Changing approaches to methodology of research in special education.
The author discusses the methodology applied in research in special education in Poland in the past and proposes new approaches in this respect. In the past the researchers concentrated rather on observation of disabled children with the same kind of disability; quantitative measurements were rarely applied. Objective data on personality traits and behaviour of disabled persons can be obtained by comparative studies of disabled with nondisabled people, using scientific methods. Such studies were conducted in 1976-1980 at Warsaw University, covering such problems like life goods, self evaluation, methods of teaching, outside-class activities, upbringing in disabled families, social activity and organization of special education. It appears from this approach that there are far more common than so called "specific" problems between the disabled and nondisabled. The identification of "common denominators" is the basis for decategorization of our perception of the disabled, for the development of adequate services for these people, and for their integration and normalization within society.
D001519:Behavior; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology; D004519:Education, Special; D006801:Humans; D010551:Personality; D011044:Poland; D012106:Research