WHEN I THINK OF RESEARCH.....

Insights Gained Through This Course:

Throughout this course I have gained insights about research with regards to ethical concerns in early childhood research, useful strategies used to increase validity within a research study, and specific research variables. As stated in “Doing Early Childhood Research: International Perspectives on Theory & Practice” ethical concerns that may arise in early childhood research include obtaining informed consent, deception, confidentiality/privacy, and cultural issues. Validity as it applies to research is defined as a matter of being able to offer as sound a representation of the field of study as the research methods allow. Validity is established through the use of triangulation including (1) data triangulation- the use of a variety of data sources in a study (2) methodological triangulation- the use of multiple methods to study a single problem (3) investigator triangulation- the use of several researchers (4) theory triangulation- the use of multiple perspectives to interpret a single set of data (Mac Naughton, Rolfe, & Siraj-Blatchford, 2010). A variable is interpreted as something subjected to variation. Within research many variables exists including (1) dependant variable-a variable that changes the result of some influence (2) independent variable- a variable that affects change (3) extraneous variables- variables that affect change but are not the main focus in a research study (Lepuschitz, 2012).

Changes in Personal Ideas Regarding Research:

Through this course my personal ideas regarding the nature of doing research has changed as a result of an increase in knowledge of the overall research process. Prior to the start of this course, I assumed research studies were typically conducted through direct observations of behaviors or procedures. With this in mind, the research process appeared to be very formal through structured procedural methods. The information learned within this course has altered my assumption and opinions regarding research studies. I have learned that a research study can take various forms such as direct observations, interviews, or combination of the two. Research studies involving human participants are typically conducted in a familiar environment to the individuals, providing the opportunity to observe natural behavior eliminating rigorous structure.

Lessons Learned Regarding Planning, Designing, and Conducting Research:

Throughout this course I have developed an understanding of essential components needed to produce significant, ethical, quality research. These qualities include selecting a topic, developing a specific research question, considering any ethical concerns that may arise, and designing the research study. The topic selected should be one of interest to the researcher and general population. Once the research topic is selected, a specific research question should be developed to address the topic selected. The research question formulated needs to be specific to enable the topic to be researched, data retrieved, and a detailed explanation provided to interested readers. Ethical concerns specifically consent, confidentiality, and privacy needs to be acknowledge and addressed when planning, designing, and conducting research. Written consent should be obtained from each participant prior to the start of a research study, and confidentiality/privacy as it applies to the study should be explained in detail to each participant. The research designed selected should be one sufficient enough to fully address and observe the research topic selected.

Challenges and Perceptions

Throughout this course I encountered challenges in understanding key research terms highlighted the course text. This challenge was conquered through the completion of “Understanding Research” charts required for each week of the course. These charts reinforced the key term and its definition, and increased my understanding of research in the Early Childhood Field. My perception of early childhood professional has positively increased. This course has increased my awareness of various positions held within the Early Childhood field and the overall contributions of these positions to children’s development, Early Childhood policies, and practices.

Thank you to my fellow classmates who have shared their personal insights regarding Early Childhood Studies. I appreciate everyone’s thoughtful and informational Blog Post. Good Luck to all in your future classes!!!

RESEARCH AROUND THE WORLD

Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA):

http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/index.php

http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/majorreports.php

Current International Research Topics:

1. Strengthening the Capacity of Grandparents in Providing Care to Children Less than 8 Years Old Affected by HIV/AIDS: Created by Lydia Nyesigomue; from Uganda

2. Policies & Programs in Support of Childcare for Working Families: A Case Study of Data Sets & Current Activities in Uganda: Created by Hilda Nankunda; from Uganda

3. Assessment of Interaction and Stimulation in Single-Mother Low Income Families: Created by Chalezamudzi Matola; from Malawi

4. Involving Fathers in Early Childhood Care & Development: Created by Rosemary Hua; from Nigeria

5. Assessment of the Caring Practoices in Two Motherless Babies’ Homes in Abia State, Nigeria and the Development and Delivery of a Nutrition Training Program to the Staff of these Homes to Improve Nutrition of Children in their Care: Created by Olive Akomas; from Nigeria

Surprising Facts/Insights/Noteworthy Information:

**Mortality rates in Nigeria are 183 per 1000 lives births, many which are due to malaria, diarrhea, acute respiratory tract infections, vaccine preventable diseases, typhoid fever malnutrition. To address this issue, the World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund developed an Integrated Management of Childhood Illness within which the “Improvement in Family and Community Practices is a Component”.

** Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) is a program developed by Dr. Avima Lombard and a team of early childhood educators in 1966 to assist and encourage parents to be the primary educators for their young children. Within this program paraprofessional aides visit individual’s homes to work with mothers who in turn use the provided materials as resources to work with their children. HIPPY seeks to support parents who lack sufficient confidence in effectively supporting their children, while enhancing literacy in providing necessary skills, materials, and individual support to mothers.

** Mother Child Education Foundation is a foundation founded by Aysen Ozyesin in 1993as a home based preschool education program who mission is “to make a lasting contribution to society and improve the quality of individuals’ lives through education”. This foundation provides early enrichment to children from disadvantaged environments while strengthening parenting skills. Mother Child Education Foundation aims to increase mother sensitivity to the child’s social and emotional needs while helping to support the child’s social and personal growth.

Research that Benefits Children & Families

Benefits of Creative Play on the Socialization Skills of Preschool Children

In researching this topic I would examine a group of preschool children engaging in creative play for two hours a day for a total of ten days. This direct observation would be followed by a ten day observation of the same group of preschool children during social interaction among peers for two hours a day for a consecutive ten days. At the conclusion of the study the benefits of creative play on the socialization skills of preschool children would be examined.

Positive Contributions Resulting from the Study:

1. Increased understanding of creative play

2. Increased understanding of socialization skills among preschool children

3. Effects of creative play on socialization among preschool children

4. Understanding of preferred style of play of girls versus boys

5. Understanding of socialization among preschool children

6. Helpful techniques to increase socialization among preschool children

Research Simulation

“MOTHER AND CHILD BONDING”

The topic that I chose for my simulation was “Mother and Child Bonding”. This main topic was supported by three related topics which also sparked my interest including (1) Ways to foster mother and child bonding during the infancy stages of development (2) Effects of mother and child bonding on a child’s cognitive development during preschool years (3) Influence of breast feeding on mother and child bonding. My choice in this specific topic was influenced by experience as a first time mother of a sixteen month old son. At the moment that my pregnancy was confirmed I deeply desired to have a strong supportive relationship with my child. During my pregnancy I would frequently read books and magazines which highlighted healthy eating, exercising, and bonding techniques to maintain a healthy pregnancy, foster healthy development of the baby, and establish a prenatal bond with the baby to be sustained after the baby is born. The bonding experience that I had with my son during pregnancy, the first year after birth, and currently as my son continues to develop and grow sparked my interest in the topic of “Mother and Child Bonding”

Construction of the research chart this week has proved to be a beneficial tool in enhancing my understanding when reading research articles. The research chart is an excellent reference to be for the duration of this course to chart and reflect on your growth and understanding of key elements presented in a research article such as complicated terminology, research questions, and refle

SHARING WEB RESOURCES: ZEROTOTHREE

Early Care and Education: Child Care

This section to the Zero to Three website is relevant to my current professional development as it discusses the positive outcomes of early learning experiences. All babies and toddlers need positive early learning experiences to foster their intellectual, social, and emotional development and lay the foundation for school success. Babies and toddlers living in high-risk environments need additional supports to promote their healthy growth and development. All child care arrangements, including family, friend, neighborhood, family, and center based child care have the potential to provide high-quality, individualized, responsive and stimulating experiences that occur within the context of strong relationships and which are embedded in everyday routines (ZEROTOTHREE, 2012).

Infant-Toddler Policy Issues: Child Care

 This section of the website encouraged me to further explore policy issues related to child care within my home state of Delaware. In October 2008, the Delaware Department of Education showed a commitment to professional development with the creation of the new Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood at the University of Delaware. The institute serves as a professional development clearinghouse for practitioners working with young children and their families, both coordinating and collaborating with current providers of professional development. To launch the institute, the University of Delaware received a 3 year $2.4 million grant from the Department of Education, funded primarily with federal Child Care and Development Block Grant dollars. The new institute officially opened on Novemenber1, 2008 (ZEROTOTHREE, 2012).

