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Political Science & Sociology

Dr Michelle Millar


Contact Details

Senior Lecturer
Political Science & Sociology
315
Second Floor
Aras Moyola
NUI Galway

T: 353 91 49 3634
E: michelle.millar@nuigalway.ie
 
researcher

Biography

Michelle Millar, BA, MA, PhD (Limerick) Senior Lecturer at the School of Political Science and Sociology and Research Fellow at the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, NUI Galway. 
I am a Senior Lecturer at the School of Political Science and Sociology NUI Galway and a Research Fellow at the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre. I have been teaching undergraduate Arts and Nursing students in policy and public administration and postgraduate students in Social Work, Family Support and Community Development since 1998.
I am currently the Chair of the Teaching and Learning Committee  and Director for the new MA in Politics & Sociology at the School of Political Science and Sociology and I have previously been Programme Director for the BA Public & Social Policy and the MA Community Development. 
I have acted as Principal Investigator on several funded research projects, the most recent an IRC Social Protection Research Innovation Award.
My research interest focuses on labour market activation and those parenting alone as well as social inclusion and parenting. I have many book chapters, published reports and over 20 peer reviewed Journal Articles published in journals such as Social Policy & Administration, Public Administration, Social Science & Medicine, Disability & Society, International Journal of Social Research Methodology, Divorce & Remarriage and the International Journal of Qualitative Research Methodology. 

Research Interests

Labour Market Activation and those Parenting Alone, Social Inclusion, Policy Evaluation

Research Projects

  Project Start Date End Date
An active inclusion approach to lone parents 01-DEC-14 30-SEP-18

