Journal of the All-Ireland Conference for Undergraduate Research
About AICUR-J
All-Ireland Conference for Undergraduate Research (AICUR-J) provides a platform for the publication of undergraduate research presented at the annual All-Ireland Conference for Undergraduate Research. However, the journal also invites submissions from undergraduates from across Ireland who may not have presented at the conference but interested in presenting their research to a wider academic audience.
AICUR-J features research from across the disciplines. Work accepted for consideration includes but is not limited to research in the following disciplines:
- The Arts and Humanities
- The Sciences and Engineering
- Health Sciences
- Education
- Business Studies
Reviews that bring readers up to date on a particular area of research in the field are considered if the article concludes with suggestions for follow-up research.
Writers are encouraged to consider audiences who are interested but not well versed in the undergraduate researcher’s field.
For more details about submission requirements, see Guidelines for Authors.
2024/2025 AICUR-J papers
Aisling McDonald, BSc Psychology, University of Limerick
Aisling MacDonald is a fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Psychology student at the University of Limerick. She has a strong interest in developmental and social psychology, with aspirations to become a Clinical Psychologist specialising in working with children and adolescents. Throughout her time at UL, Aisling has developed a broad skill set through both academic and practical experiences, including her role on the Welfare Team, her work as a Clinical Assistant Psychologist, and a study abroad semester at Utrecht University. These opportunities, along with the support of UL’s dynamic psychology department, have provided a solid foundation for her future career. She has particularly enjoyed undertaking her first major research project for her undergraduate thesis and looks forward to continuing research in the field.
Abstract
Trust is foundational to societal functioning, enabling collaboration and relationships. It is particularly crucial in the doctor-patient relationship, which is characterised by uncertainty and sensitivity. However, recent shifts in healthcare have strained this relationship, requiring doctors to emphasise patient satisfaction and autonomy. This shift necessitates doctors' active trust in patients, yet research on doctors' trust remains limited. This study examines doctors’ trust judgements in patients, focusing on competency- and integrity-based trust. Using an online questionnaire, participants were randomly assigned to either a doctor-primed condition or a control group as an onlooker. Participants then evaluated trustworthiness in a hypothetical patient scenario. Results indicated that those in the doctor role exhibited higher general trust in patients; however, competency- and integrity-based trust did not differ by condition. These findings suggest that doctors may extend trust strategically in response to professional constraints, rather than as an inherent or autonomous judgment of patient trustworthiness. Further research should investigate clinical trust mechanisms to enhance healthcare relationships and guide doctors in navigating evolving patient dynamics.
Read: Beyond the Stethoscope: Investigating Doctors’ Trust in Patients
Charlotte Van Bogaert, Psychology, University of Limerick
My name is Charlotte Van Bogaert, and I am a clinical psychology student at the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium), specializing in children and youth. During my exchange at the University of Limerick (Spring 2025), I had the opportunity to present some of my research on digital therapy at a seminar and receive peer feedback. Digital therapy and intercultural approaches are among my key research interests, and I am deeply committed to advancing evidence-based mental health care. I intend to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology.
Abstract
Mental health is a critical issue worldwide. 1 in every 8 people in the world lives with a mental health disorder, and many do not have access to effective care (Health Organization, 2022). In response, England's National Health Service initiated the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program to improve access to evidence-based psychological therapies through a stepped-care model (National Health Service Digital, 2023). Mental health is a global issue, so the IAPT model has inspired other countries like New Zealand, Australia, Norway, and Sweden to start similar programs. This paper describes the current global mental health situation, researches and compares the IAPT programs from Australia and England, discusses the opportunities and challenges of implementing the IAPT program in Hong Kong, and lastly reflects and provides recommendations on local mental health policymaking.
Keywords: Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT); Mental health policy; Hong Kong; Stepped-care model; Global mental health; Cultural adaptation; Digital mental health
Abstract
Digital psychotherapies are increasingly used in mental health treatment and play an expanding role in the UK’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) program, which aims to expand evidence-based mental healthcare. Often they offer scalable solutions to address common mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. Firstly, this essay will evaluate whether digital psychotherapies are as effective as face-to-face interventions. Secondly, it will address the potential further integration into the IAPT program. Finally, a recommendation will be made on whether to use Woebot or What’s Up as a digital intervention to address moderate symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Keywords: Digital psychotherapy; Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy; Telehealth; Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT); Mental health apps; Anxiety and depression; Therapeutic alliance
Writing guidelines
Quality of the writing
The work is of exceptional quality, demonstrating a high level of conceptual ability and an extremely thorough and conscientious approach to study, it is distinguished by:
- A clearly expressed argument used to develop a coherent and logical answer framework leading to a reasoned conclusion that is fully supported by the evidence presented in the text.
- A clear and consistent focus on the issues raised by the question.
- An insightful argument showing signs of originality.
- A very high standard of grammar, punctuation, spelling and sentence construction.
- A capacity to consistently relate the textual material to the conceptual framework.
- An absence of irrelevant or extraneous material and repetition.
Marks within this classification may vary due to:
- A capacity to develop persuasive original sound arguments/valid cases.
- The depth and sophistication of the conceptual framework.
- The level of familiarity with the primary and secondary literatures.
*Elements under general consideration during assessment of student work are:
- Understanding of issues or problems under discussion.
- Knowledge and understanding of relevant readings.
