Shaking off the cloak of ‘certainty’ and embracing ethical dilemmas in baby rooms research

Journal article


Powell, S. and Goouch, K. 2017. Shaking off the cloak of ‘certainty’ and embracing ethical dilemmas in baby rooms research. New Zealand Journal of Infant and Toddler Education: The First Years Ngā Tau Tuatahi. 19 (2), pp. 32-37.
AuthorsPowell, S. and Goouch, K.
Abstract

For a decade, we (the authors) have been actively engaged in funded research about Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) for babies and toddlers. In all cases, our work was approved by a Research Ethics Committee (REC). This scrutiny process provides an important mechanism for encouraging researchers to consider carefully the impact of their intentions and for protecting research participants from harm. But it can be simplistic in its requirements, its application and its conceptualisations of research relationships, procedures and outcomes.

This article is not concerned with the shortcomings of RECs; instead, we consider some of the situated and relational ethical considerations that we encountered and which, in our experience, rarely surface in applications for ethical approval. We acknowledge that the very act of researching can do harm or lead to unintended consequences. Through our work, we became aware that research can produce results that may be unpalatable to the researchers and / or the participants.

We have used Tronto’s (2013) five elements of an Ethic of Care to frame our post hoc reflections about researching the principles and practice of early childhood education and care (ECEC) for babies from birth to two in England. We employ the term, ‘palimpsest’ to convey our understanding of the ways in which multiple scripts, including research narratives, are layered upon those working with babies and young children. For example, the imposition of a national curriculum ‘script’ has the potential to usurp pre-existing professional beliefs, knowledge, understanding, identity and autonomy.

KeywordsInfant and toddler education; early childhood education and care; research ethics; Tronto; baby rooms
Year2017
JournalNew Zealand Journal of Infant and Toddler Education: The First Years Ngā Tau Tuatahi
Journal citation19 (2), pp. 32-37
PublisherUniversity of Auckland
ISSN1175-0529
Official URLhttp://www.education.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/research/research-at-faculty/research-publications/first-years.html
FunderEsmee Fairbairn Foundation
Ragdoll Foundation
The Froebel Trust
Publication dates
Print30 Nov 2017
Publication process dates
Deposited18 Jan 2018
Accepted14 Nov 2017
Accepted author manuscript
Output statusPublished
References

Aegerter, I.H. (2012) Episteme, Phronesis and Techne vs. Certification Madness. Testing Observations. Online http://www.ilari.com/blog/files/313f768e4c22f57e1cf95c7b87c0aa72-22.... (accessed 26.7.17)
Clough, P. & Nutbrown, C (2012) A Student’s Guide to Methodology. 3rd edition. London: Sage.
Dahlberg, G. and Moss, P. (2005) Ethics and Politics in Early Childhood Education. London: Routledge.
DCSF (2008) Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage. London: Department for Children, Schools and Families (now Department for Education).
DfES (2003) Birth to Three Matters. A Framework to Support Children in their Earliest Years. Nottingham: DfES Publications.
Foucault, M. (1986) The care of the self: History of sexuality, Vol. 3 (R. Hurley, Trans.) New York: Pantheon Books.
Goouch, K. and Powell, S. (2013) The Baby Room: principles, policies and practice. Maidenhead: Open University Press
Goouch, K. and Powell, S. (2013a) Orchestrating professional development for baby room practitioners: Raising the stakes in new dialogic encounters. Journal of Early Childhood Research, 11(1), 78-92
Hadfield, M., Jopling, M., Needham, M., Waller, T., Coleyshaw, L., Emira, M. & Royle, K. (2010) Longitudinal Study of Early Years Professional Status: an exploration of progress, leadership and impact Final report. London: Department for Education
Hammersley, M. and Traianou, A. (2012) Ethics and Educational Research, British Educational Research Association on-line resource. Online: http://www.learnersfirst.net/private/wp-content/uploads/Ethics-and-E... accessed 27.7.17
Harms, T., Cryer, D. and Clifford, R. M. (2003). Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale: Revised Edition. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
Keller, J., Nelson, S. and Wick, R. (2003) Care Ethics, Service-Learning, and Social Change. Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning Fall 2003, 39-50
Mathers, S., Singler, R. & Karemaker, A. (2012). Improving quality in the early years: a comparison of perspectives and measures. Online http://www.education.ox.ac.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/E... (accessed 26.7.17)
Mercieca, D. 2011. Beyond Conventional Boundaries: Uncertainty in Research and Practice with Children, Amsterdam: Sense Publishers.