Books

  Year Publication
(2003) Public Administration and Public Policy in Ireland: Theory and Methods.
Adshead, M., Millar, M. (2003) Public Administration and Public Policy in Ireland: Theory and Methods. : Routledge London. [Details]
(2008) Contesting the State: Lessons from the Irish Case. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Adshead, M., P. Kirby and M. Millar (2008) Contesting the State: Lessons from the Irish Case. Manchester: Manchester University Press. [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2017) 'Just because I have a baby doesn't mean it's going to stop my life: A Phenomenological account of being an Adolescent Parent'
Kelly, M; Millar, M; (2017) 'Just because I have a baby doesn't mean it's going to stop my life: A Phenomenological account of being an Adolescent Parent'. Families, Relationships and Societies, [Details]
(2017) ''Irish Women’s Ongoing Experiences of Domestic Abuse in Cases of Separation and Divorce''
Crosse, R; Millar, M; (2017) ''Irish Women’s Ongoing Experiences of Domestic Abuse in Cases of Separation and Divorce''. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 58 (7):507-525 [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'The Search for Understanding: The Role of Paradigmatic Worldviews'
Horrigan-Kelly M, Millar M, Dowling M (2017) 'The Search for Understanding: The Role of Paradigmatic Worldviews'. Nurse Researcher, [Details]
(2017) 'Adolescence and Parenthood: A Transitional Lifestage and an Abrupt Lifechange'
Kelly. M and Millar M. (2017) 'Adolescence and Parenthood: A Transitional Lifestage and an Abrupt Lifechange'. Journal of Community & Public Health Nursing, 3 (1) [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'Lone Parent Activation in Ireland: putting the cart before the horses?'
Millar, M; Crosse, R; (2017) 'Lone Parent Activation in Ireland: putting the cart before the horses?'. Social Policy And Administration, [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'A rights-based conceptual framework for the social inclusion of children and young persons with an intellectual disability'
Browne, M,Millar, M (2016) 'A rights-based conceptual framework for the social inclusion of children and young persons with an intellectual disability'. Disability & Society, 31 (8):1064-1080 [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'Understanding the Key Tenets of Heidegger's Philosophy for Interpretive Phenomenological Research'
Horrigan-Kelly, M,Millar, M,Dowling, M (2016) 'Understanding the Key Tenets of Heidegger's Philosophy for Interpretive Phenomenological Research'. International Journal Of Qualitative Methods, 15 (1) [DOI] [Details]
(2015) 'Stimulating young children’s narratives - seeking children’s perceptions of school readiness'
Hanniffy, M; and Millar, M (2015) 'Stimulating young children’s narratives - seeking children’s perceptions of school readiness'. Children’s Research Digest, 2 (1):46-50 [DOI] [Details]
(2012) '“Doing the Job as a Parent”: Parenting Alone, Work, and Family Policy in Ireland'
Millar, M; Coen, L; Bradley, C; and H, Rau. (2012) '“Doing the Job as a Parent”: Parenting Alone, Work, and Family Policy in Ireland'. The Journal Of Family Issues, 33 (1):29-51 [DOI] [Details]
(2009) 'Participatory research and data interpretation: using the voice centred relational method of data analysis. Is it worth it?'
Byrne, A., J. Canavan and M. Millar (2009) 'Participatory research and data interpretation: using the voice centred relational method of data analysis. Is it worth it?'. International Journal Of Social Research Methodology, 12 (1):67-77 [DOI] [Details]
(2007) 'Communities’ views on tacking health inequalities: The case of Ballyeast and Ballywest’'
Millar, M (2007) 'Communities’ views on tacking health inequalities: The case of Ballyeast and Ballywest’'. Irish Medical Journal, 100 (8):62-63 [Details]
(2007) 'The NESC Developmental Welfare State: a glass half empty or a glass half full approach to active social policy reform'
Murphy, M. and M. Millar (2007) 'The NESC Developmental Welfare State: a glass half empty or a glass half full approach to active social policy reform'. ADMINISTRATION, 55 (3):75-100 [Details]
(2006) '...it's all the same no matter how much fruit or vegetables or fresh air we get: Traveller women's perceptions of illness causation and health inequalities'
Hodgins, M., Millar, M., Barry, MM. (2006) '...it's all the same no matter how much fruit or vegetables or fresh air we get: Traveller women's perceptions of illness causation and health inequalities'. Social Science & Medicine, 62 :1978-1990 [DOI] [Details]
(2004) 'The politics of food regulation and reform in Ireland'
Taylor, G,Millar, M (2004) 'The politics of food regulation and reform in Ireland'. Public Administration, 82 :585-603 [DOI] [Details]
(2002) 'From Value for Money to Practice Improvement and Beyond: Introducing Evaluation to A Voluntary Sector Youth Project'
Millar, M., Canavan, J., Walsh, D. (2002) 'From Value for Money to Practice Improvement and Beyond: Introducing Evaluation to A Voluntary Sector Youth Project'. ADMINISTRATION, 50 (2):20-33 [Details]
(2002) 'The Appliance of Science: The Politics of European Food Regulation and Reform'
Taylor, G., Millar, M. (2002) 'The Appliance of Science: The Politics of European Food Regulation and Reform'. Public Policy And Administration, 13 (4):125-146 [DOI] [Details]
(2001) 'Patient Satisfaction with General Practice in Ireland'
Millar, M. (2001) 'Patient Satisfaction with General Practice in Ireland'. IRISH MEDICAL JOURNAL, 94 (4) [Details]
(2000) 'The role of the citizen-client in performance measurement: the case of the Street Level Public Organization (SLPO)'
