University Research Report: Early Childhood Setting Study

This report provides a comprehensive literature review on research in early childhood settings, particularly focusing on ethical considerations and research methodologies when working with children, including those with autism spectrum disorder. The report explores various research methods, such as surveys and qualitative approaches, and highlights the importance of informed consent, participant protection, and fairness in research practices. It addresses key ethical issues, including the need to protect children's well-being, maintain confidentiality, and ensure that research activities do not disrupt children's routines. The findings emphasize the significance of transparency in research processes and the relevance of these findings within the Aotearoa New Zealand early childhood education context. Furthermore, the report underscores the importance of incorporating the voices of children in research, ensuring their dignity, and recognizing their agency and competence. The report also discusses the role of teachers and the need for training in understanding the needs of children with autism. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of ethical guidelines and the dissemination of research findings to the professional community to improve practices in early childhood education.

Running head: RESEARCH IN EARLY CHILDHOOD SETTING
Research in Early Childhood Setting
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

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Introduction
Research in Education refers to collection and the analysis of the data which is related
to educational field. Research can involve different kinds of methods. Research can involve
different educational aspects like student learning, teacher method and teacher training.
Educational researchers agree on the fact that the process of research should be systematic.
Every country has developed early childhood education for the children who are below age of
that of the compulsory schooling. Research pertaining to early childhood has developed in the
recent age. This literature review talks about the fact that the students who have autism have
higher rate pertaining to social engagement and parent training can pave the way for social
along with cognitive outcome. The focus area of the research is whether the individual
growth of the child is impacted by variables like the quality of the intervention. The rationale
for choosing this topic is that there has been an increase in the number of children who are
suffering from autism disorder in the present age and the importance of early childhood
programs in helping them in assimilating in the society. This literature review focuses on the
issues the dilemma that are raised in the process of research process within the framework of
early childhood setting.
Themes and findings of articles
A finding of the article is that the participants should not be disturbed or harmed by
the procedures of the research and they should not suffer anxiety owing to participation
within the research. According to Brodzeller et al. (2018), the participants should be clearly
informed and provided the description of research. The consent of the participants should be
taken without any kind of undue pressure. The research participants should be given right of
withdrawing at any time. It has been stated by Goodall (2014) that debriefing procedures can
be made use of in the event of completion of study. There can be doubts in relation to effect

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of the research procedure and active steps can be made use of for protecting the research
participants from any kind of harm. The theme of the article revolves around the fact that due
steps should be taken to take the informed consent of children when they are involved in the
process of study. The test results should be kept confidential that can help in saving integrity
of the research. There are some research projects that take up the time of the participant away
from that of the regular teaching then care should be taken for ensuring the fact that research
project does not act as a barrier in the educational progress of the participant. The theme of
the article is that there should be fairness when carrying out research with the young children.
It has been argued by Brodzeller et al. (2018) that the people in the population should not be
included owing to the factor that they are easily accessible. The questions that would be
asked in the course of the study should be relevant for community participating in study.
According to Researchgate.net. (2017) that the practitioners should be able to cope with
situations when the moral principles come to be in conflict with each other when dealing with
the children suffering from autism disorder. The decision pertaining to cases should not be on
the basis of personal preference but on the basis of reasoned moral judgement. The theme of
the article is that proper ethical means should be adopted in researching with the young
children who have autism spectrum disorder (Earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au., 2016). The
right and the dignity of the children should be considered when carrying out research with the
young children suffering from autism spectrum disorder. The children should be viewed in
that of their own right and they should be given a proper voice pertaining to research.
According to Goodall (2014), the systematic information that is obtained from the children
can help in strengthening laws and the policies that can advance the factor of human dignity.
The ethical considerations in the present age have shifted from focussing on the aspect of
protectionist discourses that positioned children as being vulnerable to the recognising of
agency and competency of children.

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Research Methods and Ethical requirements of the researchers
The research method of the article “The usage and perceived outcomes of early
intervention and early childhood programs for young children with autism spectrum disorder”
is the primary method (survey) (Hume, Bellini & Pratt, 2005). The research method of the
article “Supporting Teachers' journeys towards full inclusion of students on the autism
spectrum in New Zealand” is the qualitative research method (Goodall, 2014). The research
method of “Interventions and Adaptations for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in
Inclusive Early Childhood Settings” is the secondary method that helped in the gathering of
information (Brodzeller et al., 2018). The research method used in the article, “He waka eke
noa: A case study of active participation for a disabled child in an inclusive early childhood
community of practice” is the primary method that helped in collecting information” is the
primary method (Researchgate.net., 2017). The research method in “Embracing everybody”
is the primary method (Earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au., 2016). There should be due
considerations that should be taken in the event of planning the process of research within the
framework of early childhood setting. The research topic along with the questions should be
appropriate for the children who are participating in the process of research. The ethical
requirements were met by the researchers as the procedure of gathering data were suited to
the age group of the young children. There are some research topics that are not appropriate
for the children who are under the age of five. There are some research plans that can harm
the harm the self-esteem of the children. The researchers were sensitive to that of needs of
children who have autism that can help in the undertaking of research. There are various
kinds of needs of children like privacy, interest, fatigue and safety (Brodzeller et al., 2018).
The teacher researchers had prepared beforehand and they should be aware of non-verbal
along with verbal means with the help of which the children can withdraw the consent. The
research activity should be good for the time of the teachers and it should have merits for the

