Robert Brennan
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robraonain.bsky.social
Robert Brennan
@robraonain.bsky.social
Social psychologist | Postdoc Researcher in Political Communication at the DCU Institute for Future Media, Democracy and Society (FuJo) | Public deliberation, Misinformation, Climate Change, Intergroup attitudes, Politics, Prejudice | He/him
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While only a small minority of the Irish public believe six prominent #conspiracytheories to 'definitely be true', just under half are unsure or lean towards believing them. Our analysis also found higher levels of belief to be linked to greater trust in social media and messaging apps
How many people in Ireland believe in conspiracy theories?
Piece by Dr Robert Brennan @robraonain.bsky.social and Rabhya Mehrotra @fujomedia.bsky.social for @rtebrainstorm.bsky.social.
Read here: launch.dcu.ie/45iz4DZ
#RTEBrainstorm
Reposted by Robert Brennan
new paper by Sean Westwood:

With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
November 18, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Police questioned Géza Buzás-Hábel, organiser of Pécs Pride, as a criminal suspect – just for holding Hungary’s only rural Pride. The EU must act now to defend equality and freedom. Sign & share! a.allout.org/s/P29lG/
Stop Hungary’s Pride Ban – Defend LGBT+ Rights Now
Police in Hungary questioned Géza Buzás-Hábel, organiser of Pécs Pride, as a criminal suspect – simply for holding a Pride march. The EU must act to defend equality, freedom, and human dignity. Add yo...
a.allout.org
October 29, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Reposted by Robert Brennan
While most of the Irish public do not believe six prominent conspiracy theories, the level of support for some of these might raise a few eyebrows. FuJo members @robraonain.bsky.social and Rabhya Mehrotra report data trends from 2024-Election in @rtebrainstorm.bsky.social
www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...
How many people in Ireland believe in conspiracy theories?
While the majority do not believe six prominent conspiracy theories, the level of support for some of these might raise a few eyebrows
www.rte.ie
June 11, 2025 at 9:12 AM
While only a small minority of the Irish public believe six prominent #conspiracytheories to 'definitely be true', just under half are unsure or lean towards believing them. Our analysis also found higher levels of belief to be linked to greater trust in social media and messaging apps
How many people in Ireland believe in conspiracy theories?
Piece by Dr Robert Brennan @robraonain.bsky.social and Rabhya Mehrotra @fujomedia.bsky.social for @rtebrainstorm.bsky.social.
Read here: launch.dcu.ie/45iz4DZ
#RTEBrainstorm
June 11, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Reposted by Robert Brennan
How many people in Ireland believe in conspiracy theories? Analysis of the National Election and Democracy Study by @robraonain.bsky.social & Rabhya Mehrotra @fujomedia.bsky.social @dublincityuni.bsky.social www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...
How many people in Ireland believe in conspiracy theories?
While the majority do not believe six prominent conspiracy theories, the level of support for some of these might raise a few eyebrows
www.rte.ie
June 10, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Reposted by Robert Brennan
Despite heavy use of social media during Ireland’s last election, traditional journalism, like @rte.ie and newspapers, remain the most trusted sources. FuJo members @robraonain.bsky.social and Rabhya report data trends from the 2024 Post-General Election survey
Read full;
www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...
June 5, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Reposted by Robert Brennan
What media sources did people use & trust before voting in 2024 General Election?
Piece by Dr Robert Brennan @robraonain.bsky.social and Rabhya Mehrotra @fujomedia.bsky.social for @rtebrainstorm.bsky.social.
Read here: launch.dcu.ie/4mOTfjg
#RTEBrainstorm
June 5, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Reposted by Robert Brennan
What media sources did people use & trust before voting in 2024 General Election? Analysis of the National Election and Democracy Study by @robraonain.bsky.social & Rabhya Mehrotra @fujomedia.bsky.social @dublincityuni.bsky.social www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...
What media sources did people use & trust before voting in 2024?
Here's what a new study found about the media Irish voters used and trusted when getting information ahead of last year's election
www.rte.ie
June 5, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Does being reminded of your ingroup's role in the harm experienced by outgroup members lead you to see them as feeling less 'human' emotions? Looking at inequalities arising from climate change and fast fashion, our new paper at @plosone.org challenges this earlier claim in #dehumanization research.
Does feeling collective responsibility for intergroup harm lead to infrahumanization?
Previous research has suggested that subtle dehumanization can occur as a consequence of harming others. According to this research, participants who feel a sense of collective responsibility for thei...
doi.org
May 30, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Hungary has banned Pride marches. It's a direct attack on LGBT+ rights and the freedom to protest. Sign now to demand EU action before May 27! Help protect human rights and keep Pride alive. a.allout.org/s/WZRVR/
Stop Hungary’s Pride Ban – Defend LGBT+ Rights Now
Hungary has banned Pride marches, threatening LGBT+ rights and the freedom to protest. Sign the petition now to urge the EU to act before it’s too late. Every voice matters – help defend human rights ...
a.allout.org
May 22, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Reposted by Robert Brennan
🚨In Science🚨
Conspiracy beliefs famously resist correction, ya?
WRONG: We show brief convos w GPT4 reduce conspiracy beliefs by ~20%!
-Lasts over 2mo
-Works on entrenched beliefs
-Tailored AI response rebuts specific evidence offered by believers
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
1/
[X->BSky repost]
December 16, 2024 at 7:29 PM
Reposted by Robert Brennan
One week left to apply!

#phdsky #psychjob #socialpsyc
❗2-year postdoc at the University of York❗
I am looking for a postdoc for my ERC-funded project “The many faces of prejudice: the “what”, the “why”, and the “how” of inferences we make from membership in social groups”.
To learn more and apply (by Jan 13): jobs.york.ac.uk/vacancy/rese...
#psychjobs
January 6, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Reposted by Robert Brennan
Over 100 social psychologists in this new Starter Pack, with more being added.

Let me know if you want to be included!

#SocialPsyc #Psychology #AcademicSky 🧪
September 14, 2024 at 5:08 AM
Reposted by Robert Brennan
This is the podcast for the moment. Where else can you absorb the wisdom of Ted Lasso and Learned Hand on an energy podcast? Loved this conversation with @davidspence.bsky.social

How to Overcome Ideological Divides and the Climate of Contempt
www.douglewin.com/p/how-to-ove...
How to Overcome Ideological Divides and the Climate of Contempt
David Spence joins me to discuss his book, the U.S. election results, energy policymaking, the deep ideological divides in America, and how to bridge those divides.
www.douglewin.com
November 14, 2024 at 12:40 AM
Reposted by Robert Brennan
We've written a Researcher's Guide to Bluesky!

It's a bit like all those other useful guides to Bluesky, but with several useful insights from University of York academics about using the platform, and we'd love it if it was reposted far and wide...

>> blogs.york.ac.uk/library/2024...

🧵 below
The Researcher’s Guide to Bluesky – The Library, Learning, Archives and Wellbeing Blog
blogs.york.ac.uk
November 13, 2024 at 12:17 PM