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Restrictive Practices and the 'Need' for Positive Behaviour Support (PBS): A Critical Discourse Examination of
Brent A Hayward1, Lisa McKay-Brown1, Shiralee Poed2
1Melbourne Graduate School of Education, 20153395University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) policies appear to informally permit restrictive practices rather than reduce them. This study reveals contradictions within PBS policy, suggesting it serves as a proxy for other conflicts.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Science
- Public Policy Analysis
- Social Network Analysis
Background:
- Limited research exists on policies promoting Positive Behaviour Support (PBS).
- This study investigates policy beliefs surrounding PBS and their connection to restrictive practices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze policy beliefs related to Positive Behaviour Support (PBS).
- To examine the relationship between PBS policy beliefs and the use of restrictive practices.
Main Methods:
- Employed discourse network analysis, integrating critical discourse analysis and social network analysis.
- Analyzed 11 policies, coding 38 belief statements.
Main Results:
- Identified a cluster of 13 dominant beliefs within PBS policies.
- Revealed dominant discourses concerning law, safety, and the environment.
- Demonstrated inherent contradictions within PBS policy through conceptual representation.
Conclusions:
- PBS policies may inadvertently legitimize restrictive practices instead of reducing them.
- PBS policies act as surrogates for unresolved political, personal, and bureaucratic conflicts.
- Provided three recommendations for enhancing PBS policy development and implementation.
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