- Critical discussion of relevant readings.
- Clarity and depth in the analysis of theory, data and issues under discussion.
- Coherence of argument.
- Clarity and relevance of introduction and conclusion.
- Clarity and precision of expression and presentation.
- Use of appropriate and consistent referencing and citation conventions.
- Clarity of writing including grammar, punctuation, spelling and sentence construction.
We look for original, outstanding work that is of interest and impact to audience’s in the author’s field but penetrable by interested, educated readers outside of the author’s field.
Accepted work will contribute meaningfully to the undergraduate knowledge base.
Style
English is the language of the journal, but we are open to work in other languages as long as we have readers that can serve as reviewers of academic work in the author’s language.
The expectation is that authors will follow the American Psychological Association (APA) style. Many university libraries will have an online copy, but if not, see APA Style or the OWL at Purdue.
Submissions format
- Submissions should be 3,000-4,000 words (plus or minus 10%).
- Submissions must not be a protected file format; submission must be sent in a .doc or .docx format. No .pdf or other formats that do not allow for comment.
- Tables, figures, and images should be .jpg, .png, .pdf, or .gif formats.
- Please position tables/figures/images in the document as submitted and attach PDF documents.
- For each figure there should be a figure number indicating the sequence of the figures, a short title for the figure (15 words max), and a description of the figure or photograph (300 word max) to promote accessibility.
- Artwork may require higher resolution. Contact writingcentre@ul.ie to discuss.
- It is the responsibility of the author(s) to obtain permission from the copyright holder to reproduce figures, tables, or photographs that have been previously published.
Citations and references format
- In accordance with APA (as stated above).
Plagiarism and libel
- Any work containing plagiarized, defamatory, or libelous content will be formally rejected from publication.
- Submitted material must not infringe existing copyrights or the rights of a third party.
- Guidelines regarding plagiarism and misrepresentation in reporting the work of others can be found here.
Other suggestions
- Research our journal – spend time reviewing our past publications and be familiar with all of our policies.
- We encourage you to ask your colleagues, supervisors, and/or peers to read your work before you submit. That said, you must have a supervisor’s approval that your work is acceptable to submit and they need to be copied in the submission email to confirm they have read and approved your paper.
- We encourage you to make an appointment with a peer tutor in UL’s Regional Writing Centre to talk about your paper, its strengths and weaknesses. If you are not a UL student and your institution does not have a writing centre, please contact us at writingcentre@ul.ie to make arrangements if you wish to have an online appointment with one of our peer tutors.
- Be prepared to respond promptly to emails from your editor and be open to revisions to your work.
Useful links
- Citations and References Guidelines
- Permission to Publish form
Submission guidelines FAQs
How do I submit?
- Be sure you thoroughly review all the guidelines on this page.
- Submit your paper in a Word format.
- To submit a research paper or essay, complete and submit the University of Limerick Marketing and Communication Media Release Form which gives us permission to publish your work electronically on our website. NOTE: AICUR-J cannot process submissions in PDF format, so please be sure your submission is a Word document.
- Your paper must be read by a supervisor who will confirm it is acceptable for publication. Please copy that supervisor on your email when you submit your paper.
- Submit your paper and the form to writingcentre@ul.ie. Put AICUR-J Submission in the Message line.
AICUR-J is accepts work from all disciplines. We organise submissions into four faculties:
- Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
- Business Studies
- Education
- Health Sciences
- Science and Engineering
Fine Arts submissions such as visual or performance arts and creative writing are accepted. How these works are to be uploaded to our journal can be negotiated. Email: writingcentre@ul.ie
Who can submit?
Authors must be enrolled at an accredited institution of higher education in Ireland at the time of submission.
Why publish in AICUR-J?
- Becoming published looks good on your résumé and may influence employment and graduate school acceptance.
- Experiencing the publishing process prepares you for postgraduate opportunities later, should they decide to further their education.
- Engaging in the peer-review process gives you valuable insights revision strategies that work.
What is the process?
After submitting your work and your release form, you will hear from our managing editor within a week or so. An editorial board will make an initial decision on whether to accept the piece. We will set a deadline of three months after the conference. As the AICUR conference is usually in April, it is expected that first drafts will be submitted by mid-June. Each year, a deadline will be communicated at the conference. If accepted, the review process takes an average of 10 to 15 weeks, meaning that the final drafts will be ready for publication by, at latest, sometime in late September to early October.
We are committed to helping you to professionally present your best work. Even if your work is not selected for publication, we hope that you will find the process invaluable.
Is there a cost?
No, there is no cost.
AICUR-J’s publication policies
Review process
All submissions are read by a member of the editorial staff. Work is shared with academic staff with expertise in your area to get their assessment of the quality of the research and recommendations for improvement if any. If accepted, a team of referees will review the submission and recommend a course of action for the work.
Important
The work must not be under consideration, in part or in whole, by any other publisher, nor should the work have already been published in any citable form.
Submission to AICUR-J implies that the authors has read and agreed to its content and that any experimental research reported in the manuscript has been performed with the approval of an appropriate ethics committee.
Research carried out on human subjects must comply with the UL Ethics rules. Please find research ethics for specific faculties below.
- Education and Health Sciences research ethics
- Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences research ethics
- Kemmy Business School research ethics
- Science & Engineering research ethics
Selection
AICUR-J reserves the right to reject submitted work at any time during the review process.
