Iain Matheson - EdD Candidate
Thesis Title: Learning from degree students and recent graduates with a care background: Experiences of education whilst in residential and foster care
Email: iain@mathesonassociates.co.nz and matia901@student.otago.ac.nz
Research Proposal:
There is a growing body of overseas research that focuses upon how poorly those in, or formerly in, residential or foster care fare educationally. A range of largely deficit-focused explanations have been put forward that include children and young people in care: being failed by the education and/or child welfare systems; experiencing long term effects of abuse; having socially disadvantaged backgrounds; having particular educational needs; or experiencing a combination of (and an interplay between) these factors.
Rather than focusing upon failure, this research project investigates the education experiences of a very small group of New Zealanders; those with a background in residential and foster care who have gone on to study for degrees at universities and other tertiary institutions. The study mainly concerns secondary schooling, although other aspects of education are addressed where these are important to individual participants.
The aim of the proposed research study is therefore to describe, understand and learn from the lived education experiences whilst in care, of New Zealand degree students and recent graduates. This aim is reflected in the following central research question:
How do degree students and recent graduates with a care background, perceive and describe their experience of education whilst in residential or foster care?
The study is qualitative in approach and the methodology selected is phenomenological research. The research method is qualitative interviews and uses in-depth face-to-face conversational interviews with follow-up telephone interviews. Interviews are conducted with 8 to 10 degree students or graduates aged 17 to 29 who as young people spent time in care.
Selected articles and conference presentations
- Matheson, I. (2011, July). Education of children and young people in care: Research on what works, International Foster Care Organisation (IFCO) biennial world conference, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/iainmatheson/ifco-2011-theeducationofchildrenandyoungpeopleincarefinal
- Matheson, I. (2010). Recruitment of foster families: Lessons from international research. Canada’s Children, 17(2), 11-18.
- Matheson, I. (2010, August). Out of home care standards in Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom. Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies (ACWA) biennial conference, Sydney, Australia. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/iainmatheson/out-of-home-care-standards-in-canada-ireland-and-the-uk-4996047
- Matheson, I. (2009, November). Research with vulnerable children and young people: The continuing importance of ‘do no harm’. Children as Experts in Their Own Lives: Child Inclusive Research Symposium, Sydney, Australia.
- Matheson, I. (2009, November). Child indicators of educational attainment for children and young people in foster care and residential care. 2nd International Conference of the International Society for Child Indicators, Sydney, Australia. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/iainmatheson/measurement-of-educational-attainment-for-children-and-young-people-in-outofhomecare-4861963
- Matheson, I. (2009, July). Foster care standards: A four country study (and foster care standards analytical framework). International Foster Care Organisation (IFCO) world conference, Dublin, Ireland. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/iainmatheson/foster-care-standards-in-australia-canada-ireland-and-the-uk-plenary-presentation-to-the-international-foster-care-organisation-world-conference-dublin-2009
- Matheson, I. (2009, May). Foster care standards: A four country study. Canadian Foster Family Association (CFFA) annual symposium, Halifax, Canada.
- Matheson, I. (2009). Recruitment of foster families: Strategies and methods. Canada’s Children 16(2), 14-19.
- Matheson, I. (2008, August). Evaluation and out of home care. Association of Children’s
Welfare Agencies (ACWA) biennial conference, Sydney, Australia. Retrieved from http://www.acwa.asn.au/Conf2008/Matheson.ppt - Matheson, I (2008). Foster care standards overseas. New Zealand Family Foster Care Federation annual conference. Tauranga, New Zealand.