Qualitative Methods in Special Education Research

by

Acknowledgement

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Abstract

Qualitative research in the social sciences has risen to prominence in recent years. Although there may be an impression that qualitative research is new to special education, its history can be traced back almost two centuries. Certainly, at present, the qualitative studies genre is broad, complex, and growing, hence settling on one definition is difficult. The idea of students researching their own education, school or community and developing their own questions as a precursor to action is recent and still rare. The emergence of Students as Researchers (SAR) reflects two things: a shift towards school-based research in collaboration with external researchers, and the fact that previous student voice initiatives had not gone far enough in cultivating agency in students. The purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of students as researchers and evaluate the implications of such concept in the field of research in Special Education.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Research Aims and Objectives1

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW2

Engaging Students in Research2

Research as a Learning Activity4

Research for School Improvement5

Introducing 'pupil voice' and research7

Importance of Qualitative Methods in Special Education Research8

Types and Examples of Qualitative Research Approaches8

Ethnography8

Phenomenology8

Grounded Theory9

Case Study9

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY11

Search Technique12

Literature Search12

Inclusion and exclusion criteria13

Search terms - key terms14

Additional Online searches14

Reliability/Dependability14

Ethical Concerns15

Limitations and Suggestion for Future Research16

CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION17

Consulting Pupils about Teaching and Learning17

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION18

REFERENCES19

Chapter 1: Introduction

Special education researchers who draw on qualitative methods have responded by using this research paradigm chiefly to document stories of individuals with disabilities. However, rarely have these studies been extended to consider the broader socio-cultural contexts within which disability exists (Clark and Moss 2005, Pp: 12-15).

Research Aims and Objectives

The reason for conducting this research is to explore the concept of students as researchers and evaluate the implications of such concept in the field of research in Special Education. The main research aims and objective shall be:

To explore the concept of students as researchers.

To evaluate the idea of pupil voice in decision making.

To analyse arguments for and against the qualitative research in a further education setting with students as researchers.

Chapter 2: Literature Review

Engaging Students in Research

The idea of students researching their own education, ...