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Complexity of staff communication and reported level of understanding skills in adults with intellectual disability

Bradshaw, Jill (2001) Complexity of staff communication and reported level of understanding skills in adults with intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 45 (3). pp. 233-243. ISSN 0964-2633. (doi:10.1046/j.1365-2788.2001.00318.x) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:32475)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2788.2001.00318.x

Abstract

Staff reports of the communication acts taking place with 22 adults with intellectual disability were compared with video observations of the communication acts used by staff with 12 of these service users. The interactions were coded in terms of the form of communication used, the function of the act and the level of complexity. The results show that staff tend to underestimate their own use of verbal communication and overestimate their use of non-verbal communication. The findings also indicate a mismatch between the reported level of understanding of the service user and the level of complexity of the language used. Staff appeared unable to adapt their communication to the skills of the service user and an average of 45% of communicative acts were outside the reported understanding skills of the individual. The implications of these findings are discussed and possible explanations for staff behaviour are suggested.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1046/j.1365-2788.2001.00318.x
Uncontrolled keywords: Mental-Handicap; People; Institution; Perceptions; Competence; Behaviour; Settings; Support; Ratios; Impact
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare > HV1568 Disability studies
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Tizard
Depositing User: Jo Ruffels
Date Deposited: 10 Dec 2012 13:01 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:10 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/32475 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Bradshaw, Jill.

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