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Using a situative perspective to gain a deeper understanding of how children’s strengths are related to social context
Author(s) -
Bozic Nick,
Lawthom Rebecca,
Murray Janice,
Oldfield Jeremy
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of research in special educational needs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.543
H-Index - 27
ISSN - 1471-3802
DOI - 10.1111/1471-3802.12520
Subject(s) - perspective (graphical) , psychology , context (archaeology) , special educational needs , inclusion (mineral) , pedagogy , developmental psychology , applied psychology , special education , social psychology , paleontology , artificial intelligence , computer science , biology
Over the last twenty‐five years, there has been an increase in the availability of published checklists and schedules which allow practitioners to identify the strengths of children and young people, including those with special educational needs. While helpful, these assessments are unable to tell us about the nature of contextual factors which support the expression of particular strengths. In this study, we took a situative perspective to explore how specific classroom practices facilitated strengths. A multiple case study design was used to analyse practices nominated by three children/young people with special educational needs. Qualitative analysis revealed how aspects of practice afforded the opportunity for each child to participate in ways which they equated with their strengths. This style of strength‐based assessment led to a more sustained examination of supportive practice features than would have been achieved through interview alone.