Facilitating the Inclusion of Children With Vision Impairment: Perspectives of Itinerant Support Teachers

2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Morris ◽  
Umesh Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Vision Impairment ◽  
Working Relationships ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Potential Barriers ◽  
Regular School ◽  
Good Working ◽  
Group Interviews

AbstractChildren with vision impairment (VI) and blindness are largely educated in mainstream schools in Australia. Specialist itinerant support teachers – vision (ISTVs) travel from school to school to facilitate the education of these children. The purposes of this study were to examine the barriers that ISTVs face in this role, and to identify strategies used to address these barriers. Seven ISTVs participated in the study. Focus group interviews were conducted to collect data from participants. Constant comparison, a form of thematic analysis, was used to examine the data. Results indicate that barriers include a lack of understanding among regular school educators of the needs of children with VI, lack of awareness of the role of ISTVs, insufficient resources and time, and inadequate training. Frequent communication and good working relationships with staff help to minimise or negate many of the potential barriers. However, barriers such as lack of time and inadequate training remain unaddressed and require the attention of policymakers at higher levels.

scholarly journals The Evolving Family Mealtime: Findings From Focus Group Interviews With Hispanic Mothers

10.2196/18292 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. e18292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amber Jean Hammons ◽  
Elizabeth Villegas ◽  
Norma Olvera ◽  
Kimberly Greder ◽  
Barbara Fiese ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Hispanic Culture ◽  
Hispanic Mothers ◽  
Obesity Prevention Programs ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Family Mealtimes ◽  
Puerto Rican Families

Background Given the protective effects of shared family mealtimes and the importance of family in the Hispanic culture, this context should be explored further to determine how it can be leveraged and optimized for interventions. Objective This study aimed to explore contextual factors associated with family mealtimes in Mexican and Puerto Rican families. Methods A total of 63 mothers participated in 13 focus group interviews across 4 states. Thematic analysis was used to analyze transcripts. Results Seven overarching themes were identified through the thematic analysis. Themes reflected who was present at the mealtime, what occurs during mealtime, the presence of television, the influence of technology during mealtime, and how mealtimes have changed since the mothers were children. Conclusions Hispanic mothers may be adapting family mealtimes to fit their current situations and needs, keeping the television and other devices on during mealtimes, and making additional meals for multiple family members to appease everyone’s tastes. All of these are areas that can be incorporated into existing culturally tailored obesity prevention programs to help families lead healthier lives.

“A Really Strong Bond”: Coaches in Women Athletes’ Experiences of Inclusion in Parasport

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Jessica J. Ferguson ◽  
Nancy L.I. Spencer
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Women Athletes ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Qualitative Description ◽  
Ecological Approach ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Strong Bond ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Specific Barriers

Women within parasport experience discrimination due to marginalization associated with gender and disability. In this study, the authors gain the insights of women parasport athletes about the affordances and constraints to inclusion with an emphasis on the role of coaches, using an ecological approach. Guided by qualitative description, the authors conducted individual and focus group interviews with ten women experiencing disability to explore their experiences and perspectives of inclusion in parasport. Two primary themes were identified: (a) within parasport and (b) beyond parasport, emphasizing the critical role of relationships with coaches and athletes to experiences of inclusion. The discussion highlights the multilevel influences and specific barriers that challenge inclusion, such as few numbers of women athletes, the need for coach expertise, and co-ed playing environments. In doing so, the authors also offer specific recommendations for coaching in women’s parasport.

Inclusive Physical Education from the Perspective of Students with Physical Disabilities

2000 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 144-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna L. Goodwin ◽  
E. Jane Watkinson
Keyword(s):  
Physical Education ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Students With Disabilities ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Sense Of Belonging ◽  
Physical Disabilities ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Field Notes ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Negative Feelings

The study describes the phenomenon of inclusive physical education from the perspective of students with disabilities. The experience of 9 elementary school-aged students with physical disabilities (6 males and 3 females with a mean age of 11 years, 1 month) was captured by way of focus group interviews, field notes, and participant drawings. The thematic analysis uncovered a persistent dichotomy in how the participants experienced physical education. Good days were revealed in the themes of sense of belonging, skillful participation, and sharing in the benefits. Bad days were overshadowed by negative feelings revealed in the themes of social isolation, questioned competence, and restricted participation. The students’ experiences were discussed within the conceptual framework of ecological perception and affordance theory (Gibson, 1977, 1979).

scholarly journals Nursing staff’s experience of appearance issues in various nursing situations

BMC Nursing ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Åsa Bringsén ◽  
Johanna Sjöbeck ◽  
Pia Petersson
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Nursing Staff ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Knowledge Development ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Professional Nursing ◽  
Group Interviews

