Evaluating a Research Training Programme for People with Intellectual Disabilities Participating in Inclusive Research: The Views of Participants

• Published in: Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities Vol. 30; no. 4; pp. 684 - 695
• Main Authors: Fullana, Judit, Pallisera, Maria, Català, Elena, Puyalto, Carolina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley-Blackwell 01.07.2017; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Adult; Community-Based Participatory Research - methods; Discapacitats; Discapacitats mentals; Educació; Educació inclusiva; Education; Female; Focus Groups; Humans; Inclusion; Inclusive education; inclusive research; Intellectual disabilities; Intellectual Disability; Interviews; Interviews as Topic; Male; Middle Aged; Participant Satisfaction; People with disabilities; People with mental disabilities; Personal Satisfaction; Program Effectiveness; Program Evaluation; programme evaluation; Qualitative Research; Questionnaires; Research Projects; Research Skills; research training; Skill Development; Student Attitudes; Surveys and Questionnaires; Trainers; Training Methods; Young Adult; inclusive research; intellectual disability; research training; programme evaluation
• DOI: 10.1111/jar.12262
• ISSN: 1360-2322

Background This article presents the results of evaluating a research training programme aimed at developing the skills of people with intellectual disabilities to actively participate in inclusive research. Methods The present authors opted for a responsive approach to evaluation, using a combination of interviews, questionnaires and focus groups to gather information on the views of students, trainers and members of the research team regarding how the programme progressed, the learning achieved and participants’ satisfaction with the programme. Results The evaluation showed that most of the participants were satisfied with the programme and provided guidelines for planning contents and materials, demonstrating the usefulness of these types of programme in constructing the research group and empowering people with intellectual disabilities to participate in research. Conclusions The evaluation revealed that the programme had been a positive social experience that fostered interest in lifelong learning for people with intellectual disabilities.