Research Methods in Early Childhood

'How I wish I'd had a book like this when I first started my career as a researcher into early years education and care! There's something for everyone, and I wholeheartedly commend it to those embarking upon, or wishing to extend their knowledge of, early childhood research' - Professor Emeritus Janet Moyles, Early Years & Play Consultant. 'This text covers an excellent range of issues. In particular, the mix of academic background to topics and practical application will make it an excellent resource for students' - Damien Fitzgerald, Principal Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies, Sheffield Hallam University. This highly engaging and easy-to-read introductory text is tailored to meet the needs of early childhood students. It includes practical examples of research with and about young children and babies, and encourages the reader to take an interactive approach. By offering clear guidance on research methods, as well as advice on how to develop skills as a researcher, the book takes students step-by-step through the process of doing a research project and provides a detailed grounding in the subject. The book covers: an introduction to research methodology; various approaches to research, including action research; designing a questionnaire; carrying out observations and interviews; undertaking a piece of independent research from start to finish; understanding and critiquing the research of others; ethical issues in early childhood research; and real life examples of how to tackle different aspects of research. The authors break down the content into four main sections: Paradigms and Principles; Approaches to Research; Methods; and, Carrying out a Research Project. Each chapter contains learning objectives, case studies, research in focus sections, reflection points, a summary and suggestions for further reading. The language used throughout is accessible, and a full glossary of terms is included. This book is indispensible for all students undertaking research in early childhood. Penny Mukherji and Deborah Albon are both Senior Lecturers in Early Childhood Studies at London Metropolitan University.

ISBN 1847875246   Pages 288 ISBN13 9781847875242 (What's this?)   Weight (grammes) 522 Publisher SAGE Publications Ltd   Published in London Imprint SAGE Publications Ltd   Height (mm) 232 Format Paperback   Width (mm) 186 Publication date 17 Nov 2009   Spine width (mm) 18 DEWEY 305.233072   Academic level Tertiary education DEWEY edition DC22

		Foreword by Janet Moyles
		Key for icons
		Introduction
Pt. 1		Paradigms and Principles
1		Positivist research
2		Interpretivism and post-structuralism
3		Ethics
4		Listening to young children
Pt. 2		Approaches to Research
5		Surveys
6		Ethnography
7		Case studies
8		Action research
Pt. 3		Methods
9		Observation
10		Interviews
11		Questionnaires
12		Using documents and other visual 'texts'
13		Joumaling as a research tool
14		Creative methods for listening to children in research
Pt. 4		Carrying Out a Research Project
15		Research design
16		Reviewing the literature
17		Analysing and presenting data
18		Writing up
		Conclusion
		Glossary
		Bibliography
		Index

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