Abstract Background Health care professionals frequently interact with unknown patients in a process involving appearance-based judgements and priority-setting, all of which has an effect on health care equality. The healthcare provider–patient interaction is also highly relevant for the awareness and support of patients’ appearance concerns, with an associated possibility for improving patients’ satisfaction with their appearance and health. The aim was therefore to explore nursing staff’s experience of patients’ appearance issues in various nursing situations, with the purpose to facilitate awareness raising and knowledge development. Method A qualitative research approach with focus group interviews was chosen due to the exploratory aim of the study. Five semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with 24 nursing staff in total (19 women and five men). The participants’ ages varied (20 to 45 years) as did their professional nursing experience. The interviews lasted approximately one hour, were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed through thematic analysis. Results The thematic analysis resulted in the two themes Patient perspective and Professional nursing role, with associated subthemes. The findings showed the importance and impact of appearance issues in nursing situations and how these are linked to the health of the patients. Some groups of patients were identified as more vulnerable than others, which was associated with health care inequalities and health disparities. Value-based strategies along with knowledge, and skills for holistic person-centred care were identified as important resources for the development of appearance-related awareness and support in various nursing situations. Conclusion Strategies for improvement can be realised through the educational system for nursing staff, but mainly by using collective reflective learning forums in different workplaces. An empowerment approach is considered a useful framework for the implementation of holistic person-centred care, functioning as a resource for appearance-related awareness and support in various nursing situations. However, more research is needed on the complex and challenging phenomenon of appearance issues in nursing situations. Knowledge development related to successful person-centred strategies for appearance-related awareness and support is important, especially strategies with a salutogenic perspective.

ROLE OF SCHOOL MANAGEMENT IN THE PROCESS OF ADAPTING INCLUSIVE TEAMS AT SCHOOLS - ANALYSIS OF FOCUS GROUP INTERVIEWS

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zuzana Lynch ◽  
Mariana Cabanová ◽  
Katarína Vančíková ◽  
Marian Trnka ◽  
Robert Sabo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
School Management ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Group Interviews

scholarly journals Sound and consumer buying behaviour: do apparel retailers take note of the effect of sound on buying behaviour.

2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 375-382
Author(s):  
Elsa C. Nell ◽  
Michael Colin Cant
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Retail Stores ◽  
Direct Influence ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Buying Behaviour ◽  
Buying Decisions

The main aim of this study was to investigate the influence of sound on consumers buying behaviour in apparel retail stores. The type of research design used in this study was exploratory in nature, making use of a qualitative approach and a communicative technique of focus group interviews and naïve sketches. The data gathered was analysed by means of Tesch’s inductive descriptive coding technique, better known as thematic analysis. It was found that sound has the ability to influence consumers in either a subconscious or a conscious way. This has a direct influence on the amount of time that consumers are willing to spend in-store and ultimately influencing their buying decisions and behaviour in either a positive or a negative way.

scholarly journals Interaction Between Significant Adult and Toddler in Russia and Vietnam

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 47-62
Author(s):  
I.N. Galasyuk ◽  
T.V. Shinina ◽  
A.A. Shvedovskaya ◽  
I.G. Morozova ◽  
E.V. Efremova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Cultural Contexts ◽  
Neurocognitive Development ◽  
Child Interaction ◽  
Group Interviews

The article discusses the role of child interaction with a significant adult (parent, kindergarten teacher, caregiver) in child’s neurocognitive development within socio-cultural contexts of Russia and Vietnam.The article presents the results of a pilot study that included focus group interviews with kindergarten specialists from Russia and Vietnam.The pilot study sample consisted of 74 participants (72 women, 2 men), aged 32 to 54 years (M = 43.04; SD = 6.61).Of these, Russian participants (10 cities) — 42 people (40 women and 2 men) aged 32 to 50 (M = 40.19; SD = 6.28) and Vietnamese participants (1 city) — 32 people (32 women) aged 38 to 54 years (M = 46.67; SD = 5.12).The interviews followed the questionnaire developed by the authors.It consisted of 21 open-ended questions grouped in 3 blocks: Block 1.What characteristics and skills should be developed during early childhood? Where and how should these be developed? Block 2.How are children under 3 years of age developed? Block 3.Who is involved in the development of a child under 3 years of age? A comparative analysis of the responses of the Russian and Vietnamese kindergarten specialists revealed no significant differences between the groups, which suggests similarities in educational and developmental strategies of young children in a kindergarten environment.

scholarly journals The (in)visible ‘mother’: Diabetes specialist nurses in Swedish primary healthcare

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-37
Author(s):  
Eva Boström ◽  
Stina Öresland
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Primary Healthcare ◽  
Social Constructionist ◽  
Subject Position ◽  
Doing Gender ◽  
Working Relationships ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Diabetes Specialist ◽  
Specialist Nurses ◽  
Group Interviews