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centre. The children should be provided with name along with contact details of research
institute and they should be made aware about the partners who are involved in the process of
research. The researcher should make use of oral explanations for explaining to the child
interviewee how that person can talk with researcher after the process of interview is
complete. The researcher should obtain the advice from the psychologist of the child that can
help them in understanding the questions that can traumatise the young children. There
should be special training modules related to the rights of the children. Risk management
plan should be established for the researcher along with that of the participating children.
Contingency plans should be prepared that can enable the withdrawal of the children who are
in intolerable circumstance. The children suffering from autism disorder can be helped by
providing their parents with training that can help in the inclusion of these children within the
ambit of early childhood education (Cullen, Hedges & Bone, 2009). The children suffering
from autism disorder should receive the recreation therapy that can help in deriving greater
social outcome that can help in meeting the ethical requirement of the researcher.
Consultation services can be used for the children suffering from autism disorder that can
help in bringing about cognitive outcome for the children. The article talks about the
importance of workshop that focuses on the real-lived experiences that can help the teachers
in understanding the needs of the children who are suffering from that of autism spectrum
disorder. According to Goodall, (2014), the teachers being able to view a problem from the
perspective of the children suffering from autism can help them in finding the solutions that
would be acceptable for both teacher along with that of the student.
Identification of ethical issues
The researchers should take care of the fact that the activities of the research does not
disrupt the routine or the play of the children. The researchers should be prepared for
intervening in the situation when the well-being of the children is compromised. The ethical

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issues are raised when the researchers are not sensitive to that of needs of the children. In the
event of outside researchers being involved, the teachers should play an important role in
enlisting the participants. Those who are involved in the research exercise should be aware of
purpose and the methods before becoming involved in the process of researching the
children. The ethical issues come to the forefront when the confidential information
pertaining to the research participant are given out to the other researchers without
permission of the participants. The research assistant should possess the important parts
pertaining to ethical guidelines that can help them in conducting the research in the
framework of early childhood setting. The New Zealand Association for Research in
Education has stated that the researchers have a duty of caring for the research participants. It
states that researcher should be able to think about the capacity of the participants that can
make them capable of giving assent. Real purpose pertaining to study should be made clear to
the children in that of early education of the children. The educational research within early
childhood education should disseminate findings of the research to that of the professional
community constituency. The ethical guidelines in relation to New Zealand Association for
Research in Education deal with the reporting of the educational research on the basis of
moral foundation (Hume, Bellini & Pratt, 2005). The researcher should be able to develop
relationship on the basis of mutual respect in the arena of early childhood setting. There
should be a spirit pertaining to open enquiry in relation to the research that is accrued out
with the children. The teachers should make the classroom observations that can help them in
recording the details that can help them in the analysis of the social constructions in relation
to autism disorder. Activity theory can come to be useful for the children suffering from
autism disorder as it can help in addressing the needs of the specific individuals. The article
talks about the importance of social relational approach that can help in the inclusion of
children suffering from autism spectrum. The barriers should be recognised and they should

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be dismantled that can help in the aspect of early childhood education in relation to children
suffering from autism spectrum.
Relevance of findings of Aotearoa New Zealand early childhood education context
In the event of undertaking research within the setting of early childhood, visual data
like photographs and the video should be made confidential and it should be fair for the
participants. Consent should be negotiated pertaining to visual data that would be used in
lectures along with Power point presentations. Researchers should be able to consider that
children can be provided with empowerment that can ensure their participation in the aspect
of validation along with dissemination process. Children are asked to take the photographs
and they are often the subject of the photographs that are taken by researcher. According to
Earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au. (2016), sensitive thought along with careful negotiation
should be involved when using the images of the children which feature the children along
with the young people. The ethical considerations that has to be taken into account is whether
teaching team can use the data of the researcher for serving other purposes. The findings
reveal that the researchers should be transparent in the manner of interpretation, validation
and the dissemination of the research. The researchers should make sure of the fact that
participants are provided with support in relation to findings of research. The findings of the
highlight the fact that the parents and the families of the children should be informed
regarding findings of study. Second round of consent process can be made use of in the arena
of educational research related to early childhood. The research mentors should have clear
contractual agreement with that of the teachers. The early childhood educators can have
various roles within that of the small community of New Zealand. He questions that should
be considered while carrying out the research pertains to whether the potential participants
are getting the time for consideration of the project. The postgraduate researchers should be
able to meet the institutional research requirements that cannot be demanded by participating

