Adapting research methods for inclusion of persons with intellectual disabilities in research about sexual violence /
People with intellectual disabilities face a disproportionately high risk to sexual violence. Although there is evidence of this risk, they are rarely included as participants in research seeking to understand the phenomenon. The communication and cognitive challenges experienced by people with inte...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | eBook |
| Language: | English |
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London :
SAGE Publications Ltd,
2024.
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| Series: | SAGE Research methods: diversifying and decolonizing research.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Connect to the full text of this electronic book |
| Summary: | People with intellectual disabilities face a disproportionately high risk to sexual violence. Although there is evidence of this risk, they are rarely included as participants in research seeking to understand the phenomenon. The communication and cognitive challenges experienced by people with intellectual disabilities present methodological and ethical challenges such as getting them to respond to interview questions, obtaining informed consent and ameliorating potential risks of the research process, especially in relation to sensitive topics like sexual violence. This case study provides the evidence that research methods can be successfully adapted to suit their communication and cognitive capabilities as well as creating an inclusive research process that aims to benefit the participants in relation to having their voice heard, gaining information about their rights, and sharing strategies for self-protection and empowerment. This case study presents the authors' reflections of using adapted focus group discussions with projective techniques and visual resources to engage twenty-seven adults with intellectual disabilities in conversations about risks to sexual violence. These methods were able to address some of the participants' knowledge gaps and erroneous perceptions identified during data collection through "teaching moments" that were integrated into the focus group discussions. In a global context where this kind of research is limited, this case study has the potential to inform methodologies and approaches to future studies with people with intellectual disabilities not only about sexuality but also about other areas of their lives that are rarely considered in research. |
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| Physical Description: | 1 online resource. |
| ISBN: | 9781529686937 1529686938 |