Armenian teachers’ dichotomous perspectives on children with high-functioning autism

DAVID ALLAN; FIONA HALLETT; Graham Hallett

doi:10.1111/1471-3802.12469

Armenian teachers’ dichotomous perspectives on children with high-functioning autism

DAVID ALLAN
, FIONA HALLETT
, Graham Hallett

University of Cumbria

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (journal) › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

148 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This article uses the views of student teachers and serving teachers from
a post-Soviet context in order to better understand current thinking
around teachers’ perceptions of children with what might be termed
‘hidden’ disabilities. Drawing on social comparison theory, and adopting
a phenomenographical approach, the study explores teachers’
perspectives of autism in the Republic of Armenia, offering an insight
into the impact of its social, cultural and political history. Whilst serving
teachers demonstrated contrastive and downward comparisons when
presented with a vignette of a young person with Asperger’s Syndrome,
student teachers expressed more connective comparisons. The data
suggest, then, that Armenian student teachers represent progressive
attitudinal change towards individuals with disabilities. These results also
shed light on how social comparison theory might be used to tease out
assumptions and taken-for-granted attitudes in the global West.

Original language	English
Article number	JRS3_12469
Pages (from-to)	109-120
Number of pages	12
Journal	Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs
Volume	20
Issue number	2
Early online date	31 Jul 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-3802.12469
Publication status	Published - 1 Apr 2020

Keywords

Teacher attitudes
Student teacher attitudes
Armenia
Social comparison
Autism

Access to Document

10.1111/1471-3802.12469

Allan et al. Armenian Teachers. JORSENAccepted author manuscript, 578 KBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

Reconsidering Inclusion: Western theory and post-Soviet reality.
Hallett, F., Allan, D. & Hallett, G., 30 Mar 2019, In: Disability Studies Quarterly. 39, 2, p. 1
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (journal) › peer-review

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Architectures of oppression: Perceptions of individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome in the Republic of Armenia
Hallett, F. & Allan, D., 1 Apr 2017, In: Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs. 17, 2, p. 123-131 9 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (journal) › peer-review

Open Access
File
3 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)

94 Downloads (Pure)

Dr DAVID ALLAN
- Secondary, Further Education & Training - Reader Professional Education & Learning
- Health Research Institute
Person: Research institute member, Academic

Cite this

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title = "Armenian teachers{\textquoteright} dichotomous perspectives on children with high-functioning autism",

abstract = "This article uses the views of student teachers and serving teachers from a post-Soviet context in order to better understand current thinking around teachers{\textquoteright} perceptions of children with what might be termed {\textquoteleft}hidden{\textquoteright} disabilities. Drawing on social comparison theory, and adopting a phenomenographical approach, the study explores teachers{\textquoteright} perspectives of autism in the Republic of Armenia, offering an insight into the impact of its social, cultural and political history. Whilst serving teachers demonstrated contrastive and downward comparisons when presented with a vignette of a young person with Asperger{\textquoteright}s Syndrome, student teachers expressed more connective comparisons. The data suggest, then, that Armenian student teachers represent progressive attitudinal change towards individuals with disabilities. These results also shed light on how social comparison theory might be used to tease out assumptions and taken-for-granted attitudes in the global West. ",

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Armenian teachers’ dichotomous perspectives on children with high-functioning autism

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

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Research output

Reconsidering Inclusion: Western theory and post-Soviet reality.

Architectures of oppression: Perceptions of individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome in the Republic of Armenia

Profiles

Dr DAVID ALLAN

Cite this