Researching Special and Inclusive Education

Dr Kerry Vincent is a Senior Lecturer in Inclusive Education at the University of Canterbury (NZ) and has a particular interest in learner ‘differences’ and how these are conceptualized and responded to within schools. In the past, she has worked as a teacher, educational psychologist and researcher. Her interest in inclusive education was sparked in her second year of teaching when she unexpectedly found herself the teacher of a profoundly deaf child. She learned, often through trial and error, that the best outcomes occurred when she focused not on learner ‘differences’ but rather on how to modify the educational environment in ways that would support children’s learning and well-being. She also learned that children and young people have valuable insights to contribute to our understandings of them, if only we take the time and find the means to truly listen to what they have to say.  Dr Helen Benstead is Associate Professor of Inclusive Education and Academic Director of the Graduate School at the University of Sunderland, where she manages the strategy for post-graduate research degrees across the university.She began her career with a BA (QTS) in Primary Education, before completing an MPhil at Cambridge and a PhD at York. Helen has held senior policy roles in central and local government, working as a Youth Policy Advisor at the Cabinet Office and for the Mayor of London on his Education and Youth strategy. Helen also founded Inclusive Classrooms, a social enterprise supporting Teaching Assistants across the UK.Helen has authored a range of professional development materials, published widely on inclusive education and participatory research methodologies, and continues to research socially inclusive practices in the field of education.

This is a useful book for students to understand both the research process in an inclusive context, and also considerations to undertaking research with SEND participants.

• Chapter 1 IntroductionChapter 2 Perspectives in research: Understanding the ‘ologies’Chapter 3 Getting started: Developing a research study in special and inclusive educationChapter 4 Ethical considerations when researching special and inclusive educationChapter 5 Reviewing the literature in special and inclusive educationChapter 6 Common methodological approaches in special and inclusive educationChapter 7 Listening: Collecting data using interviews and questionnairesChapter 8 Looking: Collecting data using observationChapter 9 Adapting methodology to special and inclusive educationChapter 10 Managing, analysing and presenting dataChapter 11 Moving forward