Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 4 of 4
Adulthood and people with mental handicaps: report of a research project
- Author:
- WALMSLEY Jan
- Journal article citation:
- Mental Handicap Research, 4(2), 1991, pp.141-154.
- Publisher:
- BIMH Publications
Describes a small project which used research interviews to discover the meaning of adulthood to the research participants, five adults with mental handicaps. The project set out to design a research process which would respect their status as adults. The paper focuses on the research process, and the merits and difficulties of the approach are discussed in the context of research methodologies which emphasise the need to redress the power imbalance inherent in more traditional methods.
Consulting the children: interviews with children using residential respite care services
- Authors:
- MINKES John, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 9(1), 1994, pp.47-57.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The Children Act 1989 requires that services for children are provided in partnership with parents and that the wishes and feelings of the child and his/her parents are ascertained and given due consideration (s22). As part of a research project assessing the quality of services to children with disabilities under the Children Act, an evaluation of six residential respite care services was carried out. The services were used mainly by children with learning difficulties, some of whom had little or no speech. Staff at the schools attended by the children were asked to interview them, so that their views could be included in the evaluation reports. Interview schedules and aids to communication were devised to try and enable all the children to express their views. This article describes the initial schedules and the changes made in the light of experience during the research. The children's responses are summarised and consideration is given as to how the process of consultation could be improved in future.
Development of Pict-O-Stat: violence – focus on experiences of violence and a survey that can be completed by the individuals themselves
- Authors:
- KRISTENSEN Kerstin, MOLLER Anders
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 19(3), 2017, pp.146-157.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to find a method that makes it possible for people with intellectual disabilities to independently contribute to population-based research in areas that is sensitive. It is important to be able to answer questionnaires independently in research areas that are sensitive because the informant maybe does not want to ask for help to answer a questionnaire about sexual violence, domestic violence, etc. Maybe they not even have talked to anyone about their experiences and then have to tell a staff/relative that helps them to complete the survey is probably unthinkable. Design/methodology/approach: To participate in a survey about sensitive issues independently the questions and the methods have to be adapted to the informant’s skills and needs. The questions written in “difficult Swedish” were transcribed into simple language and then tested whether the target group understood the words that describe violent acts. After adjustments another small group tested the method, an Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interview (ACASI). After they had completed the survey informants were interviewed about what it was like to participate in the survey. Findings: Preliminary results show that it is possible to independently answer population-based questionnaires, even about sensitive issues, if the researcher offers the possibility to use a web-based ACASI. An ACASI can be used on accessible computers and tablets and can have the same questions that only have to be translated into both easy language and alternative format, such as questions with both text and images and listen to the questions read. Originality/value: Researchers can include people with intellectual disabilities, they just need to give them a chance. It is possible if they translate their questions into an easy language and include alternative format, i.e. using both text and images and be able to listen to the questions and answers, by, for example, using a web-based ACASI. (Publisher abstract)
Understanding and addressing underrepresentation in a postal survey of social care users
- Authors:
- SMITH Nick, MALLEY Juliette
- Publisher:
- Quality and Outcomes of Person-centred Care Policy Research Unit
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 91
- Place of publication:
- Canterbury
This report draws together the findings of a review of postal surveys, examining the potential causes of underrepresentation and looking at methods of improving representation, such as such as the Adult Social Care Survey (ASCS). Evidence from postal surveys is increasingly being used in England to monitor and improve the performance of social care services. This review has highlighted that it is not only the characteristics of users but the behaviour of the organisation delivering the survey that can affect response rates. It outlines a range of approaches when participation is not possible and highlights four key methods that can be used to enable participation in postal surveys: recognising that the study information section of a postal survey can be a barrier to participation if it does not appear to be relevant to the respondent; adapting the questionnaire to reflect the 'individualised' needs of the participant, such as versions in other languages and Easy Read versions for adults with learning disabilities; employing alternative methods of data collection, such as face-to-face or telephone interview, alongside the postal survey; and encouraging or even providing support to complete the survey. (Edited publisher abstract)