NZARE Early Childhood Education SIG Hui
Revitalising our Research Relationships: He
Matai Rangahau, Tatai Whanaungatanga –
Round Table Discussion
Victoria University of Wellington
15 May 2015
Screening for
Antisocial
Development
Gaye Tyler-Merrick
Round Table Discussion
Screening for antisocial development: How can we overcome the
difficulties early childhood teachers experience when screening for
antisocial development in young children?
Introduction
• There have always been a small proportion of children who
engage in persistent antisocial behaviour.
• Early childhood teachers reporting increased occurrences of such
behaviour in their centres.
• Currently, in NZ, there is no universal behaviour screening
procedure for young children at-risk of antisocial development.
• What is there is very ad hoc (B4 School Check)
Background…
Recent study trialled a three-step multiple gating behaviour
screening procedure (Tyler-Merrick, 2014).
34 teachers over kindergarten primary and intermediate schools
Children = 134
Gate 1 = nomination form
Gate 2 = rating scale (NZ specific)
Gate 3 = teacher direct observation of child
Overall findings:
Gates 1 & 2 most effective – strong psychometric properties
Gate 3 effective – avoidance behaviour most prevalent
Background…
Kindergarten: 6 teachers – 22 children
Gates 3 adapted from original procedure:
During piloting, kgtn teachers could not do gate 3 observation
while teaching – adapted so second teacher recorded while first
teacher took activity.
Six teachers:
1.previous knowledge of behaviour screening procedures;
2.understanding of behavioural principles;
3.understanding and implementation of specific (behavioural) teaching skills;
4.‘buy in’ to undertake the screening process;
5.interpretation of results.
Discussion…
Given the holistic nature of the early childhood curriculum and the
information provided should we be screening in early childhood
centres for antisocial development in New Zealand?
Discussion…
If screening should occur, when is the most sensible time to screen?
Discussion…
From our discussion of the screening procedure (the three gates),
how this procedure could be improved so that early childhood
teachers could screen with skill and confidence?
Additional points
Further considerations
Questions
Contact:
[email protected]