2. Ecology of childhood research
When we think of research related to the ecology of childhood, it can mean almost anything related to childhood environments and experiences. The examples chosen in this section are diverse but organized loosely within the structure of Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model.
Dr. Mariana Brussoni, director of the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) at the University of British Columbia, explains how research can be viewed using an ecological model to identify “differences that make a difference”.
Dr. Jennifer Jenkins, chair of the Atkinson Centre for Society and Child Development at the University of Toronto, is the director of the Kids Families and Places Study. The study is an example of how an ecological framework is used to examine the simultaneous influence of family, child care and neighbourhood contexts. The research identifies biological and behavioural characteristics of children that modify how they react to these environments.
Early findings from the study revealed that children who live in disadvantaged, low-income families are more likely to be affected by unequal experiences within the family. Jenkins explains in the next clip.
Did any of the research findings surprise you?
Which context or environment would you like to learn more about?
Research is about understanding, and, to some extent trying to predict, the world around us. Our cultural experiences influence the kind of research that is undertaken, how it is done, and what may follow in terms of implementations that affect children and society. Therefore, it is important to consider our own perspectives on human development and how context influences our views. In the following videos, Dr. Kofi Marfo, founding director of the Institute for Human Development at Aga Khan University, provides valuable insight.
How do you feel your context has influenced your knowledge and understanding of child development?
What does Marfo mean when he states that “knowledge itself is a system”?
What research questions do you have about the ecology of childhood?
The ecology of childhood research examples on the next pages examine the environments and experiences that influence children’s development. Some of the questions addressed by this research are:
- How does the make-up of a family influence children’s development and well-being?
- Are the roles of fathers changing?
- How might parents’ work for pay impact the lives of their children?
- What kinds of early childhood programs make a difference? How can these programs be scaled up?
- How do children adapt to very different habitats, environments or settings?
- How do communities affect the lives of children?
