Early Childhood Education PDF

RUNNING HEAD: EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION 0
EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION 1
Table of Contents
Question-1........................................................................................................................................2
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Research paradigm and method.......................................................................................................2
Annotated bibliography...................................................................................................................3
Data collection techniques...............................................................................................................4
Strengths and limitations of literature review..............................................................................6
Strengths and limitations of case study technique.......................................................................6
Question-2........................................................................................................................................6
Introduction......................................................................................................................................6
Research problem............................................................................................................................7
Research Question...........................................................................................................................7
Research design...............................................................................................................................7
Appropriateness of research method...............................................................................................8
Quality of methods and procedure...................................................................................................8
Results..............................................................................................................................................9
Comparison of Qualitative research methods..................................................................................9
References......................................................................................................................................11

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION 2
Question-1
Introduction
Early childhood education is a branch of education theory that relates to the teaching of
children from birth up to the age of eight. Early childhood, defined as the period from birth to
eight years old, is a time of remarkable growth with brain development at its peak (Turner,
Cawley, Richard, Kirk, & Stone, 2018). In this report, “what are early childhood teacher’s
attitudes towards STEM education?” research question is selected. The discussion is made on
describing the research paradigm and method which is best suited in answering the research
question. The annotated bibliography which is relevant to the chosen research question is also
analyzed.
Research paradigm and method
The research paradigm and method is the approach which help the researchers to get the
accurate information and to answer the question in efficient manner. Therefore the selection of
paradigm is done based on the method which is used for achieving the objective of performing
the research (Bakken, Brown, & Downing, 2017). For answering the present question which
includes “what are early childhood teacher’s attitudes towards STEM education?” constructivism
research paradigm is considered efficient to get the aim and answer of the teacher’s opinions and
perception. It is because this theory is based on the observation and studying or reviewing the
different perceptions and attitudes of the authors regarding the particular matter (Burchinal,
2018).
In this research question to get the findings of the authors about the perception of
teacher’s different methodologies is used in the different study so that answer will be get through
adopting the critical analysis method. This paradigm best suited for describing the information
and activities occurred in the real word that is early childhood teachers perception regarding the
education is the problem or the concern involved in the real world (Wood & Hedges, 2016). In
this descriptive research design is used because of describing the complete information through
the analysis and evaluation. The other approach is research method, to find the accurate and valid

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION 3
answer secondary method in which articles are reviewed to understand the research and study
conducted by them regarding the attitude towards STEM education of the early childhood
teachers. It is because early childhood teachers believe that there are differences about the age,
experience as well as gender to provide the STEM education in the early childhood centers
(Saracho, 2017). This secondary method is selected due to defining the core of the subject matter
and to evaluate the related aspects include with this subject area.
Annotated bibliography
Karoly, L. A. (2016). The economic returns to early childhood education. The Future of
Children, 43(3), 37-55
The early childhood education teachers adopted different strategies to educate the
children it is because teachers revealed that it the most important time period of the children
between the birth to eight years to develop and grow (Karoly, 2016). Therefore, it is difficult for
the teachers to teach the children according to their interest and subject area as well as to satisfy
themselves regarding the selection of appropriate technique of teaching. The objective of the
study is to understand the teacher’s attitudes about the STEM education. The study was
conducted in Singapore it is because not much of the research is conducted in this region. For
conducting the research interpretivism philosophy is selected and information gathering is done
through conducting the interview from the respondents that is primary method is selected for
data collection (Karoly, 2016).
The 89 early childhood teachers were selected from different schools and centers. For
analyzing the data pilot testing method is used so that data is evaluated in effective manner.
From the analysis, it is revealed that teachers believed that there should be increase the education
of the “science, technology, engineering and mathematics” because of increasing the capabilities
of the children to develop their problem solving and intellectual skills since childhood (Karoly,
2016). The findings are relevant for the Singapore context because majority of the teachers in
Singapore are agreed with raise in the role of STEM education in classroom.