Full Description
Exploring a range of unconventional research methods and considering how these can be used effectively in practice, this accessible textbook encourages the use of innovative approaches to conduct research in early years contexts.
Using Innovative Methods in Early Years Research provides key information on a range of non-traditional research methods, and details the strengths, limitations and challenges involved in diverging from more standard research methods. From researching with young children, practitioners and parents, to harnessing the arts, vignettes, identity boxes and narrative accounts, chapters draw on authors' first-hand experiences to highlight the value of 'thinking outside the box' and developing innovative research methods that meet the needs and aims of the researcher, while also involving and empowering research participants. Including detailed information on ethical concerns and the importance of reflexivity, individual and group tasks encourage students to take a critical and well-thought-out approach to conducting independent research.
This will be an invaluable and inspiring resource for high-level undergraduate and postgraduate students as they embark on research projects in the field of early years education and care.
Contents
Acknowledgements List of abbreviations List of Figures About the Contributors Introduction Section one: Research in early education 1 Reflexivity in educational research 2 Ethical considerations in using innovative methods in early education research 3 Going beyond participatory ideology when doing research with young children: the case for ethical permeability and relatability Section two: Researching with children 4 Art as a method of research 5 The use of drawing methods with young children in research 6 Listening to young children in messy, playful research 7 Play-based interview techniques with young children 8 Using the mosaic approach as an ethnographical methodology 9 Using video to research outdoors with young children 10 The use of vignettes in research with young children Section three: Researching with practitioners and parents 11 The use of identity boxes as a research method 12 Narrative inquiry: storying lived experiences with early childhood student-practitioners 13 The use of observations in early childhood research 14 Q-methodology: seeking communalities in perspectives of young children and practitioners Index