Mercieca, D. and Mercieca, D. (2013) Engagement with research: acknowledging uncertainty in methodology, International Journal of Research & Method in Education, 36(3), 228–240
National Evaluation of Sure Start (2010) The Impact of Sure Start Local Programmes on Child Development and Family Functioning: Report of the Longitudinal Study of 5-year-old Children and their Families. London: DfE.
Noddings, N. (1994) Caring: A Feminine Approach to Ethics and Moral Education. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (2012) Starting Strong III - A Quality Toolbox for Early Childhood Education and Care. Paris: OECD Publishing
Roberts, R (2011) Companionable learning: a mechanism for holistic well-being development from birth. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal 19(2), 195-205
Save the Children & The Daycare Trust (2010) Making Work Pay – The Childcare Trap. Online http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/sites/default/files/docs/Making_Wo... (accessed 27.7.17)
Solvason, C. (2013) Embedding Ethicality within Student Practice – Approaches and Dilemmas. TACTYC Reflections (2013). Online: http://tactyc.org.uk/pdfs/Reflection-Solvason2.pdf (accessed 26.7.17)
Sylva, K., Melhuish, E., Sammons, P., Siraj-Blatchford, I. and Taggart, B. (2004) The Effective Provision of Pre-school Education Project: Final Report. London: DfES/ IoE, University of London.
Talmy, S (2011) The Interview as Collaborative Achievement: Interaction, Identity, and Ideology in a Speech Event. Applied Linguistics 32(1): 25–42
Tronto, J.C. (1993) Moral Boundaries: A Political Argument for an Ethic of Care. New York: Routledge.
Tronto, J.C. (2009) Care Ethicists: Interview with Joan Tronto. Ethics of Care. Online https://ethicsofcare.org/joan-tronto/ (accessed 26.7.17)
Tronto, J.C. (2013) Caring Democracy. Markets, Equality and Justice. London: New York University Press.

Permalink -

https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/887yz/shaking-off-the-cloak-of-certainty-and-embracing-ethical-dilemmas-in-baby-rooms-research

  • 189
    total views
  • 70
    total downloads
  • 4
    views this month
  • 4
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Caring for babies and children under three: the contribution of Froebelian principles
Powell, S. and Elfer, P. 2018. Caring for babies and children under three: the contribution of Froebelian principles. in: Bruce, T., Elfer, P., Powell, S. and Werth, L. (ed.) The Routledge International Handbook of Froebel and Early Childhood Practice: Re-articulating Research and Policy. London Routledge. pp. 148-153
Mother’s songs in daycare for babies
Powell, S. and Goouch, K. 2017. Mother’s songs in daycare for babies. in: Bruce, T., Elfer, P. and Werth, L. (ed.) The Routledge International Handbook of Froebel and Early Childhood Practice: Re-articulating Research and Policy. London Routledge.
Des enseignants lecteurs : construire une communauté de lecteurs
Cremin, T., Mottram, M., Collins, F., Powell, S. and Safford, K. 2017. Des enseignants lecteurs : construire une communauté de lecteurs. Caracteres. 56, pp. 19-35.
