International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Volume 35, Issue 1/2, March 2015.
Purpose This study compares two scandals related to the care of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in the United States and the United Kingdom. Design/methodology/approach A descriptive case study methodology was used to conduct an in-depth qualitative analysis of the two scandals to examine the process of scandal development, and to survey the policy response against policy trends and theories of abuse in each case. The two cases were systematically analysed against a theoretical framework derived from Bonnie and Wallace’ 2003 theoretical framework for understanding abuse based on its sociocultural context, the social embeddedness of organizations providing care, and the individual level characteristics and interactions of subjects and carers. Findings In both cases the process of scandal construction was comparable, and each case offered confirmatory support to extant theories of abuse, and to wider policy trends within I/DD. Research limitations/implications The study examines only the short term policy responses to the scandals in two countries, based on published material only. Originality/value This paper contributes an international comparison of the similarities and differences in the social construction of scandal and the policy responses to abuse and neglect of a vulnerable population using systematic analytical frameworks.
Purpose This study compares two scandals related to the care of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in the United States and the United Kingdom. Design/methodology/approach A descriptive case study methodology was used to conduct an in-depth qualitative analysis of the two scandals to examine the process of scandal development, and to survey the policy response against policy trends and theories of abuse in each case. The two cases were systematically analysed against a theoretical framework derived from Bonnie and Wallace’ 2003 theoretical framework for understanding abuse based on its sociocultural context, the social embeddedness of organizations providing care, and the individual level characteristics and interactions of subjects and carers. Findings In both cases the process of scandal construction was comparable, and each case offered confirmatory support to extant theories of abuse, and to wider policy trends within I/DD. Research limitations/implications The study examines only the short term policy responses to the scandals in two countries, based on published material only. Originality/value This paper contributes an international comparison of the similarities and differences in the social construction of scandal and the policy responses to abuse and neglect of a vulnerable population using systematic analytical frameworks.