Appreciative Inquiry
The innovative character of the AGID project is based on the use of the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) methodology. AI has been the base for carrying out the focus groups in each partner country and from that, the pattern for developing and delivering the training modules. AI is based on principles of inclusion and enables to hear the voices of users, families and professionals. This qualitative methodology of research is a simple but radical approach to understanding the social world. AI concentrates on exploring ideas that people have about what is valuable in what they do and then tries to work out ways in which this can be built on – the emphasis is on appreciating the activities and responses of people rather than concentrating on their problems. The radical aspect of AI is in the way that it challenges us to rethink our ideas on how people work, how changes happen and how research can contribute to this process (Reed 2007). In addition it also facilitates discussion and exploration of practice, as it starts from a positive position
AI approach begins with the assumption that every human system already has strengths: key factors of health and well being.
The AGID consortium decided to use this method because:
- AI is collaborative effort to bring people together, it involves multiple members or stakeholders conversing and working together.
- AI is inclusive; it invites a widening circle of voices, representing all stakeholder voices within a system.
- AI is generative, it fosters a dialogue that cultivates scenarios and theories what leads to more cooperation, to higher performing work. Participants are drawn to work together more toward a common anticipatory image.
AGID project has been conducted through the incorporation of the four principles of Appreciative enquiry (AI).
This consists of:
- Discovery – appreciating what gives life, when we are at our best, positive core.
- Dreaming – envisioning what might be, images of the future we want.
- Designing – Determining what will be and;
- Delivery – Planning what will be.
Discovery
On this stage we bring all the stakeholders (the whole system together) users, family carers, first line professionals, trainers, together working in focus groups; giving immediately everyone a voice in the process.
This process begins when participants interview each other with appreciatively focused questions on the key factors of health and well being. The appreciative protocol encourages each party to probe deeply into his partner’s stories, in order to dig out the underlying causes or factors for success. The best of “What is”.
Dream
In the dream phase, people imagine new dimensions, outcomes and results.
Based on the common success factors, we make a common dream on the key factors. “imagine, awaking from a long dream, everything is just like you wished for what do you see, what is going on, with whom, and so on.”
Here we get a picture of how the quality of live will be changed for the users.
This phase is taking place in every partner country with stakeholders.
Design
The design phase addresses the question: What kind of organizational forms, policies, and structures will enable the cooperative capacity necessary to make these imaginative outcomes and highest wishes become a reality. Designing involves creating the foundations upon which guiding structures are built.
With the design phase begins the transformation from stories, dreams, ideas and feelings to actions and projects. These ideas are the key elements to build the different modules on. In order to validate the training modules among the consortium, we will incorporate this phase with a consensus model based on the Delphi technique ( ref. WP description)
Destiny
The Aim of the destiny phase is to ensure that the shared dreams can be realized through the “blueprint” of desired actions / outcomes. To do this, participants in Ai do specific action planning, and role allocation for the necessary next steps
| Purpose | Achievement | Assessment Criteria/Indicators |
| Improve the quality of life of people with ID | Involve people with intellectual disabilities, frontline staff and health care professionals in the designing of the training modules (Using the AI methodology) | Deliverable with surveyand questionnaire among the focus group participants |
| Increase the knowledge and competency of frontline staff and professionals | Development of training modules for frontline staff and health care professionals | Deliverable with surveyand questionnaire among the frontline staff and health care professionals validated through
advisory group of expert |
| Disseminate the training module(s), its validity and impact in improving the quality of life of people with ID across European countries | Web based platform, conferences and other disseminations activities | Web-site hits, number of downloads, Number of external participants at project events |
The Training Platform
Through the use of the AI inquiry, the AGID consortium has individuated the users’, the frontline staff's and professionals’ needs within the planning and delivery of services.
The consortium has chosen six main topics and has developed six modules being a part of the training platform. Moreover a training Manuel has been produced with the aim to guide the trainee into successfully completing the platform.
The six module developed are the following:
- Ageing Process
- Person- Centered Planning
- Social Networking and Communication of Elderly People with ID
- Emotional Regulation for Front-line staff
- Pathological Ageing in People with ID
- Taking Care: a Complex Professional Stance
Web Platform
Moreover, the implementation of a web platform of e-learning will allow a much greater range of tools to be used, including student/ tutor collaboration, online peer to peer learning and both summative and formative assessment options. All these activities provide an enhanced learning experience for the learners and offer flexibility and opportunities in the delivery of the programs.
