Research Project for Early Childhood Education
Learning Outcomes: Knowledge and Understanding
To be successful you will have to be able to
show a systematic understanding of research methods, methodologies and techniques commonly used in educational research
analyse and critique a range of different theories and perspectives in your chosen area of interest
design, conduct and report on a research project adhering to relevant ethical guidelines
Learning Outcomes: Skills and Attributes
To be successful you will be able to:
Use a range of different tools and approaches to gather, analyse and evaluate data
Synthesise ideas and information to generate proposals for future practice
- Assessment brief:
Research an area of children’s development, learning or play and write a report covering key texts and data in your chosen topic. Based on your reading design a research project which could be used to extend the knowledge in your topic area and plan a relevant activity for children in an early childhood setting.
TOPIC: How does pretend play support peer relationships?
These sections have to be included in your report:
Part 1: review the literature in your topic area
Learning outcome 2
2,000 words
Capture what is already known in your topic area, including key definitions or models
PLAN: SAMPLE LITERATURE REVIEW ATTATCHED.
Introduce
Pretend play
What is pretend play?
Types of pretend play -E.g. Role play, outdoor play
Why is pretend play important in Early Years (Include theorists)?
Peer relationships
What are peer relationships?
Why are peer relationships important?
What are the issues surrounding this?
- Themes- 3-5 readings supporting each theme
Different types of pretend play that encourage peer relationships
Pretend play and gender issues (how girls play with girls and how boys may not be part of that and vice versa)
How practitioners could support peer relationships? (Resources) What could be done to encourage the children build relationships with their peers.
Part 2: report on data from your reading
Learning outcome 4
1,000 words
Analyse at least three data sets (secondary data) and present your learning/new insights
Step 1: Choosing data sets
Tables, graphs, quotes, documents from Ofsted or DfE, policies, statistics, case studies.
Three data sets from the list above must be analysed in accordance to the topic of the essay.
General tips:
Include a range of different data sets or types
Include different ‘voices’ or perspectives
Example: One table, one page of quotes and 2 pages from a guidance/policy document.
Step 2: Organising the data
Quantitative and qualitative analysis.
Sort and group the data types.
Identify similarities and differences, and key words.
Code and develop themes relating to the topic.
General tips:
Show your analysis – highlighting, coding, list text chunks belonging to a code, the mean/mode you calculated, frequency of key words or phrases
Include individual data sets with highlights etc in the appendix.
Step 3: Interpreting the data
Explain the data
Data set by data set basis or across sets with reoccurring themes basis.
2-3 concise statements of how the data relates to the research topics directly.
Step 4: Writing about the data
Explain why we have chosen those data sets.
Briefly explain the analysation, codes and comparisons.
Present findings and for each finding, discuss:
the key statement/insight/learning
some evidence from the data (e.g. a quote or a code with 1-2 examples),
a discussion of the relevance of the finding
compared to other literature
in relation to current practice (yours and/or in general)
implications for practice (what could be changed or improved)
implications for the activity plan
Part 3: design and present a rational for a research project which extends the knowledge in your topic area – EMPTY TEMPLATE AND EXAMPLE OF COMPLETED TABLE ATTATCHED.
Learning outcomes 1 and 3
1,000 words
Base your design on the comparison of two research reports in your topic area
- Complete the template for the table, design the research project.
Analyse and present the findings relating to my topic.
Rational must include
-What are the advantages and implications of using the chosen research method/methodology (eg case study)
-Why are we choosing this methodology and not another type?
included the template for the research project table and an example of an already completed table. Please have a look at this and fill out the template accordingly. My research project is fairly similar to the first section of the completed table.
Part 4: plan an activity for children in an early childhood setting
Learning outcome 5
500 words
Design an activity for the children to participate in relation to my findings and research topic.
Description of the activity
Resources being used
Adult role in the activity. Is this child initiated or adult initiated?
Assessment criteria: How will the children achieve the objectives?
Risk assessment, health and safety, policies and procedures.
Final submission
Submit one document comprising of
Assignment
in four parts
reference list
Appendices
data analysis samples
research design template