BSSc Sociology; MPhil Women's Studies; PhD Education
Research Fellow
Room: 39.6.1.24

Tel: 028 9097 1176
E-mail: m.fargas@qub.ac.uk
Twitter: MFargas_ICCR

 

Biography

My background is in Sociology. I started working in 2005 at Queen's University Belfast, in the School of Social Work. I worked for over two years in a project looking at the effectiveness of services provided by community groups to those affected by the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Following that post, I have been working in the Institute of Child Care Research, in the 'Care Pathways and Outcomes' study, a longitudinal study following a population of children who were under 5 years old and in public care in Northern Ireland on 31st March 2000. Currently, I am working on the 'At home in care' study, looking at the experiences of children living with birth parent/s on a Care Order, and the Regional Variations study, looking at regional variations in the placement of children in care in Northern Ireland.

I have also recently completed a PhD part-time, in the School of Education, (graduating in July 2012) entitled: 'Children drawing their own conclusions: Transgenerational transmission of experiences of conflict and peace in Northern Ireland'. It explores whether and to what extent parents' views and experiences on the Troubles influence children's understandings on their country's past and present.

 

Research interests

My research interests are wide-ranging. Among other subjects, I am particularly interested in gender differences in children's behaviour, understandings and expectations; the perspectives of children in care and adopted; and the Northern Ireland Troubles and how the conflict has affected children/young people and women.

 

Publications:

Book

McSherry, D., Fargas Malet, M., & Weatherall, K. (2013). Comparing long-term placements for young children in care. The Care Pathways and Outcomes Study - Northern Ireland. London: BAAF. Read the abstract

Peer-reviewed journal articles

Fargas, M. (2011). Key issues in childhood and youth studies (book review). Child & Family Social Work, 16(1), 124-125.

McSherry, D., Weatherall, K., Larkin, E., Fargas-Malet, M., & Kelly, G. (2010). Who goes where? Young children’s pathways through care in Northern Ireland. Adoption & Fostering, 34(2), 23-37.

Fargas, M., McSherry, D., Larkin, E., Kelly, G., Robinson, C., & Schubotz, D. (2010). Young children returning home from care: the birth parents’ perspective. Child and Family Social Work, 15(1), 77-86.

Fargas, M., McSherry, D., Larkin, E., Robinson, C. (2010). Research with children: Methodological issues and Innovative techniques. Journal of Early Childhood Research, 8(2), 175-192.

Dillenburger, K., Fargas, M., & Akhonzada, R. (2008). Evidence-Based Practice: An Exploration of the Effectiveness of Voluntary Sector Services for Victims of Community Violence. British Journal of Social Work, 38, 1630-1647.

Dillenburger, K., Fargas, M., & Akhonzada, R. (2008). Coping with post-ceasefire violence. Journal of Behavior Analysis of Offender and Victim Treatment and Prevention, 1, 98-114.

Dillenburger, K., Fargas, M., & Akhonzada, R. (2008). Long-Term Effects of Political Violence: Narrative Inquiry Across a 20-Year Period. Qualitative Health Research, 18, 1312-1322.

Dillenburger, K., Akhonzada, R., & Fargas, M. (2008). Community services for people affected by violence: An exploration and categorisation. Journal of Social Work, 8, 7-27.

Dillenburger, K., Fargas, M. & Akhonzada, R. (2007). Psychological impact of long-term political violence. An exploration of community service users. Traumatology, 13(2), 15-25.

Dillenburger, K., Akhonzada, R., & Fargas, M. (2006). Post-trauma: Is evidence based practice a fantasy? International Journal of Behavioral and Consultation Therapy, 2, 95-107. Translated into German by Christoph Bördlein (2006). Evidenzbasierte Behandlung der Posttraumatischen Belastungsreaktion: Dünne Forschungslage, Der Skeptiker, 2, 67-68.

Reports

Macdonald, G., Livingstone, N., Davidson, G. , Sloan, S., Fargas, M., McSherry, D. (2011). Improving the Mental Health of Northern Ireland's Children and Young People: Priorities for Research . Belfast: Public Health Agency.

McSherry, D., Larkin, E., Fargas, M., Kelly, G., Robinson, C., Macdonald, G., Schubotz, D., and Kilpatrick, R. (2009). From care to where? A care pathways and outcomes report for children and young people. Belfast, Institute of Child Care Research, Queen’s University.

McSherry, D., Larkin, E., Fargas, M., Kelly, G., Robinson, C., Macdonald, G., Schubotz, D., and Kilpatrick, R. (2008). From care to where? A care pathways and outcomes report for parents. Belfast, Institute of Child Care Research, Queen’s University.

McSherry, D., Larkin, E., Fargas, M., Kelly, G., Robinson, C., Macdonald, G., Schubotz, D., and Kilpatrick, R. (2008). From care to where? A care pathways and outcomes report for practitioners. Belfast, Institute of Child Care Research, Queen’s University.

Dillenburger, K., Fargas, M. & Akhonzada, R. (2007). The Pave Project Report. An Exploration of the effectiveness of services for victims of the troubles in Northern Ireland. Jan 07. Belfast: Queen’s University Belfast.

Conference presentations

Fargas-Malet, M. (2013). Comparing contact with birth families and family communication between adoption and foster care. ICAR4: Fourth Internation Conference on Adoption Research. 7-11 July 2013. Bilbao. Download

Fargas-Malet, M. & Dillenburger, K. (2011). Belfast children drawing their own conclusions: A city’s past and present. Poster presentation. International conference ‘Urban Conflicts. Ethno-national divisions, states and cities. Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast (May 19-21).

Fargas-Malet, M. & Dillenburger, K. (2011). ‘The Titanic & children sweeping chimneys’: History teaching in Northern Ireland and its influence on children’s understandings. QUB-UCD All Ireland Conference for Doctoral Researchers in Education, UCD, Dublin (May 13-14).

Fargas-Malet, M., McSherry, D., Weatherall, K., & Kelly, G. (2010). Comparing adoption with alternative long-term options for children in care. Third International Conference in Adoption Research (ICAR3). The many faces of adoption in today's world, Leiden, The Netherlands (July 11-15).

Fargas-Malet, M. & Dillenburger, K. (2010). Children drawing their own conclusions: Challenges and preliminary findings. Growing Up in Divided Societies Conference, School of Sociology, Social Policy, & Social Work, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast (June 10).

Fargas-Malet, M., McSherry, D., & Weatherall, K. (2009). Long-term foster carers and children's perspectives of contact with birth families in Northern Ireland. Linking Global Foster, IFCO International Conference, UCD, Dublin (July 12-17).

Kelly, G. & Fargas, M. (2008). Care Pathways and Outcomes study. Social Work Research at Queen’s University Belfast Conference, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast (March 19).

Dillenburger, K., Fargas, M., & Akhonzada, R. (2006). Mental health of people affected by violence in Northern Ireland: Exploring the services offered by voluntary victims groups. 5th International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong (Dec 10-14).