Using Vignettes as a Research Method to Investigate Placement and Provision for Children with Special Educational Needs in Different Countries

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Elsa

Examines the use of vignettes as a research method in a comparative study of provision for children with special educational needs across eleven countries. In-country researchers answered questions based on children described in 14 vignettes, covering school placement options, assessment processes, support arrangements, service provision, curriculum responses, and placement decision participants. Findings reveal cross-country differences, limited pupil voice in decisions, and pervasive medical category influence within educational settings, with utility discussed for capturing international educational practice complexity.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Using Vignettes to Understand Special Educational Needs Issues

Using Vignettes as a Research Method to Investigate Placement and Provision for Children with Special Educational Needs in Different Countries By Kieron Sheehy∗, Jonathan Rix ±, Felicity Fletcher-Campbell °, Martin Crisp • & Amanda Harper ♦ This paper examines the use of vignettes as a research method in a comparative exploration of the provision for children with special educational needs across eleven countries. The investigation selected in-country researchers, who responded to questions with respect to children described in 14 vignettes. The questions related to school placement options; assessment processes; support arrangements; service provision; curriculum responses and those involved in placement decisions. The vignette findings were able to highlight differences in placement decisions between the countries; the general lack of pupil voice in decision making and the ubiquitous influence of medical categories within educational settings. The utility of using vignettes in this type of research is discussed in relation to reflecting the complex reality of educational practice in different countries. Keywords: vignette study, special educational needs, international comparisons school placement, pupil voice Introduction In selecting a research method, researchers often need to make a decision with respect to the depth and richness of qualitative analysis and the generalisability and policy reach of quantitative approaches (Khaled, 2021) . One approach which may have merits with both and mixed forms of data collection is the use of research vignettes (McInroy & Beer, 2021; Murphy, Hughes, Read, & Ashby, 2021). Vignettes are short descriptions of situations or persons which elicit judgments about the depicted scenarios (Atzmüller & Steiner, 2010). These, typically hypothetical, scenarios (Schoenberg & Ravdal, 2000) have been used for a variety of purposes within educational research. They can be part of quantitative experiments, which systematically vary specific characteristics for factorial analysis (Atzmüller & Steiner, 2010) and qualitative studies (McInroy & Beer, 2021; Murphy, Hughes, Read, & Ashby, 2021). They are able to be used with a ∗Professor, The Faculty of Wellbeing Education and Language Studies, The Open University, UK. ±Professor, The Faculty of Wellbeing Education and Language Studies, The Open University, UK.° Senior Lecturer, The Faculty of Wellbeing Education and Language Studies, The Open University, UK. •Associate Lecturer, The Faculty of Wellbeing Education and Language Studies, The Open University, UK. ♦Information Associate, NFER, Centre for Research Planning and Knowledge Management, UΚ. range of follow-up responses - for example, semi structured questions, closed responses or Likert scales. There is a need for research which reflects upon the affordances and utility of vignettes in this way as there are few detailed accounts about the use of vignettes, particularly within social qualitative research or as a complementary data collection approach (Barter & Renold, 2000; Ling & Pang, 2021). The research that exists suggests that in some circumstances, vignettes are able to elicit and capture a richer picture of responses than other methods (Schoenberg & Ravdal, 2000) and gives the researcher particular benefits: (1) flexibility that allows the researcher to design an instrument uniquely responsive to specific topical foci; (2) enjoyment and creativity for the informant; and (3) depersonalization that encourages an informant to think beyond his or her own circumstances, an important feature for sensitive topics or for illuminating future use patterns of services. (Schoenberg & Ravdal, 2000, p. 63) When vignettes present case studies (Tanaka, Inadomi, Kikuchi, & Ohta, 2005), it is possible to elicit judgments about likely or preferred outcomes for the depicted individual or situation - for example, to explore teachers’ attitudes to educational issues (Gall, Gall, &

FAQs

How were the vignettes used in this cross-country study?

In-country researchers responded to questions using children described in 14 vignettes, focusing on placement, assessment, support, service provision, curriculum responses, and decision-making participants.

What key differences did the vignette findings highlight?

The study highlighted differences in placement decisions across countries, a general lack of pupil voice in decision-making, and a ubiquitous influence of medical categories in educational settings.

Why does the paper argue vignettes are useful for this kind of research?

The paper discusses vignettes as a way to reflect the complex reality of educational practice across countries, enabling richer responses, greater flexibility in instrument design, and less threatening exploration of sensitive topics.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Elsa