Overview

My research interests revolve around three key themes:

• Diversity and inclusion in early childhood. I have a particular interest in exploring the ways in which factors such as race/ethnicity, gender and social class articulate and impact upon young children's social worlds. My work has been particularly influenced by the theoretical insights provided by Pierre Bourdieu. Much of my research in this area has been qualitative and ethnographic in particular. However, I have been increasingly interested in the use of quantitative methods and large-scale surveys to examine broader variations and patterns in relation to young children's attitudes and identities.
• Evaluation of educational programmes and interventions. I am particularly interested in evaluating the effectiveness of educational programmes and interventions, especially through the use of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Within this I am keen to develop approaches to undertaking RCTs that are open and inclusive and where researchers work in partnership with practitioners and service providers. One specific interest of mine is to develop approaches to evaluation that are children's rights-based and where, among other things, children's participation is actively encouraged in the design, delivery and evaluation of children's services.
• Quantitative methods and statistics in education. One of my main interests here is contributing to the development of research capacity in relation to the use of quantitative methods in education. Beyond this, I am also interested in the use of multivariate statistical techniques in the analysis of data from large-scale surveys and RCTs. I have a particular interest in the use of multilevel modelling in relation to both types of data and am just beginning to explore the potential application of Bayesian methods to the analysis of RCTs.

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Current Projects

Large-Scale Initiatives

Improving Children’s Lives: An Interdisciplinary Research Initiative at Queen’s University Belfast
Funders: The Atlantic Philanthropies, R&D Office, Queen's University Belfast

Una - A Global Learning Initiative on Children and Ethnic Diversity
Funders: Bernard van Leer Foundation, The Atlantic Philanthropies

Research Projects

Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial Evaluation of the Effects of the Sesame Tree Outreach Pack on 5-6 Year Old Children's Attitudes and Awareness
Sesame Workshop

Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial Evaluation of the Effects of the Media Initiative for Children on 3-4 Year ld Children’s Attitudes Towards Diversity and the Republic of Ireland
Early Years - The Organisation for Young Children

Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial Evaluation of the Effects of the ‘Eager and Able to Learn’ Programme on 2-3 Year old Children’s Early Dispositions Towards Education
Early Years - The Organisation for Young Children

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Recently Completed Projects

Baseline Survey and Literature Review Focusing on Educational Outcomes Among Primary School Children Living in Disadvantaged Areas in Northern Ireland
Funder: Barnardo's (Northern Ireland)

Baseline Survey of the Levels of Social Exclusion Among Black and Minority Ethnic Children in the Southern Area of Northern Ireland
Funder: Southern Area Children and Young People’s Committee

Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial Evaluation of the Effects of Sesame Tree on 5-6 Year Old Children's Attitudes and Awareness
Funder: Sesame Workshop

Randomised Controlled Trial Evaluation of the ‘Time to Read’ Public Mentoring Scheme Among 9-10 Year Olds
Funder: Business in the Community (Northern Ireland)

Naturalistic Study of the Effects of Exposure to the Children's Television Series Sesame Tree on 5-6 Year Old Children’s Attitudes and Awareness in Northern Ireland
Funder: Sesame Workshop

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