ERIC Number: EJ884520
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0896-3746
EISSN: N/A
Validating Family-Centeredness in Early Intervention Evaluation Reports
Farrell, Anne F.
Infants and Young Children, v22 n4 p238-252 Oct-Dec 2009
This Internet-based study involved experimental manipulation of family-centeredness in written early intervention evaluation reports and employed a 3 x 4-vignette factorial design with 1 participant variable (role: parent, professional, parent-professional) and 1 randomly assigned independent variable (level of family-centeredness in report passages). Dependent variables included ratings of the report's acceptability, accessibility, and overall family-centeredness and participants' estimates of the functioning of the child depicted. Results included main effects for pattern and role, with no interactions. Report passages higher in family-centered content were associated with higher ratings than passages low in family-centeredness content. Parents rated reports as more accessible and acceptable than did professionals and parent-professionals. Role and family-centeredness of passage also influenced participant estimations of child functioning. Parents generally viewed the child depicted as higher functioning than did professionals, especially when one of their children had significant impairment. Low in family-centeredness passages were associated with presumptions of greater functional impairment. This report makes an empirical connection between written portrayals of children and the impressions they create in readers' minds. Such impressions may play a role in affecting family optimism and in determining how team members approach planning and intervention. Implications for practice, training, and future research are discussed.
Descriptors: Early Intervention, Parents, Family Involvement, Parent Role, Teacher Role, Parent Teacher Cooperation, Reports, Disabilities, Planning, Parent Participation, Vignettes, Severity (of Disability)
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 351 West Camden Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. Tel: 800-638-3030; e-mail: customerservice@lww.com; Web site: http://www.lww.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A