Finlay2012

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Finlay2012
BibType ARTICLE
Key Finlay2012
Author(s) W. M. L. Finlay, Charles Antaki
Title How staff pursue questions to adults with intellectual disabilities
Editor(s)
Tag(s) communication, Conversation Analysis, intellectual disabilities, interaction, mental-retardation, mild, people, questions, staff
Publisher
Year 2012
Language
City
Month
Journal Journal of Intellectual Disability Research
Volume 56
Number 4
Pages 361–370
URL Link
DOI 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2011.01478.x
ISBN
Organization
Institution
School
Type
Edition
Series
Howpublished
Book title
Chapter

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Abstract

Background When support staff use questions to instruct, advise or guide adults with intellectual disabilities (ID), or to solicit information from them, the interaction does not always proceed smoothly, particularly when replies are ambiguous, absent or not obviously relevant. That can lead to interactional trouble and dissatisfaction, or worse. Methods We report on the ways in which staff members transform their questions over a series of conversational turns in order to solicit an adequate reply, and thereby to fulfil the interactional goal of the question. Our data come from approximately 30 h of recordings of natural conversation between staff members and adults with ID in two residential and one outdoor activities settings. Results We identify seven practices by which staff attempt to resolve the dilemma between undue direction and premature closure. These include: expansion of the original question, simplifying its format, changing its content in various ways and realising its alternatives in physical form. Conclusions We highlight strategies which produce answers satisfactory to both parties, and improve the quality of interaction between staff and people with ID.

Notes

WOS:000301528900004