Research Methods for Studying Young Children: (Contemporary Perspectives in Early Childhood Education)

Research Methods for Studying Young Children is a volume developed to bring together in one source research techniques that researchers can use to collect data in early childhood education. These studies can then contribute to the knowledge in early childhood education. To conduct valid and reliable studies, researchers need to be knowledgeable about numerous research methodologies. The volume primarily addresses researchers, scholars, and graduate or advanced undergraduate students who are preparing to conduct research in early childhood education. It provides them with the intellectual resources that will help them join the cadre of early childhood education researchers and scholars. The purpose of the volume is to prepare and guide researchers to achieve a high level of competence and sophistication, to avoid past mistakes, and to benefit from the best researchers in the field. This volume is also useful to professors of education who conduct research and prepare teachers in early childhood education. It aims to improve the researchers’ conceptual and methodological abilities in early childhood education. Thus, the volume can be used as a guide that focuses on important contemporary research methodologies in early childhood education and describes them to offer researchers the necessary information to use these methodologies appropriately.  This volume is designed to be used by students of early childhood education at all levels of professional development as well as mature scholars who want to conduct research in areas needing more in-depth study. It is hoped that Research Methods for Studying Young Children will serve the needs of many individuals in the research community. Scholars seeking the current state of research knowledge in various areas should find this volume useful. Similarly, practitioners who are trying to seek knowledge of research and its practical implications should find this volume helpful as well. The volume’s chapters present several research methodologies to address a variety of hypotheses or research questions that will contribute to the knowledge of the field in early childhood education. 

Table of Contents:
PART I. INTRODUCTION Chapter 1. Research Methods in Early Childhood Education; Olivia N. Saracho PART II. EFFICIENT RESEARCH METHODS Chapter 2. A Framework of Scientific Methods for Developing Classroom-base Practices, Pedagogies, Programs, and Policies; Douglas H.Clements and Julie Sarama  Chapter 3. The Ethics of Research with Young Children; Priscilla Alderson Chapter 4. Consequential Validity of Early Childhood Assessments; Yixiao Dong and Douglas H. Clements PART III. CONTEMPORARY QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS Chapter 5. Grounded Theory; Robert Thornberg, Lisa M. Perhamus, and Kathy Charmaz Chapter 6. Case Study Research: Identifying Challenges; Susan Hill Chapter 7. Action Research with Children; Kylie Smith Chapter 8. The Delphi Method: A Procedure Used to Elicit Opinions of Experts; Olivia N. Saracho Chapter 9. Using the Critical Incident Technique in Early Childhood Research; Beth S. Rous Chapter 10. Using Drawings as a Research Method in Early Childhood Education; Linda J. Harrison PART IV. THE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT: FROM INITIATION TO PUBLICATION Chapter 11. Reading, Understanding, and Evaluating Research; Amanda M. Moon, Angela C. Baum, and Paula McMurray-Schwarz. Chapter 12. Basic Procedures for Writing Scientific Research Articles; Olivia N. Saracho Chapter 13. Writing for Publication on Research with Young Children; Nancy Dixon PART V. CONCLUSION Chapter 14. Methodical Experiences on Research Practices in Early Childhood Education; Olivia N. Saracho

About the Author :
Olivia N. Saracho is a professor of education in the Department of Teaching, Learning, Policy, and Leadership at the University of Maryland, USA.