The research was carried out during a time when residential provision for people
with learning difficulties in the north of Scotland was changing from being
hospital based towards being community centred. The aim was to utilise an
understanding of the dynamics of past provision to shed light upon present
practice and planning for the future: focussing upon that form of ‘difference’
which has been given the name ‘learning difficulty’.
The research utilised records, interviews, narratives and discussion groups to
explore the experiences of providers of services, service users and those who
were close to them. The research sought to go beyond description; to facilitate
respondents in sharing their understanding of the organisation of care services
and how it had an effect upon their life chances and self concept.
The design of the research, which made use of multiple sources of evidence,
was qualitative in its approach. It was undertaken within four ‘sites of interest’:
 The archive or the historical record of provision at Lhangbyde Hospital..
 Through semi structured interviews with ‘Providers’
 A ‘Punters’ discussion forum located within a self advocacy group.
 A set of ‘Intimate Narratives’.
The method had its roots in constructivist, reflective and post modern currents of
thought which confronted the difficulty inherent is making an epistemological
distinction between what is out there in the world and the categories of meaning
which are resident in the human mind. The goal was to produce texts which
promoted dialogue rather than monologue, were evocative rather than definitive, In chapter 8 some ‘Intimate Narratives’ from the researcher’s own life
experience as a father and as a facilitator and adviser within a self advocacy
organisation were presented directly as stories of everyday experience.
In the final two chapters of the thesis an attempt was made to synthesise the
overall findings of the research, and to assess their implications for future policy
and practice. In chapter 9, under the heading of ‘Reading the Chart:
understanding the past and present as a foundation for future planning’ the
findings from the four ‘sites of interest’ were gathered together under seven
explanatory themes, with the section entitled ‘Gaining a Voice’ achieving an
overall pre-eminence.. The last chapter in the thesis (Chapter 10), under the title
of ‘The Future Course’ detailed a plan for change and development based on a
synthesis of findings. In addition the role of future research in promoting change
was examined. The thesis concluded with a ‘plain language’ summary of
recommendations