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Efficacy research in early intervention: An elusive quest?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2016

Coral Kemp  and
Mark Cart
Coral Kemp*
Affiliation:
Special Education Centre, Macquarie University
Mark Cart
Affiliation:
Special Education Centre, Macquarie University
*
Correspondence to: Coral Kemp Special Education Centre, Macquarie University, NSW, 2109 Phone: 805 8712 Fax: 805 8712 E-mail: ckemp@ocsl.ocs.mq.edu.au
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Abstract

The last two decades have given rise to the development of a large range of Early Intervention programs catering for the needs of infants and young children who are environmentally disadvantaged, biologically ‘at risk’ or who have established disabilities. From the time programs of this type were first established, researchers have been struggling to demonstrate their efficacy. These attempts have been impeded by ethical concerns and methodological difficulties. This paper presents a review of the efficacy literature in Early Intervention. While questioning the value of the ‘quest’ to establish efficacy per se, it highlights the importance of identifying critical program components and of testing the impact of these components through carefully controlled short and long-term research.

Type
Research Article
Information
Australasian Journal of Special Education , Volume 17 , Issue 2 , January 1993 , pp. 3 - 15
Copyright
Copyright © The Australian Association of Special Education 1993

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