McKevitt, D,Millar, M,Keogan, JF (2000) 'The role of the citizen-client in performance measurement: the case of the Street Level Public Organization (SLPO)'. International Review Of Administrative Sciences, 66 :619-636 [DOI] [Details]
(2000) 'Coping with ambiguity: Reconciling external legitimacy and organizational implementation in performance measurement'
Lawton, A,McKevitt, D,Millar, M (2000) 'Coping with ambiguity: Reconciling external legitimacy and organizational implementation in performance measurement'. Public Money & Management, 20 :13-19 [DOI] [Details]
(2000) 'Accountability and performance measurement: an assessment of the Irish health care system'
Millar, M,McKevitt, D (2000) 'Accountability and performance measurement: an assessment of the Irish health care system'. International Review Of Administrative Sciences, 66 :285-296 [DOI] [Details]
(2000) 'INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF ADMINISTRATIVE SCIENCES'
MILLAR, M. et al. (2000) 'INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF ADMINISTRATIVE SCIENCES'. International Review Of Administrative Sciences, 66 :285-296 [Details]
(1998) 'Reforming Public Policy Processes and Securing Accountability: Ireland in a comparative perspective'
Verheyen, T., Millar, M. (1998) 'Reforming Public Policy Processes and Securing Accountability: Ireland in a comparative perspective'. International Review Of Administrative Sciences, 64 (1):97-118 [DOI] [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2015) 'Parenting alone in Contemporary Ireland’'
Crosse, R; Millar, M; (2015) 'Parenting alone in Contemporary Ireland’' In: Learning on the Job: Parenting in Modern Ireland. Cork: Oak Tree Press. [Details]
(2014) '‘Irish Work/Family Policies: An Emerging Paradox'
Millar M and R Crosse (2014) '‘Irish Work/Family Policies: An Emerging Paradox' In: Irish Families and Globalization: Conversations about Belonging and Identity across Space and Time. Detroit: Groves Monograph on Marriage and Family. [Details]
(2008) 'Social Inclusion and the Welfare State:Who Cares?'
Millar, M (2008) 'Social Inclusion and the Welfare State:Who Cares?' In: Contesting the State: Lessons from the Irish Case. Manchester: Manchester University Press. [Details]
(2008) 'Ireland as a model of success? Contesting the Irish State’'
M. Millar, P. Kirby and M. Adshead (2008) 'Ireland as a model of success? Contesting the Irish State’' In: Contesting the State: Lessons from the Irish Case. Manchester: Manchester University Press. [Details]
(2004) 'Political Issues in Ireland Today'
Millar, M. (2004) 'Political Issues in Ireland Today' In: Manchester University Press. [Details]
(2004) 'Health care: consumer purchase or social right?'
Millar, M. (2004) 'Health care: consumer purchase or social right?' In: in N. Collins (ed.) Political Issues in Ireland Today (3rd Ed.) Manchester: Manchester University Press. [Details]
(2008) 'What lessons can be learned from Contesting the Irish State?’'
P. Kirby, M. Millar and M. Adshead (2008) 'What lessons can be learned from Contesting the Irish State?’' In: Contesting the State: Lessons from the Irish Case. Manchester: Manchester University Press. [Details]
(2006) 'Exploring the space for practice: Family Support Policy in a Comparative Context'
Millar, M. (2006) 'Exploring the space for practice: Family Support Policy in a Comparative Context' In: in J. Pinkerton, P. Dolan and J. Canavan (2006) (eds.) Family Support as Reflective Practice. London: Jessica Kingsley. [Details]
(2006) 'Family Support as Reflective Practice'
Millar, M. (2006) 'Family Support as Reflective Practice' In: Jessica Kingsley. [Details]
(2003) 'Public Administration and Public Policy in Ireland: Theory and Methods'
Millar, M. (2003) 'Public Administration and Public Policy in Ireland: Theory and Methods' In: Routledge. [Details]
(2003) '‘Institutionalism ‘old’ and ‘new’'
Millar, M (2003) '‘Institutionalism ‘old’ and ‘new’' In: in Adshead, M. and M. Millar (Ed's) Public Administration and Public Policy in Ireland: Theory and Methods. London: Routledge. [Details]
(2000) 'Strategy Evaluation: Criteria & Tools'
Moroney, M. (2000) 'Strategy Evaluation: Criteria & Tools' In: Strategic Management in Ireland. -Dublin: Gill and Macmillan. [Details]
(2000) 'The Irish Civil Service'
Millar, M., McKevitt, D. (2000) 'The Irish Civil Service' In: European Civil Service Systems in Comparative Perspective. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. [Details]
(1999) 'Higher Education Programmes in Public Administration: Ready for the Challenge of Europeanisation'
Millar, M. (1999) 'Higher Education Programmes in Public Administration: Ready for the Challenge of Europeanisation' In: Univerity of Limerick. [Details]
(1999) 'Developments in Public Administration'
Millar, M. (1999) 'Developments in Public Administration' In: Sofia University Press. [Details]
(1999) 'Ideas and Concepts of Public Administration’'
Millar, M (1999) 'Ideas and Concepts of Public Administration’' In: in Tanev, T. & T. Verheyen (Ed's) Developments in Public Administration. Sofia: Sofia University Press. pp. 39-62. [Details]
(1998) 'Public Management Innovations: Comparative Experiences for East to West'
Millar, M., Verheyen, T., Karapchian, O. (1998) 'Public Management Innovations: Comparative Experiences for East to West' In: Edward Elgar. [Details]
(1997) 'Understanding Public Private Partnerships'
Millar. M., Loughnane, L., McKevitt, D. (1997) 'Understanding Public Private Partnerships' In: Sheffield Hallam University Press. [Details]
(1997) 'Public Management Reform: Comparative Experiences from East to West'
Millar, M., Verheyen, T. (1997) 'Public Management Reform: Comparative Experiences from East to West' In: European Commission. [Details]

