Research priorities in vocational special needs education: A Delphi approach

The purpose of this study was to identify, categorize, and prioritize research needs facing vocational special needs education over the next ten years. A three-round Delphi technique was used to generate responses and achieve consensus from selected nationally-recognized vocational special needs experts. Selection of experts in vocational special needs education was accomplished using a purposive sampling procedure and the following criteria: Full-time employment in vocational special needs education at a 4-year postsecondary institution with an ongoing, vocational special needs program. Of the 21 vocational special needs teacher-educators initially selected to participate in this study, 18 completed all three rounds of the Delphi process. Results formed two distinct, yet related, types of information: Major research categories and individual research priority statements which comprise each category. A total of 91 research statements were collected from Round 1 questionnaires which were used to construct nine major categories. Major areas of research in vocational special needs education in their order of importance are student-related research; instruction/instructional strategies; policy issues and related research; program evaluation; curriculum and programming; delivery systems; professional training and development; collaboration and articulation; and assessment and related issues. Descriptive statistics (mean, interquartile range, median) were used to analyze responses. An overall mean for all 91 vocational special needs research statements was 3.202 (SD =.596) indicating a moderate level of need. Final mean ratings of individual research statements ranged from a high of 4.28 to a low of 1.67. A discrepancy between the final categorical rank order and final mean ratings for major research categories was discovered. A high degree of consensus on the need for specific research efforts was achieved on slightly over half (57%) of all statements. Findings suggest that experts approach the need for future research from a multi-faceted perspective. This perspective was used to construct a research framework for vocational special needs education. Professionals are encouraged to use results of the present study to structure and advance research in vocational special needs education.