now to secure your place!

“In terms of all the moderatorship, all of the kind of content checking would mean that there is no responsibility on those platforms to check or monitor or ensure that the content is safe. It places all of the responsibility on [children and parents]. That is quite concerning."

Dr Ruth Melia spoke with Imasha Costa of the Irish Examiner this week about why an outright ban on social media for under-16s will not work. You can read the article here: https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41863140.html

Children will use 'workarounds' to access social media if age restriction is introduced, experts warn Under-16s will change their date of birth, set up fake profiles or use their parents/older siblings PPS number to access social media, they say