Published Reports

  Year Publication
(2008) NAPS Policy and Process - what have we learned?.
Maura Adshead and Michelle Millar (2008) NAPS Policy and Process - what have we learned?. Combat Poverty Agency, Dublin. [Details]
(2016) Lone Parents and Activation, What Works and Why: A Review of the International Evidence in the Irish Context.
Millar, M. and Crosse, R. (2016) Lone Parents and Activation, What Works and Why: A Review of the International Evidence in the Irish Context. The Child and Family Research Centre NUI Galway, Galway. [ARAN Link] [Details]
(2003) International Literature and Policy Review on the Links between Poverty and health, and of Community Development Approaches to Tackling Health Inequalities.
Mahony, P; Millar, M; Barry, MM (2003) International Literature and Policy Review on the Links between Poverty and health, and of Community Development Approaches to Tackling Health Inequalities. Centre for Health Promotion Studies, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway. [Details]
(2003) Researching Our Lives: Developing Inclusive Research Methodologies, Testing the Voice Centered Relational Method of data analysis in a collaborative project on early school leaving.
Byrne, A, Canavan, J, Millar, M (2003) Researching Our Lives: Developing Inclusive Research Methodologies, Testing the Voice Centered Relational Method of data analysis in a collaborative project on early school leaving. Combat Poverty Agency Research Initiative Series, Dublin. [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
(2017) Motherlines: Mothering, Motherhood, and Mothers in and Through the Generations: Theory, Narrative, Representation, Practice, and Experience,
Dr Rosemary Crosse and Dr Michelle Millar (2017) The Changing dentity of Irish Mothers in Situations of Separation and Divorce. [Keynote Address], Motherlines: Mothering, Motherhood, and Mothers in and Through the Generations: Theory, Narrative, Representation, Practice, and Experience, UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre NUI Galway , 06-JUL-17 - 09-JUL-17. [Details]
(2017) Narrating Policy: Exploring Narrative in Policy and Policy,
Millar, M; Crosse, R; (2017) The narrative of policy change from ‘One Parent Families’ to ‘Jobseeker’s’: Ireland’s Social Protection Policy for Lone Parents from 2006 to 2015. [International Refereed Conference], Narrating Policy: Exploring Narrative in Policy and Policy, University of Leeds , 16-JAN-17 - 16-JAN-17. [Details]
(2015) UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre 7th Biennial International Conference,
Crosse, R; Millar, M (2015) The role of family support information services for separated and divorced mothers in Ireland:. [Oral Presentation], UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre 7th Biennial International Conference, National University of Ireland Galway , 11-JUN-15 - 12-JUN-15. [Details]
(2016) The Sociological Association of Ireland Annual Conference 2016,
Crosse, R; Millar, M (2016) “You become the sole adult responsible for your children”: Divorced and separated mothers experiences of parental responsibility in Ireland. [Oral Presentation], The Sociological Association of Ireland Annual Conference 2016, University of Limerick , 13-MAY-16 - 14-MAY-16. [Details]
(2016) 3rd International Irish Narrative Inquiry Conference,
Crosse, R; Millar, M (2016) Utilising the VCR Method of Analysis to Illuminate the Participant’s Self and the Researcher’s Self. [Oral Presentation], 3rd International Irish Narrative Inquiry Conference, National University of Ireland Galway , 10-MAR-16 - 11-MAR-16. [Details]
(2016) Educational (In)equalities: Towards an elite but not elitist society,
Furey, E; Millar, M (2016) Redefining the Role of the Teacher: Teaching in Disadvantaged Schools. [Refereed Abstracts], Educational (In)equalities: Towards an elite but not elitist society, University of Warwick , 11-MAR-16 - 11-MAR-16. [Details]