Mega-sporting events and children’s rights and interests – towards a better future
Dowse, S., Powell, S. and Weed, M. 2017. Mega-sporting events and children’s rights and interests – towards a better future. Leisure Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2017.1347698
Politics and power in the babycare business – Structural aspects of childcare provision: Eine Einführung in das Paradigma - An introduction to the paradigm
Powell, S. and Goouch, K. 2016. Politics and power in the babycare business – Structural aspects of childcare provision: Eine Einführung in das Paradigma - An introduction to the paradigm. in: Maier-Hofer, C. (ed.) Angewandte Kindheitswissenschaften - Applied Childhood Studies Germany Springer. pp. 93-106
Epilogue
Goouch, K. and Powell, S. 2015. Epilogue. in: David, T., Goouch, K. and Powell, S. (ed.) The Routledge International Handbook of Philosophies and Theories of Early Childhood Education and Care Abingdon,UK Routledge. pp. 327-330
Human rights and children's rights
Strauss, D. and Powell, S. 2015. Human rights and children's rights. in: David, T., Goouch, K. and Powell, S. (ed.) The Routledge International Handbook of Philosophies and Theories of Early Childhood Education and Care Abingdon, UK Routledge. pp. 179-188
Introduction
David, T. and Powell, S. 2015. Introduction. in: David, T., Goouch, K. and Powell, S. (ed.) The Routledge International Handbook of Philosophies and Theories of Early CHildhood Education and Care Abingdon, UK Routledge.
Towards mentoring as feminist praxis in early childhood education and care in England
Hammond, S., Powell, S. and Smith, K. 2015. Towards mentoring as feminist praxis in early childhood education and care in England. Early Years: An International Journal of Research and Development. 35 (2), pp. 139-153. https://doi.org/10.1080/09575146.2015.1025370
The baby room project: findings and implications
Goouch, K. and Powell, S. 2015. The baby room project: findings and implications. Early Years Educator. 17 (1), pp. 46-52. https://doi.org/10.12968/eyed.2015.17.1.38
Researching literacy lives: building communities between home and school
Cremin, T., Mottram, M., Collins, F., Powell, S. and Drury, R. 2014. Researching literacy lives: building communities between home and school. London Routledge.
Building communities of engaged readers: reading for pleasure
Cremin, T., Mottram, M., Collins, F., Powell, S. and Safford, K. 2014. Building communities of engaged readers: reading for pleasure. London Routledge.
Seeking Froebel's mother songs in daycare for babies
Powell, S., Goouch, K. and Werth, L. 2013. Seeking Froebel's mother songs in daycare for babies.
International snapshots of provision for babies and young children
Powell, S. and Goouch, K. 2013. International snapshots of provision for babies and young children. in: Pugh, G. and Duffy, B. (ed.) Contemporary Issues in the Early Years London SAGE. pp. 39-54
Young children’s choices for play opportunities – a retrospective critique of a consultation project
Powell, S. and Goouch, K. 2011. Young children’s choices for play opportunities – a retrospective critique of a consultation project.
The baby room: consulting family wish lists
Goouch, K. and Powell, S. 2011. The baby room: consulting family wish lists.
Who in the world cares for babies?
Goouch, K. and Powell, S. 2010. Who in the world cares for babies?
Who cares for babies?
Goouch, K. and Powell, S. 2012. Who cares for babies?
A preliminary report exploring the need for and development of a coherent Personal and Social Education curriculum
Maynard, T., Moss, J., Bowie, R. A., Christie, S., Bainbridge, A., Barnes, J., Blamires, M., Hassett, A., Powell, S., Robinson, S. and Canterbury Christ Church University 2013. A preliminary report exploring the need for and development of a coherent Personal and Social Education curriculum.
The baby room: principles, policies and practice
Goouch, K. and Powell, S. 2013. The baby room: principles, policies and practice. Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK Open University Press.
Foundations of character: methodological aspects of a study of character development in three- to six-year-old children with a focus on sharing behaviours
Arthur, J., Powell, S. and Lin, H. 2012. Foundations of character: methodological aspects of a study of character development in three- to six-year-old children with a focus on sharing behaviours. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal. https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2012.707413
Building communities: teachers researching literacy lives
Cremin, T., Mottram, M., Powell, S. and Drury, R. 2012. Building communities: teachers researching literacy lives. Improving Schools. 15 (2), pp. 101-115.
