How can qualitative researchers make the case for the value of their work in a climate that emphasizes so-called "scientifically-based research?" What is the future of qualitative research when such approaches do not meet the narrow criteria being raised as the standard? In this timely collection, editor J. Amos Hatch and contributors argue that the best argument for the efficacy of qualitative studies in early childhood is the new generation of high quality qualitative work. This collection brings together studies and essays that represent the best work being done in early childhood qualitative studies, descriptions of a variety of research methods, and discussions of important issues related to doing early childhood qualitative research in the early 21st century. Taking a unique re-conceptualist point of view, the collection includes materials spanning the full range of early childhood settings and provides cutting edge views by leading educators of new methods and perspectives.

What are the fundamental elements of good quantitative and qualitative research? What are the strengths and weaknesses of each approach? What does research offer early childhood education? Are quantitative and qualitative approaches compatible? This book presents the research process and its components in a straightforward, easily accessible manner. Using real examples from early childhood education, authors William L. Goodwin and Laura D. Goodwin "bring to life" for the first time the various methods of research and how they may be studied and applied. They explore the major aspects of both quantitative and qualitative paradigms and techniques, stressing the compatibility and complementary nature of the two approaches that are so often seen as mutually exclusive if not downright contradictory.

How can qualitative researchers make the case for the value of their work in a climate that emphasizes so-called "scientifically-based research?" What is the future of qualitative research when such approaches do not meet the narrow criteria being raised as the standard? In this timely collection, editor J. Amos Hatch and contributors argue that the best argument for the efficacy of qualitative studies in early childhood is the new generation of high quality qualitative work. This collection brings together studies and essays that represent the best work being done in early childhood qualitative studies, descriptions of a variety of research methods, and discussions of important issues related to doing early childhood qualitative research in the early 21st century. Taking a unique re-conceptualist point of view, the collection includes materials spanning the full range of early childhood settings and provides cutting edge views by leading educators of new methods and perspectives.

This second edition invites readers to be informed consumers of both quantitative and qualitative methods in early childhood research. It offers side-by-side coverage and comparison about the assumptions, questions, purposes, and methods for each, presenting unique perspectives for understanding young children and early care and education programs. The new edition includes updated examples and references as well as a new chapter on equity issues in research. By using this book, students will be able to read, evaluate, and use empirical literature more knowledgeably. These skills are becoming more important as early childhood educators are increasingly expected to use evidence-based research in practice and to participate in collecting and analyzing data to inform their teaching.

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.

Offers side-by-side coverage and comparison of qualitative and quantitative methods Includes examples from research examining children's learning, classroom interactions, curriculum, program evaluation, and policy Teaches students how to more knowledgeably read, evaluate, and use empirical literature

The Handbook of Qualitative Research in American Music Education is a resource for music education researchers, music education graduate students, and P-16 music teachers. Qualitative research has become an increasingly popular research approach in music education in the last 20 years and until now there has been no source that clarifies terms, challenges, and issues in qualitative research for music education. This Handbook provides that clarification and presents model qualitative studies within the various music education disciplines. The first section of the text defines qualitative research, provides a history of qualitative research in music education, clarifies epistemological foundations and theoretical frameworks and addresses quality in qualitative research. The approaches of case study, ethnography, phenomenology, narrative, and practitioner inquiry are addressed in the second section. Part III examines data collection and analysis with regard to observations, interviews, documents and multi-media data. Within the 11 chapters in the fourth part of the book authors provide syntheses of qualitative research within various areas of music education (i.e., early childhood, strings, and teacher education). The final part of the book examines technology, rigor, ethics, and the future of qualitative research.