Non Published Reports

  Year Publication
(2009) A preliminary Analysis of Outcome Indicators for use by the HSE. Galway: Child and Family Research Centre.
Coen, L., Malone, P., Millar, M. and Canavan, J. (2009) A preliminary Analysis of Outcome Indicators for use by the HSE. Galway: Child and Family Research Centre. null: Non Published Reports [DOI] [Details]
(2007) Briefing on Community and Mental Health. Prepared for the National Economic and Social Forum. .
Millar, M (2007) Briefing on Community and Mental Health. Prepared for the National Economic and Social Forum. . Non Published Reports [Details]

Thesis

  Year Publication
(2015) EXPLORING THE VIEWS AND EXPERIENCES OF TEENAGE PARENTS AS SERVICE USERS OF UNIVERSAL CHILD AND FAMILY HEALTH CARE SERVICES.
Horrigan-Kelly. M; Millar M. (Supervisor) (2015) EXPLORING THE VIEWS AND EXPERIENCES OF TEENAGE PARENTS AS SERVICE USERS OF UNIVERSAL CHILD AND FAMILY HEALTH CARE SERVICES. Thesis [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2017 Awarded Presidents Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning NUI Galway
2016 Nominated for Presidents Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning NUI Galway
2015 Nominated for Presidents Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning NUI Galway
2007 Nominated for Presidents Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning NUI Galway

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
1994 University of Limerick Bachelor of Arts Public Administration
1995 University of Limerick Master of Arts Research
1998 University of Limerick PhD Public Management

Community Engagement

  Title Type From / To
Policy Development Witness to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection 08-NOV-16 / 08-NOV-16
Advocacy Civic Forum on One Parent Families 14-APR-15 / 14-APR-15

Other Activities

  Description

Member of Editorial Board of Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies 2016 -

Teaching Interests

Michelle is the Director of the new MA Politics and Sociology at NUI Galway which began in September 2017. 
This new programme offers students the opportunity to critically explore social and political forces that impact on contemporary issues. It provides the theoretical and empirical skills that graduates of Politics and Sociology require for the analyses of why our societies are the way that they are and if they can be improved. It is of particular interest to students who wish to pursue careers in the public sector, non-governmental organizations, and research or pursue PhD studies                          



Social Policy, Health Policy, Public Adminsitration, Policy Evaluation

Recent Postgraduate Students

  Graduation Name Degree Primary Supervisor
2016 Rosemary Crosse PhD Y
2017 Maire Hanniffy PhD Y
2016 Patrick Malone PhD Y
2015 Marcella Kelly PhD Y
2014 Ciara Bradley PhD Y
2013 Michael Browne PhD Y

Current Postgraduate Students (Research)

  Student Degree Type Type
Eamonn Furey Doctorate - Structured Ph.D. in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Supervisor
Stephen Gaffney Doctorate - Structured Ph.D. in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Supervisor
Brendan Connolly Doctorate - Ph.D. (Child and Youth Research) Co-supervisor (1)
Sinéad O'Malley Doctorate - Ph.D. (Child and Youth Research) Supervisor

Modules Taught

  Term/Year Module Title Module Code Subject / Desc
1/2017-18 Public Administration SP227 BA Public & Social Policy
1/2017-18 Social Policy SP611 Masters Social Work
2/2015-16 Irish Administrative System SP459
2/2017-18 Social Sciences for Nursing Students NU248 Nursing & Midwifery Students
2/2015-16 Public and Social Policy in Ireland SP109
2/2015-16 Social PolicyII SP558
1/2017-18 Theories of the Policy Process SP508 BA Public & Social Policy