Chapter 1: Critical Perspectives on Research Methodologies in Early Childhood Education

Early childhood education is a field that serves children whose ages range from birth to approximately eight-years-old. Its purposes include education, child care, and the nurturing of development. All early childhood education programs differ in age range, educational range, experiences, and physical settings. A number of early childhood programs focus on the caring function; other programs focus on the educational function; and others focus on the taking care of infants and allowing them to develop naturally at their own rate. In addition, some programs focus on serving diverse children, for example, children with disabling conditions, children who are gifted, children who are at-risk, or children for whom English is not their initial language. Consequently, early childhood education programs may differ in age, children’s characteristics, purpose, and institutional sponsorship. The research outcomes of studies in early childhood education have provided knowledge that guides the focus in these programs.