Research Design in Inclusive Learning Environments For and With Children on the Autism Spectrum – Towards Multimodal Data Collection

ABSTRACT

Inclusive learning environments, in which children on the autism spectrum (AS) are educated alongside with neurotypical children, are being implemented by governments across Europe and world-wide. The rapid change towards implementing inclusive learning environments has resulted, however, in scarce research reports using multimodal data collected on social interactions in such environments. To this, our study presents a novel experimental multi-method research design to holistically capture natural interactions between children on the AS and neurotypical children in inclusive learning settings through multimodal data collection tools involving well-established as well as emerging educational technologies and methods: mobile eye tracking, wide-angle video cameras and video stimulated accounts (VSA). The children’s perspectives regarding the practical research design implementation, as reflected in feedback forms collected, indicate that a relatively unobtrusive and non-distracting collection of multimodal data is achievable through sufficient planning and participatory strategies. This work contributes with a new multi-method research design to gather multimodal data in inclusive learning environments, looking at better understanding and strengthening children’s social interactions. The multi-method research design described here can also be applied to other contexts, such as after-school activities or group therapy sessions.