Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Focus groups with people with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- KAEHNE Axel, O'CONNELL Clare
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 14(2), June 2010, pp.133-145.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
This article begins by commenting on the role of focus groups in qualitative research. It then reviews the current literature on focus groups in learning disability research and provides an overview of four aspects that may impact on the usefulness of the focus group method with respondents with learning disabilities.
These self-evident truths: power and control in intellectual disability research
- Author:
- McCLIMENS Alex
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 35(2), June 2010, pp.64-65.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This paper discusses the paper by Bigby and Frawley in this journal issue on the involvement of a person with intellectual disability as a co-researcher in a large multimethod study. This commentary discusses the problems that the co-researcher had with the role expected of him, and argues that the research design needed to be altered to allow him to fit in the research team. It also discusses dilemmas regarding authorship and ownership of research. Finally, it discusses the need for pragmatism in research involving researchers with learning difficulties. It concludes that there are faults and trials in the research process which need to be considered in order to secure better representation within intellectual disability research.
Reflections on doing inclusive research in the “Making Life Good in the Community” study
- Authors:
- BIGBY Christine, FRAWLEY Patsie
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 35(2), June 2010, pp.53-61.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The involvement of people with intellectual disability in research is framed as inclusive, denoting their active participation in its processes. However, questions are raised about ownership and control, genuineness of involvement, and the need for honest accounts to develop practice. This study used action research to reflect on and progressively refine the support provided by a research mentor to a co-researcher with intellectual disability employed on a large multimethod study. The co-researcher with intellectual disability was employed to be involved in the investigation of ‘homeliness’ in the ‘Making Life Good in the Community’ study. This paper describes the process of supporting the co-researcher rather than the findings of the research. The paper concludes that accepting the co-researcher's strengths and designing support on the job rather than teaching them to ‘pass’ before venturing out in the field are important in ceding control. Support required for a co-researcher is more than practical and involves developing a relationship that can actively challenge views and foster reflection. Ownership of questions and disseminating of outcomes are hampered by contextual factors such as tender processes, short-term positions, and a failure to acknowledge the support required to present findings.
Invited commentary on Bigby and Frawley's reflections on the challenges of doing inclusive research as part of the “Making Life Good in the Community” study
- Author:
- ALM Norman
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 35(2), June 2010, pp.62-63.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This paper discusses the paper by Bigby and Frawley in this journal issue on the involvement of a person with intellectual disability as a co-researcher in a large multimethod study. This commentary applauds the project for taking a leap into unknown territory, and then to be so honest in recognising that the intended aims were not met. It points out that the list of requirements normally needed for researchers may not be appropriate for someone with learning difficulties. An approach that might work in involving someone with learning difficulties as a research associate is to design a niche in the project which suits their specific capabilities. This paper goes on to describe some of their own research group’s attempts to involve people with a disability in research into developing a range of assistive technology systems intended to benefit them. In particular it describes the involvement of older users and older users with dementia in iterative design methods to continually comment on and test a series of hopefully improving prototypes.
Participation in intellectual disability research: a review of 20 years of studies
- Authors:
- CLEAVER S., OUELLETTE-KUNTZ H., SAKAR A.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 54(3), March 2010, pp.187-193.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Participation by adults with intellectual disabilities in research conducted in Ontario, Canada between the period 1987-2006 was reviewed. Research studies were identified by investigators and then reviewed for inclusion and exclusion criteria - the report of each study was then reviewed by three reviewers and key information was extracted, at which point the extent of study participation was calculated using three methods and compared along with key design characteristics. A variety of purposes, research designs and recruitment strategies were found in the nine studies meeting the criteria. Using the participant/approached calculation, participation varied between 42 and 100 percent, where higher participation was observed in studies where investigators had direct access to participants, the data collection was non-invasive, and consent was required from substitute decision-makers only. There was no clear trend of increasing or decreasing participation over time. Researchers seeking the participation of adults with intellectual disabilities in their studies should include factors influencing participation into study designs to ensure robust results and effective use of research resources.
‘I know how I feel’: listening to young people with life-limiting conditions who have learning and communication impairments
- Author:
- MITCHELL Wendy
- Journal article citation:
- Qualitative Social Work, 9(2), June 2010, pp.185-203.
- Publisher:
- Sage
While current government policy in the United Kingdom encourages involving children in decisions about their lives, disabled children are often marginalised and not consulted, especially those with learning disabilities and communication impairments. This article, drawing on an ongoing English Government funded longitudinal study exploring different groups of service users’ choices, uncovers the important contribution that qualitative research methods, especially non-traditional methods, can identify when working with young people who are either non-verbal or have limited speech. The author describes how working with young people with life-limiting conditions raises some specific challenges for researchers, where it is necessary to adapt existing project wide materials and research methods in order to gain some thematic continuity across different service user groups. Some of these considerations and challenges are discussed by the author, especially the development of non-verbal forms of communication. Practical experiences, both positive and negative are investigated. The author concludes by considering some wider implications of using symbols based methods for future research and how these methods can be used in multiple disciplines and by practitioners in their everyday work.
The challenge of the randomised control trial to psychotherapy research with people who have learning disabilities
- Author:
- BEAIL Nigel
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, 4(1), March 2010, pp.37-41.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This article examines key features of randomised controlled trials along with potential challenges that emerge when applied to evaluations of psychotherapeutic interventions with people who have learning disabilities. The randomised control trial is regarded as the gold standard among the methods used in treatment outcome studies, whatever the treatment. Many regard this approach as giving the clearest indication of the efficacy of treatment. This method imposes the highest level of control over other factors that may influence outcome so that the true effects of the treatment can be tested.
Measuring the outcomes of care homes: final report
- Authors:
- NETTEN Ann, et al
- Publisher:
- Personal Social Services Research Unit
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 117p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Canterbury
The authors report on a project which developed and tested an approach to measuring and monitoring outcomes of the care and support provided to residents of care homes for older people and people with learning disabilities. The research was part of the ‘Measuring Outcomes for Public Service Users’ (MOPSU) project, which was funded by the Treasury under the Invest to Save budget and led by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The domains that comprise social care related quality of life (SCRQOL) formed the basis of the measures used in the study.