Positive Deviance: Learning from Positive Anomalies
Item
Title
Positive Deviance: Learning from Positive Anomalies
Abstract/Description
PURPOSE
This paper is one of seven in this volume, each elaborating different approaches to quality improvement in education. The purpose of this paper is to delineate a methodology called positive deviance.
DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH
The paper presents the origins, theoretical foundations, core principles and a case study demonstrating an application of positive deviance in US education, specifically dealing with the problem of high school dropout prevention in a California school district.
FINDINGS
The six phases of this “asset-based” improvement approach are: define the organizational or community problem and desired outcomes; determine common practices relevant to the problem; discover uncommon but successful behaviors and strategies that solve the problem (the positive deviants), through inquiry and observation; design an action learning initiative based on findings; discern (monitor) progress of the initiative by documenting and evaluating regularly; and disseminate results through sharing, honoring and amplifying success stories.
ORIGINALITY/VALUE
Few theoretical treatments and demonstration cases are currently available on commonly used models of quality improvement from business, manufacturing and other fields that have potential value in improving education systems internationally. This paper fills this gap by elucidating one promising approach. By facilitating a comparison of the positive deviance approach to other quality improvement approaches treated in this volume, the paper provides added value.
This paper is one of seven in this volume, each elaborating different approaches to quality improvement in education. The purpose of this paper is to delineate a methodology called positive deviance.
DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH
The paper presents the origins, theoretical foundations, core principles and a case study demonstrating an application of positive deviance in US education, specifically dealing with the problem of high school dropout prevention in a California school district.
FINDINGS
The six phases of this “asset-based” improvement approach are: define the organizational or community problem and desired outcomes; determine common practices relevant to the problem; discover uncommon but successful behaviors and strategies that solve the problem (the positive deviants), through inquiry and observation; design an action learning initiative based on findings; discern (monitor) progress of the initiative by documenting and evaluating regularly; and disseminate results through sharing, honoring and amplifying success stories.
ORIGINALITY/VALUE
Few theoretical treatments and demonstration cases are currently available on commonly used models of quality improvement from business, manufacturing and other fields that have potential value in improving education systems internationally. This paper fills this gap by elucidating one promising approach. By facilitating a comparison of the positive deviance approach to other quality improvement approaches treated in this volume, the paper provides added value.
Author/creator
Date
In publication
Series
Volume
25
Issue
1
Pages
109-124
Resource type
Research/Scholarly Media
Resource status/form
Published Text
Scholarship genre
Theoretical
Methodological
Keywords
IRE Approach/Concept
Featured case/project
Open access/full-text available
No
Peer reviewed
Yes
Other related resources/entities
Citation
LeMahieu, P. G., Nordstrum, L. E., & Gale, D. (2017). Positive Deviance: Learning From Positive Anomalies. Quality Assurance in Education, 25(1), 109–124. https://doi.org/10.1108/QAE-12-2016-0083
Linked resources
Filter by property
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Quality Assurance in Education [Special Issue]: Working to Improve: Seven Approaches to Quality Improvement in Education | ||
 Quality Assurance in Education: Working to Improve: Seven Approaches to Quality Improvement in Education [Special Issue] |
Special Issue/Series |
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Quality Improvement Approaches: Positive Deviance |
Blog Post |
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