Examination of Chinese Immigrant Parents' Beliefs About Children's Social Development Through Play: A Mixed Methods Explanatory Sequential Study
Hyun, Sunah.
2019
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This dissertation consisted of two complementary studies. The
purpose of the first study was to extend the validity of measures of parental
beliefs, cultural orientations, ideologies, and children's social competence for
use with Chinese immigrant children and families. Using reliable measures
validated in the first study, the second study followed the steps of a mixed
methods explanatory ... read moresequential design. The second study, first, employed both
variable-centered and person-centered lenses to explore profiles of parents'
cultural orientations and beliefs about play and academics in preschool to better
understand the unique contribution of these profiles to children's social
competencies. Data were collected from primary caregivers of 213 preschool
children enrolled in Head Start and other early childhood education programs
located in a moderately-sized Northeastern city. Next, the study explored and
elaborated on Chinese immigrant parents' perceptions of children's social
behaviors, cultural adjustment experiences, and their perceptions about US
preschools through focus groups with primary caregivers. In Study 1, overall
constructs assessed by three of the four measures of this study were validated. In
Study 2, four reliable profiles were resolved quantitatively and showed
within-group variation in patterns of Chinese immigrant parents' beliefs and
cultural orientations that related differentially to children's social-emotional
competencies as evidenced within peer play at home. Further, results revealed the
protective factor of Chinese immigrant parents' Chinese orientation in supporting
Chinese-heritage children's positive social behaviors. Qualitative findings
corroborated and elaborated the quantitative findings. These findings underscored
the importance of engaging with Chinese immigrant parents to inform research and
program practices.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Tufts University, 2019.
Submitted to the Dept. of Child Development.
Advisor: Christine McWayne.
Committee: Jayanthi Mistry, Timothy Guetterman, and Cindy Liu.
Keywords: Developmental psychology, and Early childhood education.read less - ID:
- 5425kp62d
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