Whose hand rocks the cradle? Parallel discourses in the baby room
Powell, S. and Goouch, K. 2012. Whose hand rocks the cradle? Parallel discourses in the baby room. Early Years: An International Journal of Research and Development. 32 (2), pp. 113-128. https://doi.org/10.1080/09575146.2012.687865
Orchestrating professional development for baby room practitioners: raising the stakes in new dialogic encounters
Goouch, K. and Powell, S. 2012. Orchestrating professional development for baby room practitioners: raising the stakes in new dialogic encounters. Journal of Early Childhood Research. 11 (1), pp. 78-92. https://doi.org/10.1177/1476718X12448374
Report to the Creative Foundation on the Folkestone Triennial Review
van Vuuren, W., Jackson, A., Powell, S. and Apps, J. 2012. Report to the Creative Foundation on the Folkestone Triennial Review.
Early childhood education and care
Powell, S. 2012. Early childhood education and care. in: Arthur, J. and Peterson, A. (ed.) The Routledge Companion to Education Abingdon Routledge. pp. 171-178
Explorations of interagency working in speech, language and communication in England
Godfrey, R., Powell, S., Soan, S. and Tod, J. 2007. Explorations of interagency working in speech, language and communication in England.
Kent healthy early years pilot
Robinson, S., Meehan, C. and Powell, S. 2010. Kent healthy early years pilot.
Developing character and values in the early years: foundations of character
Arthur, J., Powell, S. and Lin, H. 2010. Developing character and values in the early years: foundations of character. University of Birmingham Learning for Life.
Report to Folkestone Harbour Company: Results of consultations on Folkestone seafront - a new approach
van Vuuren, W., Powell, S. and Apps, J. 2010. Report to Folkestone Harbour Company: Results of consultations on Folkestone seafront - a new approach. Folkestone Harbour Company.
Kent Healthy Early Years pilot: practitioners' and parents' views
Robinson, S., Meehan, C. and Powell, S. 2010. Kent Healthy Early Years pilot: practitioners' and parents' views. Kent County Council Extended Schools Service/East Kent Coastal and West Kent PCTs.
The baby room project
Powell, S. and Goouch, K. 2010. The baby room project.
Healthy early years
Robinson, S., Meehan, C. and Powell, S. 2010. Healthy early years.
''Not allowed to kiss the babies.'' Complexities and contradictions in 'baby room' policies and practice
Powell, S. 2010. ''Not allowed to kiss the babies.'' Complexities and contradictions in 'baby room' policies and practice.
Who cares?
Goouch, K. and Powell, S. 2010. Who cares? Nursery World.
Play and prescription: the impact of national developments in England
David, T., Goouch, K. and Powell, S. 2010. Play and prescription: the impact of national developments in England. in: Kernan, M. and Singer, E. (ed.) Peer Relationships in Early Childhood: Education and Care Abingdon, UK Routledge. pp. 49-60
Beginning at the beginning
David, T. and Powell, S. 2007. Beginning at the beginning. in: Moyles, J. (ed.) Beginning Teaching Beginning Learning Maidenhead Open University Press.
Developing teachers' knowledge of children's literature: teachers as readers, phase II
Collins, F., Cremin, T., Mottram, M., Powell, S. and Safford, K. 2009. Developing teachers' knowledge of children's literature: teachers as readers, phase II. Books for Keeps. 179, pp. 80-99.
Hide and seek: values in early childhood education and care
Powell, S. 2010. Hide and seek: values in early childhood education and care. British Journal of Educational Studies. 58 (2), pp. 213-229. https://doi.org/10.1080/00071001003752195
Parent education in the People's Republic of China
Powell, S. 1998. Parent education in the People's Republic of China.
Early childhood in China: diaries as research tools
Powell, S. 1998. Early childhood in China: diaries as research tools.
