ERIC Number: EJ1294151
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021-Jun
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1354-4187
EISSN: N/A
A Qualitative Study of the Practice-Related Decision-Making of Intensive Interaction Practitioners
Firth, Graham; Glyde, Megan; Denby, Gemma
British Journal of Learning Disabilities, v49 n2 p117-128 Jun 2021
Background: This study looked to investigate the sometimes conscious and sometimes intuitive decision-making processes of Intensive Interaction practitioners. More specifically, this study set out to develop a rich description of how practitioners make judgements when developing a dynamic repertoire of Intensive Interaction strategies with people with severe or profound learning difficulties and/or autism, how this decision-making process is enacted in practice and what issues inform such decisions. Materials and Methods: This research followed a "Template Analysis" qualitative methodology, informed by semi-structured interviews with 13 experienced Intensive Interaction Practitioners (who had completed the Intensive Interaction Coordinators course as administered by the Intensive Interaction Institute). The participants included the following: speech and language therapists, parents, teachers, residential care staff and managers, and a clinical psychologist. Results: The findings of this study indicate why and how certain decisions are made by experienced practitioners before, during and after engagement in Intensive Interaction. Such decision-making is indicated as sometimes being intuitive in nature, sometimes more conscious, sometimes moving between the two cognitive states as differing issues arise. Practitioner decision-making was focused on a number of issues, including specific learning or care "agendas"; practitioner confidence and knowledge; environmental considerations; individual learner characteristics and behaviour; learner attention, "attunement" and arousal levels; building a shared "repertoire"; and issues of available time. Conclusions: The issue of how novice Intensive Interaction practitioners may best be supported to more quickly and confidently develop improved Intensive Interaction practices is discussed, proposing the development of a cyclical process of experiential learning and supported reflection.
Descriptors: Decision Making, Residential Care, Allied Health Personnel, Speech Language Pathology, Intuition, Severe Disabilities, Learning Disabilities, Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Parent Attitudes, Teacher Attitudes, Caregiver Attitudes, Administrator Attitudes, Clinical Psychology, Counselor Attitudes, Individual Characteristics, Interaction Process Analysis, Experiential Learning
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2191/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A