Megan Vine (Graduated)

Research interests

Critical approaches to intergroup contact, social identity, social representations, community psychology, ecological factors that impact well-being, qualitative and participatory research methods

Project Supervisors

Dr Ronni Greenwood, Dr Anca Minescu

Project title

Experiences and outcomes of community solidarity initiatives with displaced people and host communities in Ireland

Project description

In Ireland, people who are seeking international protection (displaced people) live within the  Direct Provision (DP) system. In this system, displaced people experience disempowering regulations affecting their right to work and live dignified, independent lives. In this way, DP segregates displaced people from the wider Irish society, which exacerbates prejudice and discrimination towards them. In response, communities have developed grassroots community solidarity initiatives (CSI) across Ireland. These initiatives aim to address the social exclusion and discrimination displaced people face by creating opportunities for meaningful connection through shared activities and intercultural events. In my PhD research, apply a social-psychological lens to examine CSI as an example of collaborative intergroup contact between displaced people and the host community. In a series of three multi-method studies, my research seeks to understand 1) how displaced people and the host community experience intergroup contact in CSI and related contexts, and 2) whether and how CSI achieve their aims for both displaced people and host community members.

Project funding

Irish Research Council Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship (2019-2022)

Awards and honours

Irish Research Council Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship (GOIPG/2019/2474)

British Psychological Society, Social Psychology Section, Runner-up poster award, 2019, York, UK

Best Academic Performance (QCA) in MA Psychology 2017, University of Limerick

Outstanding Major Research Project in MA Psychology 2017, University of Limerick

Publications

Vine & Greenwood (2020) Negotiating identities and social representations through intergroup contact in a community solidarity initiative. British Journal of Social Psychology, (Published, Early View) https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12425

Conference Presentations

Oral presentations

Vine & Greenwood (2020) Displaced people’s experiences of Community Solidarity Initiatives: A Photovoice study, International Society of Political Psychology Virtual Conference

Vine & Greenwood (2018) The Melting Pot Luck: Community Approaches to Integration in Ireland, Community Psychology Festival, Hertford, UK

Poster presentations

Vine & Greenwood (2019) Majority and minority experiences of contact in a community initiative, Society of Community Research and Action Biennial, Chicago, USA, Poster Presentation

Vine & Greenwood (2019) Majority and minority experiences of contact in a community initiative, British Psychological Society Social Psychology Section Conference, York, UK, Poster Presentation

Vine, M; Butler, A; Kenny, C; Walsh, E; Donnelan, S. (2017). The Psychological Wellbeing of Families living in Direct Provision in Ireland. Poster presented at “Building Bridges Between Backyards: A Cross National Community Psychology Festival”, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland, Poster Presentation

Teaching

Undergraduate Modules: Psychology and Everyday Life (PS4031, Empirical Psychology II (PS4034),

Postgraduate Modules: Qualitative Research Methods (PS6022) 

Memberships

Wellbeing and Identities in Settings and Contexts (WISC) Lab, University of Limerick, led by Dr Ronni Greenwood

Migration Lab/Psychology with Sanctuary research group, University of Limerick, led by Dr Anca Minescu

Society for Community Research and Action – Immigrant Justice group

Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues

International Society for Political Psychology

British Psychology Society Social Psychology Section

Profiles

Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Megan-Vine

Twitter: @MeganVine