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settings. Research has brought out the fact that the children who have autism should be
included with the mainstream children that can also indirectly help in benefitting these
children who have disability. The educators can dismantle the barriers by the alteration of the
environment in relation to early childhood education. Educators should have thorough
understanding of the individual strengths and interests of the children suffering from autism
disorder that can greatly help in the assimilation of these children in the classroom.
The importance of the finding lie in the fact that it stresses how the early childhood
educators should provide the children suffering from autism disorder with the right to
participate within the curriculum experiences that can help them in assimilating in the wider
society. Autism Spectrum Disorder affects the ability of children pertaining to
communication. The articles relevance is owing to the fact that it talks about the importance
of visual support that can help the children who are suffering from autism in learning. It has
been argued by Researchgate.net. (2017) that the interventions should be implemented within
the framework of inclusive environment that can help the children in participating with that
of their peers who do not have the disabilities. The individual needs of the children should be
met while carrying out the research. The children should be able to receive stimulating
attention from that of the adults. The children should be explained the reasons for
anonymising the research participants in the publications. The researchers should ask the
children to choose the pseudonyms for overcoming problem. Confidentiality should be
explained to children in a manner that they would be able to understand that can help in
protecting the children. The researchers should know how to handle a particular scenario
before embarking on research with that of the young children. Participatory research practices
are becoming increasingly popular in the present age. Researchers should consider
disadvantages along with advantages of participatory research method for the children along
with young people. The researchers should think whether they are appropriate for the children

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and whether children should be excluded from participatory activity owing to physical
disability or that of learning disability (Denzin & Giardina, 2016). The principle of that of
informed consent states that consent should be taken at the time of comprehending the
participant. The abilities of the children are often underestimated and researchers should
obtain consent from that of the children by informing them. The procedure of the study
should be explained to the children in a concrete manner and it should be related to
immediate environment of the child. The new and the inexperienced researchers should make
preparation and they should initially work under supervision while carrying out research with
young children. Professional development can help the teacher in developing role of the
researcher and peer review can be helpful in providing the right amount of support for the
teachers. The schools should have ethics committees that can help in supervising research
when carrying out research with the young children (Goodall, 2014). The teacher can play an
important role in helping the children blend with the process of research. The educational
research that is carried out with the young children should be done within small groups that
can prove to be useful in carrying out research. Place along with process of interview should
be negotiated with children in the process of carrying out the research.
Conclusion
Educational research is indicative of collecting and analysing of data which is related
to that of the field of education. The different aspects that can be covered during the research
are that of teacher method and the teacher training. Research participants should not get
harmed by research and they should not undergo anxiety because of participation in the
research process. The children should be clearly informed and provided with description
regarding research. Consent of participants should always be taken into account and there
should not be any kind of undue pressure. The children at the time of participation in research
should be able to withdraw and the topic of research should be pertinent in relation to the

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children. The procedure of that of gathering of data should be on the basis of age group of
children. The research plans harming self-esteem of the children should not be practiced
within framework of that of early education setting. It is important that visual data is made
confidential and there should be fairness in relation to participants of research. There should
be consent in relation to visual data that are used at the time of lectures along with that of
power point presentations. It can be concluded that the inclusive environment should be made
receptive to that of needs of children that can help them in finding a pathway that can ensure
their success. The interventions should be implemented with a lot of fidelity that can be
useful for the children suffering from autism spectrum disorder.

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References:
Brodzeller, K. L., Ottley, J. R., Jung, J., & Coogle, C. G. (2018). Interventions and
Adaptations for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Inclusive Early
Childhood Settings. Early Childhood Education Journal, 46(3), 277-286.
Cullen, J., Hedges, H., & Bone, J. (2009). Planning, undertaking an disseminating research in
early childhood settings: An ethical framework. New Zealand Research in Early
Childhood Education, 12, 109.
Denzin, N. K., & Giardina, M. D. (2016). Introduction: Ethical futures in qualitative research.
In Ethical futures in qualitative research (pp. 9-44). Routledge.
Earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au. (2016). Embracing everybody. Retrieved from
http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/our-publications/australasian-journal-
early-childhood/index-abstracts/ajec-vol-41-no-2-june-2016/embracing-everybody-
approaching-inclusive-early-childhood-education-child-labelled-autism-social-
relational-understanding-disability/
Educationcouncil.org.nz. (2018). Our Code, Our Standards | Education Council. Retrieved
from https://educationcouncil.org.nz/content/our-code-our-standards
Goodall, E. (2014). Supporting Teachers' journeys towards full inclusion of students on the
autism spectrum in New Zealand. Journal of the International Association of Special
Education, 15(2), 133-141.
Hume, K., Bellini, S., & Pratt, C. (2005). The usage and perceived outcomes of early
intervention and early childhood programs for young children with autism spectrum
disorder. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 25(4), 195-207.

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Nzare.org.nz. (2010). New Zealand Association For Research in Education. Retrieved from
http://www.nzare.org.nz/portals/306/images/Files/NZARE
%20EthicalGuidelines2010.pdf
Researchgate.net. (2017). He waka eke noa: A case study of active participation for a
disabled child in an inclusive early childhood community of practice. Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317057900_He_waka_eke_noa_A_case_stu
dy_of_active_participation_for_a_disabled_child_in_an_inclusive_early_childhood_c
ommunity_of_practice