ERIC Number: EJ745076
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Oct
Pages: 15
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0144-3410
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Available Date: N/A
Email Forum Usage as an Identity Maintenance Strategy for Educators Working with Pupils with Special Educational Needs
Crisp, Richard J.; Lewis, Ann; Robertson, Christopher
Educational Psychology, v26 n5 p599-613 Oct 2006
The moves towards the inclusion of pupils with special educational needs (SEN) into mainstream settings places particular responsibilities on SEN educators in these schools, who are charged with both meeting such pupils' individual needs and promoting more inclusive contexts. The resultant tensions may be reflected in how SEN educators see their professional identities. We studied the determinants of SEN educators' usage of a professional email forum, one unrestricted support and information mechanism for SEN coordinators. Drawing on social psychological identity theory we predicted the usage of a professional email forum by SEN educators. We hypothesised that particular characteristics of SEN educators, relating to how they regard their professional identity, would predict the usage of the forum. An email forum survey comprising Likert-style questions to assess identification, prototypicality, and forum usage was completed by 130 SEN educators. We found use of the forum was highest when users felt they were not central members of their professional group, but at the same time this group was important to their identities. We discuss these findings in relation to the policy and practice of educational inclusion. (Contains 1 figure and 1 table.)
Descriptors: Electronic Mail, Special Needs Students, Inclusive Schools, Context Effect, Measures (Individuals), Special Education Teachers, Maintenance, Likert Scales, Teacher Surveys, Correlation, Use Studies, Group Dynamics, Databases
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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Author Affiliations: N/A