Shadowing Issues in Research in Foreign Culture: A Lyon Case

Abstract

This paper contains a review of theoretical assumptions and practical application of the qualitative research technique called shadowing. Paper includes also example of shadowing technique used in researches undertaken in foreign country – France designed as following the educational consultant from French Academie de Lyon, Louis La Roch (all personal data was anonymised). I followed after this consultant for one week in May 2012 collecting the observational data, field notes, casual conversation and interviews. I researched everyday routines and professional rituals of educational consultant who daily travelled or walked from home to his office and from office to inclusive units for children and youth with intellectual disabilities in mainstream schools. I spent in shadowing entire week visiting since morning, Academie de Lyon, schools with inclusive units and for the first time I publish now the results of such methodological and research experience of shadowing. Educational consultant, in Lyon visited daily inclusive units called CLIS, for children with mild disabilities and ULIS for youth with mild disabilities in Lyon and nearby area