This aim of this thesis is to describe and explore issues relating to researching in partnership with people with learning disabilities and health and social care practitioners working in learning disability services; with particular reference to drivers for partnership research, ways of researching in partnership, the potential benefits and tensions encountered in partnership research and the role of the researcher within partnership research. The thesis then sets out an agenda for the future of partnership research. Sixteen papers are presented; three of which are a product of partnership research with people with learning disabilities, and thirteen of which are a result of partnership research with practitioners. These papers are on a range of topics including advocacy, holidays, autism, self-injurious behaviour, outcome measurement, access to hospital and learning disability services, and the role of support workers. A variety of qualitative and quantitative research methods have been used in the studies including systematic reviews, focus groups, interviews, surveys, life stories and quasi-experimental design. The thesis identifies political, conceptual, theoretical, ideological, professional, organisational and individual drivers for partnership research in order to provide a background to the papers. The range of methods which have been used when researching in partnership is reviewed and the research reported in the papers is then set within this context. The benefits and tensions inherent in partnership research are discussed and examples from the research presented in the thesis are used to highlight these. The role of the professional researcher within partnership research projects is also discussed; for example, the tendency to play down the researcher's contribution in partnership research with people with learning disabilities and the varied and complex nature of partnership research. The impact of the partnership research is discussed in relation to the benefits to the eo-researchers, people with learning disabilities and local services. The research findings have been shared locally, nationally and internationally, and the thesis demonstrates how they have made a wide-ranging contribution to the existing evidence base about people with learning disabilities and the services they receive. Finally, an agenda for future partnership research is established.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:551121 |
| Date | January 2012 |
| Creators | Chapman, Melanie Jane |
| Publisher | Manchester Metropolitan University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
Page generated in 0.0023 seconds