Young people with intellectual disability and the internet: Challenges and opportunities in qualitative research

Conducting qualitative research on young people with intellectual disability and the Internet poses methodological challenges as well as opportunities. Based on memos from a qualitative study, this article focuses on identified gaps related to the challenges of informed consent, access to Internet arenas and using stimulus materials. Opportunities, in terms of flexibility and relationships, are discussed and problematized. The discussion shows that researchers may need to move out of their comfort zone and try nonconventional methods of data collection. It is important to be creative and innovative but also to look after the rights and interests of participants. Furthermore, take a non-directive approach and assume young people with intellectual disability to be experts on their own lives. Finally, the power imbalance between a researcher and participant should be considered and the researcher should ask him-/herself which perspective he/she wishes to present or ‘whose side are we on?’