Vol 71. NoJ2,p. 2005 Council for Eiatptiotud Childrtn. Exceptional Childreii Qualitative S.pdf

Exceptional Childreii Vol 71. NoJ2,p/. 2005 Council for Eiatptiotud Childrtn. Qualitative Studies in Special Education ELUEN BRANTLINOER Indunui imivriiiy ROBERT JIMENEZ Peabody College, Vanderbilt University JANETTE KLINGNER Lhiivrnicy of Colorado at Boulder MARLEEN PUGACH Uuitigrsiry of Wi.Komin—Milvutukef VIRGINIA RICHARDSON University of Michigan ABSTRACT:r; An overview of the many types of studies that fall into the qualitative design genre is provided. Strategies that qualitative researchers use to establish the authors studies as credible and trustworthy are listed and defined. So that readers will recognize the important contribution qual- itative studies have made in the field of special education, a range of well-known and lesser known examples of qualitative research are reviewed. The quality indicators that are important in con- ducting and evaluating qualitative research are identified. Finally, as an example of the evidence that can be produced using qualitative methods, the authors provide a summary of how 3 studies have provided important information that can be used to inform policy and practice. ualkative research In the social sciences has risen to promi- nence in recent years. Al- though there may be an impression that quaUcative re- search is new to special education, its history can be traced back almost two centuries. Certainly, at present, the qualitative studies genre is broad, complex, and growing; hence, settling on one definition is difficult. A definition that we believe is flexible enough to be inclusive is that qualita- tive research is a systematic approach to under- standing qualities, or the essential nature, of a phe- nomenon within a particular context. We begin with the assertion chat qualitative designs do pro- duce science-based evidence that can inform pol- icy and practice in special education, and we further claim that, similar to the other research genres covered in this special issue of Exceptional Children, qualitative re