ERIC Number: EJ1087432
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015
Pages: 25
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1047-4412
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Special Education Teachers as Consultants: Perspectives of Finnish Teachers
Sundqvist, Christel; Ström, Kristina
Journal of Educational & Psychological Consultation, v25 n4 p314-338 2015
In this article, a qualitative study about teachers' thoughts on consultation between special teachers and class teachers is reported. The aim of the study was to deepen the knowledge about how consultation in special educational contexts can be understood and developed based on the descriptions of special teachers and class teachers on this particular form of activity, interpreted against different perspectives on consultation. The data consist of interviews with special teachers and class teachers. The data has been analyzed according to Graneheim's and Lundman's qualitative content analysis. The analysis identified three different types of consultation: consultation as counseling, reflective consultation, and cooperative conversations. Consultation as cooperative conversation is held out as a potential type for the development of consultation between special teachers and class teachers. The results show that consultation in special education is a complex activity where different approaches on consultation must be used and integrated.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Special Education Teachers, Consultants, Teacher Attitudes, Qualitative Research, Regular and Special Education Relationship, Content Analysis, Special Education, Teacher Role, Questionnaires, Semi Structured Interviews, Cooperation, Interprofessional Relationship, Discourse Analysis
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Finland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A