A volume in Contemporary Perspectives in Early Childhood Education
Series Editor Olivia N. Saracho, University of Maryland The Handbook of
Research Methods in Early Childhood Education brings together in one
source research techniques that researchers can use to collect data for
studies that contribute to the knowledge in early childhood education.
To conduct valid and reliable studies, researchers need to be
knowledgeable about numerous research methodologies. The Handbook
primarily addresses the researchers, scholars, and graduate or advanced
undergraduate students who are preparing to conduct research in early
childhood education. It provides them with the intellectual resources
that will help them join the cadre of early childhood education
researchers and scholars. The purpose of the Handbook is to prepare and
guide researchers to achieve a high level of competence and
sophistication, to avoid past mistakes, and to benefit from the best
researchers in the field. This Handbook is also useful to university
professors who conduct research and prepare student researchers in early
childhood education. It aims to improve the researchers' conceptual and
methodological abilities in early childhood education. Thus, the
Handbook can be used as a guide that focuses on important contemporary
research methodologies in early childhood education and describes them
to offer researchers the necessary information to use these
methodologies appropriately. This Handbook is designed to be used by
students of early childhood education at all levels of professional
development as well as mature scholars who want to conduct research in
areas needing more in-depth study. It is hoped that this Handbook of
Research Methods in Early Childhood Education will serve the needs of
many in the research community. Scholars seeking the current state of
research knowledge in various areas should find this volume useful.
Similarly, practitioners who are trying to seek knowledge of research
and its practical implications should find this volume helpful as well.
This Handbook with its individual chapters presents several research
methodologies to address a variety of hypotheses or research questions
that will contribute to the knowledge of the field in early childhood
education.