Childhood in England and China
David, T. and Powell, S. 1998. Childhood in England and China.
Constructing early childhood in China
Powell, S. 2000. Constructing early childhood in China.
The influence of culture on play
Powell, S. 2003. The influence of culture on play.
Remembering risk and resilience in work with young families
Powell, S. 2004. Remembering risk and resilience in work with young families.
Friend or FLO? Identity formation for school-based family liaison workers
Powell, S. and Soan, S. 2004. Friend or FLO? Identity formation for school-based family liaison workers.
Gender issues in Chinese early childhood
Powell, S. 2004. Gender issues in Chinese early childhood.
School-based family liaison officers: negotiated professional identities and related outcomes for children and families
Powell, S. and Soan, S. 2004. School-based family liaison officers: negotiated professional identities and related outcomes for children and families.
Young children's views on play: methods and findings from a research and consultation project
Goouch, K. and Powell, S. 2005. Young children's views on play: methods and findings from a research and consultation project.
Young children's views on play: methods and findings from a research and consultation project
Powell, S. and Goouch, K. 2005. Young children's views on play: methods and findings from a research and consultation project.
Involving children in strategic planning for play
Powell, S. 2006. Involving children in strategic planning for play.
The value of play in England's national policies
Powell, S. 2008. The value of play in England's national policies.
Reading teachers and children: stories from TARS II
Powell, S. 2008. Reading teachers and children: stories from TARS II.
Working together for young children: messages from research
Powell, S. 2009. Working together for young children: messages from research.
Constructions of early childhood in China
Powell, S. 2001. Constructions of early childhood in China. PhD Thesis University of Kent Education
Children's participation in democratic decision-making: outcomes evidence
Powell, S. 2009. Children's participation in democratic decision-making: outcomes evidence. Kent County Council.
A systematic review of learning behaviour in school contexts
Powell, S. and Tod, J. 2004. A systematic review of learning behaviour in school contexts. TDA/EPPI-Centre.
Evaluation of Leicester Children's Fund: final report
Powell, S., Bailey, R. and Stewart, Y. 2004. Evaluation of Leicester Children's Fund: final report. Leicester Children's Fund.
Evaluation of the Kent Family Liaison Officer Service: final report to Kent Children's Fund
Powell, S. and Stow, W. 2004. Evaluation of the Kent Family Liaison Officer Service: final report to Kent Children's Fund. Birmingham, UK University of Birmingham.
Canterbury City Council play strategy: report on a research and consultation project
Powell, S., Bailey, R. and Wellard, I. 2005. Canterbury City Council play strategy: report on a research and consultation project. Canterbury, UK Canterbury City Council.
Report on evaluation of the Malling Literacy Project
Cremin, T., Powell, S. and Precey, R. 2007. Report on evaluation of the Malling Literacy Project. Advisory Service Kent.
The TRACK project in Kent: evaluation report
Barnes, J. and Powell, S. 2008. The TRACK project in Kent: evaluation report. Future Creative.
Funding possibilities for childcare
Godfrey, R., Powell, S. and Reardon, D. 2008. Funding possibilities for childcare. Unified Child Care Agency.
Summary of key childcare (birth to 16) policies, strategies and regulations
Godfrey, R., Powell, S. and Reardon, D. 2008. Summary of key childcare (birth to 16) policies, strategies and regulations. Unified Child Care Agency.
Survey of staff and students: views on childcare
Godfrey, R., Powell, S. and Reardon, D. 2008. Survey of staff and students: views on childcare. Unified Child Care Agency.
Policies and play: the impact of national policies on children's opportunities for play
Powell, S. and Wellard, I. 2008. Policies and play: the impact of national policies on children's opportunities for play. London, UK Play England.
Building communities of readers
Cremin, T., Collins, F., Mottram, M., Powell, S. and Safford, K. 2008. Building communities of readers. Leicester, UK UK Literacy Association.
We all do good things
Powell, S. 2008. We all do good things. Canterbury, Kent People United.