This study aimed to explore how diabetes specialist nurses (DSNs) discursively construct and reconstruct their professional position in their working relationships with physicians and thereby the relation with patients in primary healthcare in Sweden. Twenty-nine DSNs working in diabetes care from 21 primary healthcare centres were included in focus-group interviews. The interviews were analysed using discourse analysis. From a social constructionist perspective, findings showed that the working relationship between the DSNs, physicians and thereby the relation with patients was discursively constructed as a relationship within a gendered discourse. The DSNs constructed their subject position metaphorically as ‘mothers’ in this relationship. The construction of doing gender implies that the DSNs became visible as biological women, but invisible in being perceived as competent, well-educated professionals, because skills such as multitasking and versatility are often associated with female abilities.

scholarly journals Vad är teknik? Pedagogers uppfattningar om och erfarenheter av teknik och teknikundervisning i förskolan What is technology? Preschool teachers' conceptions and experiences of technology and technology education in the preschool

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helene Elvstrand ◽  
Jonas Hallström ◽  
Kristina Hellberg
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Technology Education ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Preschool Teachers ◽  
Daily Activities ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Educational Content ◽  
Formal Technology ◽  
Group Interviews

 In recent years technology has become increasingly emphasized as educational content in the Swedish preschool, not the least with the introduction of the latest curriculum in 2010 (revised in 2016). Since preschool teachers have not had any formal technology education until just recently, it is of importance to investigate how they conceive of and experience technology in the daily activities of the preschool. The purpose of this study is therefore to describe and analyze Swedish preschool teachers’ views and experiences of technology and technology education in the preschool, focusing on what opportunities and obstacles that they see. The data consists of transcripts from focus group interviews with sixteen teachers in two Swedish preschools, and the data was coded and categorized with a thematic analysis. The results show that when it comes to opportunities, the teachers consider technology to permeate all preschool activities, and the challenge here is rather to make technology visible. In terms of obstacles, however, the teachers are also uncertain about what technology is and want to have more knowledge of technology themselves, for example, relevant concepts for various technologies or activities. They also want to know more about technology education in order to be able to educationally convey knowledge of technology to the children and to make the children conscious of the technology that surrounds them.  

scholarly journals Det dubbla kompetenskravet

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Emilia Berglund ◽  
Karin Lager ◽  
Jennifer Lundqvist ◽  
Jan Gustafsson Nyckel
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
New Teacher ◽  
Skills Development ◽  
School Age ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Subject Knowledge ◽  
Teacher Student ◽  
Group Interviews

I föreliggande studie undersöks lärarstudenters utveckling av kompetenser inom lärarutbildningen. Studien har sin bakgrund inom de utbildningstrender som har som ambition att föra samman en socialpedagogisk omsorgstradition med en skolämnesinriktad utbildningstradition, där vi menar att lärarutbildningen för lärare i fritidshem utgör ett exempel. Fokusgruppintervjuer har använts för att intervjua 16 avgångsstudenter på lärarprogrammet med inriktning mot arbete i fritidshem på ett lärosäte i Sverige. Intervjuerna analyserades med hjälp av tematisk analys och visar att utbildningen erbjuder skilda lärandemiljöer för utveckling av kompetenser som svarar mot ett dubbelt kompetenskrav: Återskapare, Medskapare och Nyskapare. Analysen tydliggör både skillnader och likheter mellan de tre kompetenserna men det är samtidigt viktigt att se dem som komplementära. Återskapare kännetecknas av en anpassad och reproducerad kompetensutveckling där studenterna aktivt väljer att bli antingen lärare inom fritidshemmet eller i sitt praktisk estetiska skolämne. Medskapare kännetecknas av att studenterna anpassar sig till utbildningens genomförande och producerar en parallell kompetens och blir lärare i fritidshemmet och sitt skolämne. Nyskapare har drag av en produktiv - kreativ kompetens där studenterna använder sina praktisk estetiska ämneskunskaper inom fritidshemmets verksamhet, och sin fritidspedagogiska kompetens i undervisningen av det praktisk estetiska ämnet. Resultatet diskuteras avslutningsvis i relation till utbildningens förmåga att erbjuda en kreativ kompetens.  Abstract“The dual competence requirement - A study of teacher student competences in a new teacher education” examines students dealing with a dual competence requirement in teacher education. The study has its’ background in educational trends that aim to bring together a social pedagogical tradition with an educational tradition, with a focus on teacher training in School age educare (fritidshem). Focus group interviews have been used to interview 16 students in teacher education at a university in Sweden with a focus on working in school-age educare. A thematic analysis was implemented, where development of three different competences emerged that correspond to a dual competence requirement, which is Re-creators, Co-Creators and Innovators. The analysis highlights both the differences and similarities between the three competences, while also showing how the competences complement each other. The Re-creators are characterized by adapted and reproduced skills development, in which the student actively chooses to become either a teacher in the school-age educare or his subject. The Co-creators are characterized by the students adapting to the education’s implementation and producing parallel skills and becoming teachers in the school-age educare and their subject. The Innovators feature a productive creative competence in which the students use their practical aesthetic subject knowledge in the school-age educare activities, and their school-age educare skills in the teaching of the practical aesthetic subject. Findings are discussed in relation to the offering of creative skills. 

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