Units
Research in Early Childhood Education
Unit code: EAB016
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This unit aims to foster critical understanding of research with young children. The unit will provide opportunities for students to become lifelong learners and effective communicators.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 1 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
Contemporary research in early childhood is conducted in home, school and community contexts. Early childhood research is a dynamic and interdisciplinary field of investigation in which important questions about children and early childhood education and care can be addressed. This unit introduces you to a range of conceptual approaches and research contexts for early childhood research. This unit encourages you to be a critical consumer of research. It challenges you to consider yourself as a scholar-teacher-researcher so that you can understand and participate in research in informed and ethical ways.
Aims
The aim of this unit is to develop your understanding of the purpose and nature of research in the field of early childhood education and care.
Objectives
On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research designs and research paradigms used in early childhood research. [QCT Standard 10]
2. Identify and respond to issues in early childhood research. [QCT Standard 10]
3. Plan, conduct and follow-up early childhood research ethically and effectively, and participate in research by generating and analysing research data from a selected conceptual framework. [QCT Standards 1 & 10]
4. Demonstrate ability to retrieve, evaluate and present research information using appropriate technologies and displaying sophisticated standards of communication. [QCT Standard 10]
5. Provide evidence of attaining acceptable standards of academic, professional and personal spoken and written English language literacies relating to this unit. [QCT Standard 2]
Content
This unit includes the following topics related to early childhood research: principles for identifying and critically reflecting upon high quality research; contexts for research; theoretical approaches and research paradigms; research designs; research rigor; research report writing; and research ethics.
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
The unit will incorporate a range of teaching and learning strategies including team teaching, keynote lectures, panel discussions, online materials, as well as participative large-group discussion and small-group interaction. Your learning will be enhanced by weekly readings as specified in the unit material. Both assessment tasks are designed to help you develop your capacity to engage in teacher research.
Assessment
Assessment in this unit is both formative and summative. Formative assessment will be provided through multiple opportunities for reflection, discussion, and feedback including written comments on initial assignment work.
There are two items of summative assessment in the unit: a poster presentation and a research project.
Assessment name:
Professional Plans
Description:
A research proposal providing a conceptual foundation for your research project will document your planning
Length 1500 - 2000 words or equivalent
Relates to objectives:
1, 2, 3 & 5.
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Group
Due date:
Mid-Semester
Assessment name:
Research Paper
Description:
A research project involving generation and analysis of a piece of research will be conducted and written up as a research paper.
Relates to objectives:
1, 2, 3 & 5.
Weight:
60%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Group
Due date:
End-Semester
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
Text
There is no prescribed text for this unit.
References
Creswell, J. W. (2012). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.
Farrell, A. (Ed.). (2005). Ethical research with children. North Ryde, NSW: Open University Press/McGraw Hill Education.
Fleer, M. (2000). An early childhood research agenda: Voices from the field. Canberra, ACT: Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs.
Kervin, L., Vialle, W., Herrington, J., & Okely, T. (2006). Research for educators. South Melbourne, VIC: Cengage Learning.
MacNaughton, G., Rolfe, S., & Siraj-Blatchford, I. (Eds.) (2010). Doing early childhood research (2nd ed.). St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin
Punch, K.F. (2006). Developing effective research proposals. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Silverman, D. (2005). Doing qualitative research. A practical handbook. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Robert-Holmes, G. (2005). Doing your early years research project: A step-by-step guide. London: Paul Chapman Publishing.
Risk assessment statement
There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with the general conduct of this unit. Workplace health and safety protocols in relation to computer use will apply.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 29-Oct-2012