The current and future markets for Playwork NVQs
Powell, S. 2009. The current and future markets for Playwork NVQs. Kent Children's Fund Network.
Children's views of their workforce
Graham-Matheson, L., Hryniewicz, L., Powell, S., Meehan, P. and Robinson, S. 2009. Children's views of their workforce. Leeds, UK Children's Workforce Network.
Students' decisions about their education and careers
Powell, S. and Kim, C. 2009. Students' decisions about their education and careers. Canterbury, Kent Aimhigher Kent and Medway.
Foundations of character: developing character and value in the early years: report summary
Arthur, J., Powell, S. and Lin, H. 2009. Foundations of character: developing character and value in the early years: report summary. University of Birmingham John Templeton Foundation.
Changing childhoods, changing minds
David, T. and Powell, S. 1999. Changing childhoods, changing minds. in: David, T. (ed.) Young Children Learning London, UK SAGE Publications Ltd. pp. 204-220
Research matters
David, T., Goouch, K. and Powell, S. 2004. Research matters. in: Abbott, L. and Langston, A. (ed.) Birth to Three Matters Maidenhead, UK Open University Press. pp. 42-55
Ethical aspects of power in research with children
David, T., Tonkin, J., Powell, S. and Anderson, C. 2005. Ethical aspects of power in research with children. in: Farrell, A. (ed.) Ethical Research with Children Maidenhead, UK Open University Press. pp. 124-137
Play in the early years: the influence of cultural difference
David, T. and Powell, S. 2005. Play in the early years: the influence of cultural difference. in: Moyles, J. (ed.) The Excellence of Play Maidenhead, UK Open University Press. pp. 242-254
The world picture
David, T., Goouch, K. and Powell, S. 2009. The world picture. in: Pugh, G. and Duffy, J. (ed.) Contemporary Issues in the Early Years London, UK SAGE Publications Ltd. pp. 33-46
Play in the early years: the influence of cultural difference
Powell, S. and David, T. 2010. Play in the early years: the influence of cultural difference. in: Moyles, J. (ed.) The Excellence of Play Maidenhead, UK Open University Press. pp. 242-254
Teachers as readers: building communities of readers
Cremin, T., Mottram, M., Collins, F., Powell, S. and Safford, K. 2009. Teachers as readers: building communities of readers. Literacy. 43 (1), pp. 11-19. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-4369.2009.00515.x
Policies and play: the impact of national policies on children's opportunities for play
Powell, S. and Wellard, I. 2008. Policies and play: the impact of national policies on children's opportunities for play. London National Children’s Bureau.
Young children's relationships in the UK
David, T., Powell, S. and Goouch, K. 2010. Young children's relationships in the UK. in: Kernan, M. and Singer, E. (ed.) Young Children's Relationships in a Changing World Netherlands Routledge.
The value of play: constructions of play in government policy in England
Powell, S. 2009. The value of play: constructions of play in government policy in England. Children & Society. 23 (1), pp. 29-42. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1099-0860.2008.00137.x
Strategic planning for play in England
Powell, S. 2007. Strategic planning for play in England. PlayRights Journal. 29 (4), pp. 13-17.
Positive relationships: baby room - who cares?
Goouch, K. and Powell, S. 2010. Positive relationships: baby room - who cares? Nursery World.
Good practice provision for children with speech, language and communication educational needs
Tod, J., Godfrey, R., Soan, S. and Powell, S. 2007. Good practice provision for children with speech, language and communication educational needs. Department for Education and Skills.
Evaluation of the special educational needs parent partnership services in England
Rogers, R., Tod, J., Powell, S., Parsons, C., Godfrey, R., Graham-Matheson, L., Carlson, A. and Cornwall, J. 2006. Evaluation of the special educational needs parent partnership services in England. London, UK Department for Education and Skills.
Birth to three matters: a review of the literature
David, T., Goouch, K., Powell, S. and Abbott, L. 2003. Birth to three matters: a review of the literature. Department for Education and Skills. https://doi.org/RR444