Research methods in early childhood: an introductory guide

Acknowledgements

About the authors

Foreword / Janet Moyles

Key for icons

Introduction

Part 1. Paradigms and Principles

1. Positivist research

Finding out about the world around us

What do we mean by a 'paradigm'?

The meaning and origins of positivism

The scientific method

Positivism and the quantitative methodological approach

Experimental method

Correlational method

Validity and reliability

The possibilities and limitations of positivist research

2. Interpretivism and post-structuralism

What do we mean by interpretivism?

How does interpretivism relate to early childhood research?

Qualitative research approaches and methods

Combining qualitative and quantitative research methods

3. Ethics

What do we mean by 'ethics'?

Why is a consideration of ethics important in early childhood research?

What does 'informed consent' mean in the context of early childhood research?

Ethical considerations throughout the research process

Ethical guidelines and legal considerations

4. Listening to young children

The development of interest in listening to young children

Ethical issues when involving young children in research

The child as researcher

Part 2. Approaches To Research

5. Surveys

What is a survey?

Why are surveys used?

Designing a survey

The use of surveys in early childhood

6. Ethnography

What do we mean by 'ethnography'?

Ethnography and early childhood research

Carrying out ethnographic fieldwork

The possibilities and limitations of ethnographic research

7. Case studies

What is a case study?

Historical background

Case study design

Methods that can be used in case studies

Possibilities and limitations of using case studies

8. Action research

What is action research?

Who does action research? The practioner-researcher

The action research cycle

Methods used in action research

The possibilities and limitations of action research

Part 3. Methods

9. Observation

Historical overview

When is it appropriate to use observation in research?

Types of observation

Recording information

10. Interviews

What is an interview?

When to use interviews

Types of interview

Carrying out and recording interviews

11. Questionnaires

What is a questionnaire?

Why are questionnaires used in research?

Types of question used in questionnaire design

Putting a questionnaire together

Administering a questionnaire

Possibilities and limitations of questionnaires

12. Using documents and other visual 'texts'

What is a 'document'?

Why might we use documents in research?

How might we evaluate documentary sources?

13. Journaling as a research tool

The self as a legitimate subject for study

What do we mean by a 'journal'?

Why use journaling as a research tool?

Tools to help develop reflective journal writing

The possibilities and limitations of using journaling as a research tool

14. Creative methods for listening to children in research

Listening to young children in research: developing an inclusive approach

Photography

Drawings

Play as a research strategy

Story-telling and narrative approaches

The Mosaic Approach

Part 4. Carrying Out a Research Project

15. Research design

The stages of planning a research project

Developing an area of investigation, research question or a hypothesis

Choosing a research design

Choosing appropriate methods

Reliability and validity

Choosing a sample

Writing a research proposal

Keeping a research diary or journal

Working with a research supervisor

16. Reviewing the literature

What is a literature review?

Why is it important to conduct a literature review?

What makes for a successful literature review?

How to go about reviewing the literature

17. Analysing and presenting data

What do we mean by analysis?

Getting organised

Quantitative methods of data analysis

Presenting quantitative data

Qualitative methods of data analysis

Presenting qualitative data

18. Writing up

Writing up a research project

Finding a 'voice' when writing up research

Writing the voices of others

Sharing what you have learnt with others

Conclusion

Glossary

Bibliography

Index