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Research priorities in vocational special needs education: A Delphi approach
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to identify, categorize, and prioritize research needs facing vocational special needs education over the next ten years. A three-round Delphi technique was used to generate responses and achieve consensus from selected nationally-recognized vocational special needs experts. Selection of experts in vocational special needs education was accomplished using a purposive sampling procedure and the following criteria: Full-time employment in vocational special needs education at a 4-year postsecondary institution with an ongoing, vocational special needs program. Of the 21 vocational special needs teacher-educators initially selected to participate in this study, 18 completed all three rounds of the Delphi process. Results formed two distinct, yet related, types of information: Major research categories and individual research priority statements which comprise each category. A total of 91 research statements were collected from Round 1 questionnaires which were used to construct nine major categories. Major areas of research in vocational special needs education in their order of importance are student-related research; instruction/instructional strategies; policy issues and related research; program evaluation; curriculum and programming; delivery systems; professional training and development; collaboration and articulation; and assessment and related issues. Descriptive statistics (mean, interquartile range, median) were used to analyze responses. An overall mean for all 91 vocational special needs research statements was 3.202 (SD =.596) indicating a moderate level of need. Final mean ratings of individual research statements ranged from a high of 4.28 to a low of 1.67. A discrepancy between the final categorical rank order and final mean ratings for major research categories was discovered. A high degree of consensus on the need for specific research efforts was achieved on slightly over half (57%) of all statements. Findings suggest that experts approach the need for future research from a multi-faceted perspective. This perspective was used to construct a research framework for vocational special needs education. Professionals are encouraged to use results of the present study to structure and advance research in vocational special needs education.
Subject Area
Vocational education|Special education
Recommended Citation
Rojewski, Jay Warren, "Research priorities in vocational special needs education: A Delphi approach" (1990). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9030151.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9030151