Mapping and appraisal of Scandinavian research in early childhood institutions in 2006

TY - ABST

T1 - Mapping and appraisal of Scandinavian research in early childhood institutions in 2006

AU - Jensen, Bente

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - In Scandinavia almost all children from age 3 to 5 and a significant majority of children from1 to 3 are spending the main part of their every day life in Kindergartens and the quality ofthese institutions has been positively evaluated by international assessment (OECD, 2006).However a systematically, research based body of knowledge about this field is still missing,even if such an overview is internationally requested.On behalf of the Danish Evaluation Institute the Danish Clearinghouse for EducationalResearch has conducted a mapping of Scandinavian research in early childhood educationinstitutions (Kampman, et al. 2008). The overall aim of the mapping is, on one hand, to givean overview of existing research within Scandinavian early childhood education research, onthe other hand lacks of research should be identified. The method applied was the analyticaltool provided by The Evidence for Polocy and Practice Information and Co-ordination Center(EPPI). From originally 532 identified hits in different databases, only 53 fulfilled theinclusion criteria to be accepted as research publications.Some of the main findings: Dominating qualitative research, only a few studies combinequalitative and quantitative approaches. Quantitative research is mainly descriptive and only 7studies had an intervention design. The majority of the studies are focusing on staff (39) onlyhalf of the studies (25) had children as their primary objects of investigation. There is a clearlack of longitudinal, comparative studies. More research concerning the relation betweenchildren's every day life in institutions, economical conditions, care, significance of theparents an mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion is needed. A new analysis for the year 2007is already initiated. In the future the results of these mappings will be openly accessible.

AB - In Scandinavia almost all children from age 3 to 5 and a significant majority of children from1 to 3 are spending the main part of their every day life in Kindergartens and the quality ofthese institutions has been positively evaluated by international assessment (OECD, 2006).However a systematically, research based body of knowledge about this field is still missing,even if such an overview is internationally requested.On behalf of the Danish Evaluation Institute the Danish Clearinghouse for EducationalResearch has conducted a mapping of Scandinavian research in early childhood educationinstitutions (Kampman, et al. 2008). The overall aim of the mapping is, on one hand, to givean overview of existing research within Scandinavian early childhood education research, onthe other hand lacks of research should be identified. The method applied was the analyticaltool provided by The Evidence for Polocy and Practice Information and Co-ordination Center(EPPI). From originally 532 identified hits in different databases, only 53 fulfilled theinclusion criteria to be accepted as research publications.Some of the main findings: Dominating qualitative research, only a few studies combinequalitative and quantitative approaches. Quantitative research is mainly descriptive and only 7studies had an intervention design. The majority of the studies are focusing on staff (39) onlyhalf of the studies (25) had children as their primary objects of investigation. There is a clearlack of longitudinal, comparative studies. More research concerning the relation betweenchildren's every day life in institutions, economical conditions, care, significance of theparents an mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion is needed. A new analysis for the year 2007is already initiated. In the future the results of these mappings will be openly accessible.

M3 - Conference abstract for conference

T2 - The 18th EECERA Annual Conference

Y2 - 4 September 2008 through 6 September 2008

ER -