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Understanding and Doing Early Childhood Research
- Jo Josephidou - The Open University, UK
- Polly Bolshaw - Canterbury Christ Church University, UK
April 2026 | 280 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
This is your essential guide to carrying out research in early childhood and the ideal companion book for anyone studying early childhood studies or early years degrees at undergraduate level.
It takes you through the process from your research question onwards, discussing how to conduct robust research and choose the right method, collect meaningful data, carefully analyse your findings and how to effectively present your finished work.
At every stage, it examines issues of particular importance to early childhood, the careful ethical considerations of research with very young children, being mindful of power dynamics and the importance of including the voice of the child in any outcomes, giving you the knowledge and understanding to succeed on your research journey.
It takes you through the process from your research question onwards, discussing how to conduct robust research and choose the right method, collect meaningful data, carefully analyse your findings and how to effectively present your finished work.
At every stage, it examines issues of particular importance to early childhood, the careful ethical considerations of research with very young children, being mindful of power dynamics and the importance of including the voice of the child in any outcomes, giving you the knowledge and understanding to succeed on your research journey.
Chapter 1: What is research in early childhood and why does it matter?
Chapter 2: Issues of power in early childhood research
Chapter 3: Designing your research project
Chapter 4: Joining a research conversation
Chapter 5: Ensuring we stay ethical
Chapter 6: Taking an autoethnographic approach
Chapter 7: Creative approaches to research
Chapter 8: Centring the voice of the child
Chapter 9: Centring the voice of the very young child
Chapter 10: Conducting observations
Chapter 11: Surveys and questionnaires
Chapter 12: Interviewing adults and children
Chapter 13: Analysing your data
Chapter 14: Forming your argument
Chapter 15: Disseminating your research through a presentation
Chapter 16: Using posters to share your research
Chapter 17: Taking other opportunities for publication
Chapter 18: Conclusion: What’s next?
