ERIC Number: EJ1082295
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0266-7363
EISSN: N/A
Out of School: A Phenomenological Exploration of Extended Non-Attendance
Baker, Matt; Bishop, Felicity L.
Educational Psychology in Practice, v31 n4 p354-368 2015
The concept of "extended non-attendance" ("school phobia" or "school refusal") was distinguished from truancy early in the twentieth century, and refers to children who fear school and avoid attending. Despite much subsequent research, outcomes for those affected remain poor, and their voices remain largely absent from the evidence base. The current study sought to address this by examining the experiences of four secondary-age children with extended attendance difficulties. Data consisted of semi-structured interviews conducted in participants' homes, subsequently analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Although participants differed markedly in their perception of the causes of their non-attendance, their support experiences appear remarkably similar. Emergent themes include being disbelieved, experiencing fragmented support, and feeling blamed and punished. Implications for practitioners include the importance of ensuring early intervention, the need to consider the individual child, and the importance of making sure that local intervention practices are informed by the evidence base.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Secondary School Students, Out of School Youth, Attendance, School Phobia, Phenomenology, Semi Structured Interviews, Student Attitudes, Trust (Psychology), Social Support Groups, Psychological Patterns, Early Intervention, Evidence Based Practice, Anxiety, Punishment, Friendship, Group Membership, Goal Orientation, Educational Psychology, At Risk Students, Data Analysis, Attribution Theory
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom (England)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A