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Transformative Inclusion: Differentiating qualitative research methods to support participation for individuals with complex communication or cognitive profiles.

Kenny, Neil orcid logoORCID: 0000-0002-2340-6586, Doyle, Alison orcid logoORCID: 0000-0002-2121-0109 and Horgan, Finbar orcid logoORCID: 0000-0002-6164-0066 (2023) Transformative Inclusion: Differentiating qualitative research methods to support participation for individuals with complex communication or cognitive profiles. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 22 . ISSN 1609-4069

Abstract
Recent decades have seen an increase in the use of qualitative research methods within disability research, often seeking to include the voices of individuals with disabilities who present with complex communication and cognitive profiles in informing policy and service provision. However, such cohorts of participants often present with diverse communication profiles, leading to negative assumptions about their capacity to participate in traditionally common forms of qualitative data collection, such as interviews or focus groups. This effectively marginalises them from participating in research relevant to their lives and social inclusion. The current paper argues that, despite the existence of a range of participatory methods, there remain barriers across methodological approaches to the inclusion of participants with complex profiles within qualitative research. In particular, there is a lacuna within the literature regarding how to specifically differentiate or appropriately adapt qualitative methods to support access. An additional lack of guidance regarding the selection of methods and planning of research is also an issue. Drawing from a Transformative perspective, this paper proposes adopting Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to guide researchers in in how to differentiate the planning, designing, and conduct of research with participants with disabilities presenting with complex communication profiles. While UDL is not being proposed as an alternative to existing research methodologies, its principles provide a framework for researchers to select from existing methods or approaches in a flexible manner depending on the profile of participants they will be working with. A range of existing approaches and methods are discussed with examples that illustrate how they have been used to support participation and inclusion within qualitative research studies.
Metadata
Item Type:Article (Published)
Refereed:Yes
Subjects:Social Sciences > Education
Social Sciences > Identity
DCU Faculties and Centres:UNSPECIFIED
Publisher:Sage Publications Ltd.
Official URL:https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1609...
Copyright Information:Authors
ID Code:30260
Deposited On:30 Aug 2024 08:52 by Neil Kenny . Last Modified 30 Aug 2024 08:52
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