About Us

Emotional and behavioural problems often start in early childhood and the need for early intervention has been recognised as critical to reducing the onset of conduct problems. The Incredible Years Parent, Teacher and Child Training Series was developed, over the last 30 years, by Professor Carolyn Webster-Stratton of the University of Washington, (US). The programme is specifically designed to prevent and treat emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD) in children aged 0-12 years.

The Incredible Years Ireland Study involves an ambitious, four-year national evaluation of the Incredible Years programme in Ireland. This study, led by NUI Maynooth, was commissioned, in 2007, by Archways, a national organisation concerned with promoting, supporting and delivering the Incredible Years programme in Ireland. The study is funded by Archways with financial support from the Atlantic Philanthropies. This study is the first of its kind in Ireland and one of the very small number outside the US which will endeavour to assess the community-based implementation of the Incredible Years programme. Furthermore, the study will attempt to assess the transferability and effectiveness of all three elements (i.e. parent, teacher and child training) of the Incredible Years programmes, both singly and in combination, within an Irish context.

This novel research programme will cost more than €1million over the course of four years. It is a collaborative venture between Archways and NUIM and involves an expert team of 7 national and international academics. A project team of 7 staff is also involved in the day-to-day execution of the research whilst Archways personnel oversee all aspects of the on-the-ground delivery of the programme. This research will have important policy and practice implications with regard to ways in which to improve outcomes for ‘at risk’ children with emotional and behavioural difficulties and their families both in Ireland and elsewhere. Uniquely, it also highlights the benefits of universities and community-based organisations working closely together.

Expert Evaluation Team

The Incredible Years Ireland Study is led by Dr Sinéad McGilloway (Senior Lecturer) of the Department of Psychology at NUI Maynooth and will be conducted in collaboration with experts from Bangor University, Wales, Trinity College Dublin and Queen’s University Belfast. Importantly, the study has also received collaborative support from the the Incredible Years Programme developer, Professor Carolyn Webster-Stratton.

The research evaluation team comprises a multidisciplinary and highly skilled mix of academics drawn from a range of disciplines and who offer considerable collective research expertise, experience, skills and knowledge across several highly relevant domains. These include: community and public health psychology; research evaluation (including experimental evaluations); statistics; qualitative methodologies; child/developmental psychology; education; labour/health economics; health and social care/social policy research; and behavioural and abnormal psychology. Each team member is contributing individually and collaboratively to the design and execution of the study.

The expert team includes:

• Dr Sinéad McGilloway; NUI Maynooth
• Dr Tracey Bywater; Bangor University, Wales
• Dr Anne Lodge: NUI Maynooth
• Professor Catherine Comiskey: Trinity College, Dublin
• Dr Yvonne Barnes-Holmes: NUI Maynooth
• Dr Michael Donnelly: Queen’s University Belfast
• Professor Donal O’Neill: NUI Maynooth

An Expert Advisory Committee (EAC) is also in place to advise, where necessary, on the planning, commissioning and implementation of the evaluation.  This committee will also ensure adherence to agreed standards as programmes are implemented and provide advice on the overall strategy as well as assessing the need for any further research.

Current members of the Expert Advisory Committee include:

Attending members include

• Jane Forman, The Atlantic Philanthropies
• Gail Birkbeck, The Atlantic Philanthropies
• Margaret Maher, Archways
• Dr Sean McDonnell, Archways

The Expert Advisory Committee is also working with the evaluation team to ensure that the research findings are disseminated in a timely and effective manner to the new National Implementation Group, set up jointly by the Irish Government and the Atlantic Philanthropies to bring together practice, policy, science and philanthropy.  This new interest in evidence-based work will ensure that services directed towards disadvantaged children and youth will reflect improved standards and practices in children’s services.