A critical and reflective approach to research methods in early childhood education, linking diverse methodologies to theory and to examples of research in practice around the globe.

Research Methods for Early Childhood Education takes an international perspective on research design and illustrates how research methods are inextricably linked to cultural and theoretical understandings of early childhood, young children’s competences and the purposes of education. The book offers a critical and reflective approach to established and innovative research methods in early childhood education, making links between diverse methodologies, methods and theory, with illustrative examples of research in practice. Each chapter addresses a specific methodological approach, linking the methodology to early childhood education with vignettes as examples of research practice in the global north, south, east and west, and offering practical examples and critical thinking around new theoretical understandings of early childhood across geographical and cultural contexts. The book critically examines: - the role of the researcher - conceptualisations of how research is undertaken; - how early childhood education is understood; - the often sensitive nature of conducting research with young children; - how young children can be included as active research participants. Throughout, the book emphasises ethical and methodological issues that arise from undertaking research in diverse social and cultural contexts. Further reading lists provide a selection of seminal and recent studies that have adopted each methodological approach.

"A critical and research-informed text ... this is a book which will encourage you to critically analyse and reflect on research methods in context." - Early Years Educator

"This book is novel. Written at a time when we need innovative approaches to the study of young children's lives, and during a period with a welcome and increased focus on childhoods in not just rich but also low and middle income countries. The book reflects critically on ECEC research methods of the past and likely future avenues connecting conceptualisations of childhood and young children with a wide range of research methodologies in ECEC. One of the book’s strengths is the fascinating vignettes of research in small and large-scale studies of diverse childhoods in the global north and south." - Iram Siraj, Professor of Child Development and Education, University of Oxford, UK

"This book is timely, challenging and critical in its conceptualization of early childhood education in global contexts [...] Each of the chapters promotes the skills of inter-disciplinary critique, deconstruction, and disruption that are needed to think and see early childhood education in new and different ways [...] This book is informative, critical and inspiring for researchers in early childhood education." - Liz Wood, University of Sheffield, UK