| CODE | EPE5028 | ||||||
| TITLE | Ethical Issues in Early Years Research | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Early Childhood and Primary Education | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit tackles research about, with, and by children aged 0-7 years old in early years settings and other related research. It delves into the critical ethical issues and considerations such as vulnerability, ownership, protection of rights and voices of children, parents, educators and other stakeholders as research participants. The key aspects of confidentiality, privacy and anonymity, harms and benefit, adult participants and parental (or legal guardians鈥�) consent and child assent, are all discussed and analysed. The storage, processing and protection of data will also be considered. The study-unit highlights how ethics is more than just compliance with rules regulating research but, more importantly, it guides the conduct of good and safe research which respects the dignity, well-being and the rights of all research participants, with particular attention to children. The researchers鈥� reflexivity regarding research decisions, and the subsequent actions researchers take throughout the research process, are also considered. The study unit also tackles General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the implications of collection and management of personal data from research participants. The study-unit tackles practical examples of research in the early years sector involving different qualitative and quantitiveand data collection tools and the ethical implications that these present. The ethical clearance process at the University of Malta is also presented, explained with respect to ethical concerns related to the research which the M.A. students intend to embark on for their dissertation. Study-Unit Aims: The study-unit aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of ethical considerations when conducting research with young children (0-7 years) and adults in early years educational settings. It familiarises students with key ethical concerns that arise in research within early childhood contexts, fostering an awareness of children's rights and voices to ensure they are recognised and respected in research participation. Emphasising the importance of obtaining informed consent from adult participants and continuous assent from children, the study-unit explores methods to ensure participants, particularly young children, understand and are aware of their involvement in the research. It also encourages reflexivity in research decision-making and actions, promoting ethical sensitivity throughout the research process. Furthermore, students will be equipped with the knowledge of ethical procedures, administrative documentation, and requirements for obtaining ethical clearance from the University of Malta and permissions from relevant institutions, ensuring compliance with GDPR regulations. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Identify and discuss major ethical concerns (vulnerability, ownership, protection of rights and voices of children as research participants, confidentiality, privacy and anonymity, harms and benefit, parental consent and child assent) when using different types of data collection methods proposed in research in early years contexts and particularly with young children; - Define reflexivity and apply it in research with young children, parents, educators and other stakeholders; - Identify different methods for ensuring consent of adult research participation, as well as young children鈥檚 continuous/ongoing assent during research while respecting their voices, dignity and rights; - Identify and follow University of Malta policies and procedures to apply for ethical clearance for research in the early years sector; - Identify and cite International and national GDPR legislation and the implications of these to research participants, with specific attention to young children. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Identify and discuss key ethical issues in the design of research studies in the early years involving young children and other adults; - Use ethical principles to design the research methodology for studies in the early years involving young children that protect and respect young children and adults as participants; - Prepare appropriately designed texts or visuals to communicate research intentions to children and to obtain their assent for participation; - Complete and submit the Research Ethics and Data Protection (REDP) form to the University of Malta and prepare the required letters and documentation to obtain ethical clearance for a research project; - Respect and be GDPR compliant when collecting data from, or with, children and other participants; - Describe the key aspects of a Data Management Plan, namely, how data will be stored, processed and protected. Main Texts: - Alderson P. & Morrow V. (2020). The Ethics of Research with Children and Young People: A Practical Handbook. London: Sage Publications Ltd. - British Educational Research Association [BERA]. (2024). Ethical Guidelines for Educational Research (5th ed.). https://www.bera.ac.uk/publication/ethical-guidelines-for-educational-research-fifth-edition-2024-online. - Dockett, S., Einarsd贸ttir, J., & Perry, B. (2012). Young children鈥檚 decisions about research participation: opting out. International Journal of Early Years Education, 20(3), 244鈥�256. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669760.2012.715405. - Powell, M.A., Graham, A. and Truscott, J. (2016), Ethical research involving children: facilitating reflexive engagement, Qualitative Research Journal, Vol. 16 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRJ-07-2015-0056. - Schulte C.M. (ed.) (2022). Ethics and Research with Young Children: New Perspectives. United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Publishing. - Sun Y, Blewitt C, Edwards S, et al. (2023). Methods and ethics in qualitative research exploring young Children鈥檚 voice: A systematic review. International Journal of Qualitative Methods. 2023;22. https://ejournals.um.edu.mt/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/methods-ethics-qualitative-research-exploring/docview/2920608138/se-2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069231152449. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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