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AEB1610 - GENERAL STUDIES: CURRENT RESEARCH IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION |
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Higher Education
Faculty of Arts, Education and Human Development
School of Education
Campus Melton.
Prerequisite(s) Nil.
Content This unit of study will include: an introduction to qualitative and quantitative research; framing research questions; research design – sampling methods, biased sampling, selective attrition, practice efforts and cohort effects; standardised and non-standardised testing; systematic, naturalistic and structured observations; case studies, descriptive studies, correlational and experimental studies; longitudinal research; how research is used to support a principle or theory to advance knowledge and suggest solutions to problems; strengths and limitations of common research methods – observer influence and bias, validity and reliability of research methods and the use of primary and secondary sources; introduction to interpreting and critically analysing research and drawing implications for early childhood practices; using information technology to conduct literature and research reviews; and ethical obligations and guidelines for research in early childhood.
Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:Discuss different approaches to research design and methodology;Critically review research reports;Critically appraise implications for practice drawn from the research;Use information technology to conduct a review of research reports and literature;Undertake research in an early childhood setting.
Required Reading Goodwin, WL & Goodwin, LD 1996, Understanding qualitative and quantitative research in early childhood education, Teachers College Press, New York.
Recommended Reading Clarke, M 1989, Understanding research in early childhood education, Gordon & Breach Science Publications, New York. Hatch, JA 1995, Qualitative research in early childhood settings, Praegar, Westport, Connecticut. Spodek, B (ed) 1993, Handbook of research on the education of young children, Maxwell Macmillan International, New York. Sproull, NL 1995, Handbook of research methods, Scarecrow Press, Metuchen New Jersey. Wadsworth, Y 1997, Everyday evaluation on the run, Allen and Unwin, New South Wales. National Association for the Education of Young Children. Early Childhood Research Quarterly. Society for Research in Child Development. Child Development Journals.
Websites ERIC documents. www.ericir.syr.edu. Early Childhood Development. www.ecdu.govt.nz. Highscope. www.highscope.org. National Association for the Education of Young Children. www.naeyc.org.
Class Contact Three hours per week or equivalent of lectures, workshops and/or field-based research.
Assessment Critical review of two current research reports on early childhood development or education (1500 words or equivalent) 30%; Research report undertaken in an early childhood setting (1500 words or equivalent) 70%.
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Page Last Updated : 27/11/2008
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