About

I can track my interest in science and technology back to asking my parents for the 'How and Why' periodical from eight (8) years of age.   Unfortunately I had a very disruptive schooling and science was one of those areas that seemed to slip through the net for me. 

Fast forward to the 1990's and after ten years working in the hospitality industry I returned to complete a degree in England in Tourism Business Management. A few years later on returning to Ireland after a ten year absence I finally became a social scientist by completing the Master of Science Degree in Applied Social Research from Trinity College, Dublin.  My research was a qualitative, participant observation study of religious pilgrimage among young Irish Christians in Ireland and France. 

In 1999 I had begun working in survey research before winning a scholarship to read for a Masters Degree in Urban Tourism Management in 2000.  During this time I co-authored the Dublin Tourism Visitor Survey for 2000 and 2001.  Unfortunately the annual report wasn't placed in digital format until 2003 and no hard copies still exist.  My research examined tourist behavior and attitude urban tourist information provision for stakeholder decision makers.   I started a business in 2002 providing survey research resources to larger research organizations and ran this, on a part-time basis, until 2006. My other job, which was meant to be temporary proved a useful fall back when research jobs were thin on the ground.  In 2005 I worked as a part-time lecturer at The National College of Ireland, Irelands largest private 3rd level college.  Over two years I taught undergraduate students, 'Research Design and Methods'. Both courses were unfortunately discontinued in 2007 and I was no longer needed.  However I also supervised young students with their final year dissertations during the two years.  The market for research shrunk in the recession years.  However it was time to become a student again and between 2011 and 2016 I completed no less than four postgraduate diplomas, while working part-time in a Dublin five star hotel. 

In 2016 the diploma I completed was in Data Analytics and in 2020 I completed a Microsoft Diploma in Data Science. With Covid restrictions receding I am now up and running again and am offering students and professionals help with their research design or methods.  All of these elements brought me to start David's Research and Innovation Tutorials.

To see what I’ve been up to, browse my site, learn from my blogs, and explore what excites and interests you as well.