Individuals With Extensive Support Needs and Mixed Methods Research: A Systematic Literature Review Across Education Subfields

Mixed methods research (MMR) can support enhanced understanding of complex educational issues, like the inclusion and support of individuals with disabilities in community and school settings. In this systematic review, we explored the extent to which MMR has been used in research exclusively focused on disability across special education (SPED), general education (GE), and disability studies in education (DSE; n = 115 studies). We examined research explicitly considering individuals with extensive support needs (ESNs) in this literature. We highlight the prevalence of MMR exploring topics relevant to individuals with ESN and features of this body of work, including (a) participants in these studies, (b) the presence of theoretical and/or conceptual framing for the research, (c) the goals/aims of the research studies, (d) the purposes for mixing, and (e) the data-generation methods used by the authors. We discuss patterns in the data that reflect differences across subfields, presumptions of competence, and ways ableism shapes research studies. Implications for research and practice to improve inclusive experiences for individuals with ESN are discussed.