Politicians Support for the Early Childhood Field:

Early Head Start and the Child Care and Development Fund were established to provide high-quality early care and education programs as protective buffers against the multiple adverse influences that may hinder a child’s development in all domains (ZERO TO THREE, 2012).

Early Head Start- The only federal program designed to improve the early education experiences of low income infants and toddlers. The program’s mission is to support healthy prenatal outcomes and enhance the intellectual, social, and emotional development of infants and toddlers to promote later success in school and life (ZERO TO THREE, 2012).

Child Care and Development Fund- A block grant that provide funds to help improve the quality and supply of child care for low income children and their families. Through the use of subsidies the Child Care and Development Fund help working parents make informed choices about the most appropriate child care for their children. The infant-toddler set-aside of Child Care and Development Fund, has helped states focus on the unique needs of infants and toddlers by investing in specialized infant-toddler provider training, providing technical assistance to programs and practitioners, and linking compensation with training and demonstrated competence. Despite modest increases in federal child care funding, CCDF funds are insufficient to serve all eligible children (ZEROTOTHREE, 2012).

GETTING TO KNOW INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS

PODCAST: TJ SKALSKI

My chosen podcast participant is TJ Skalski a Principal of the Mother Earth’s Children’s Charter School which is the first indigenous charter school in Canada. TJ is originally from the Blood Reserve a raised in southern Alberta. She eventually left southern Alberta to complete her education including her Master’s degree.

During TJ’s podcast she discusses her start as a Principle of the Mother Earth’s Children’s Charter School in addition to specific challenges she faced with her new career. Out of 13 charter schools located in Canada, the Mother Earth’s Children’s Charter School is the only school with an indigenous focus. TJ describes her first year as a Principal of the Mother Earth’s Children’s Charter School as “hell”. Prior to TJ’s arrival there were 5 different principles within the past five years. The turnover rate among principals within the school was outrageous considering the fact that the school had only been open for five years.

The start of TJ’s new career as a Principal of the Mother Earth’s Children’s Charter School made her the first principal to maintain that position for one consecutive year. It took TJ 2 years to learn about the evolution of the school and develop an understanding of the school’s mission. The Mother Earth’s Children’s Charter School prides itself on creating a community in which culture and language is placed at the forefront.

TJ stated that she believes that family culture and language is essential to the survival of people. TJ stated that family values are essential qualities missing the lives of children within the current generation, leaving many feeling trapped between family culture and “dominate” culture. As a Principal of the Mother Earth’s Children’s Charter School TJ strives to build dreams and hope for children while inspiring children to do more with their lives.

CHINA POVERTY INSIGHTS

1. Between 4-8% of the urban population live in poverty, equating to 15-31 million people.

2. 4.2 Million Chinese children live in absolute poverty while 8.7 million live in disadvantaged conditions.

3. Recent studies suggest that health and education reforms reduce poor families’ ability to make use of these vital services.

1. Study in Beijing, the richest city in China, found that 75% of poor families could not afford all children’s education cost such as tuition and stationary.
2. 50% of families living in Shanghai had no medical insurance due to families’ inability to afford the expensive cost.

SHARING WEB RESOURCES

ZERO TO THREE: NATIONAL CENTER FOR INFANTS TODDLER, AND FAMILIES

http://www.zerotothree.org/

 Organization Focus: ZERO TO THREE is a national nonprofit that inform, trains and supports professionals, policymakers and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers. ZERO TO THREE envisions a society that has the knowledge and will to support all infants and toddlers in reaching their full potential. The work of ZERO TO THREE is (1) grounded in research and experience (2) multidisciplinary (3) collaborative (4) culturally responsive (5) clinically informed (6) accessible.

Current Issue/Trend: Fun activities that nurture your baby’s development and his/her connection to you.

ZERO TO THREE March newsletter highlights several toddler capabilities and corresponding actions that can be taken by parents/caregivers to establish a connection with the child.  ZERO TO THREE highlights toddler’s use of language to understand the world around them. Examples of this capability include (1) walking, running, and climbing (2) scribbling with a crayon and building a block tower (3) self feeding. Parent/Caregiver’s corresponding actions include (1) providing the child chances to explore outdoors in safe places (2) encouraging the child to use his/her fingers and hands to explore (3) show the child how to use a spoon and fork.