Unit name | Inclusive Research with Disabled People |
---|---|
Unit code | ACHSM0001 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
Unit director | Professor. Val Williams |
Open unit status | Open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School for Policy Studies |
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This unit springs from the burgeoning movement for emancipatory and participatory research carried out by and with disabled people. In order for social research to have an impact, it is necessary for it to be grounded in the lived experience of disabled 'end users' of social care services. Developments in this field have been led by disabled people themselves, who have criticised conventional social care research for a tendency to reinforce a care system which they see as oppressive (Oliver, 1990). The unit will explore these developments, and specifically focus on research which includes people with learning disabilities, where there are issues of the ownership of the research, the development of the skills necessary to carry out research, power relationships and support.
On completion of this unit, students will be able to:
Construct a practicable, robust and valid research project which includes disabled people or other community participants as key players.
Guided reading, lectures, seminars, and presentations across 21 contact hours in the University. Aspects of the unit will be taught by disabled people who have experience of carrying out their own research.
4,000 word essay (100%: there will be an option to carry out the assignment in one of two ways:
a) reporting on discussions with disabled people, in relation to designing, initiating or using some research. The assignment will both report on that discussion and reflect on it in relation to the issues raised in the literature.
b) identifying the key issues and tensions in inclusive research methodologies in the literature and showing how they can be addressed in practice.
Williams, V. (2011) Disability and Discourse: analysing inclusive conversation with people with intellectual disabilities. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.