Research Syntheses

Activities : Research Syntheses : Tool Kits : Research Studies : Training : Dissemination

Research syntheses and research summaries are prepared in the following categories of practice:

Behavioral-Based Practices
Investigators conducting behavioral-based research syntheses examine practices that promote or enhance the positive prosocial behaviors of infants, toddlers, and young children. The intervention practices constituting the focus of the syntheses used different types of behavior principles as the basis for influencing behavioral change.
Social-Emotional Practices
Investigators conducting research syntheses on social-emotional practices examine practices that promote or enhance the positive mental health functioning of infants, toddlers, and young children. These syntheses include practices that strengthen secure attachment, positive child affective behavior, and other emotionally-related regulatory behaviors.
Preliteracy and Literacy Interventions
Investigators conducting preliteracy and literacy research syntheses examine practices that develop the early literacy capabilities of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Synthesis topics include early communication development, nonverbal precursors to language learning, and methods for promoting the literacy skills of young children.
Situated and Contextually Based Learning
Investigators conducting research syntheses on situated and contextually based learning examine the relationship between child participation in social and non-social family and community activity settings (natural learning environments) and both child learning and child behavior and development.
Environmentally Based Practices
Investigators conducting research syntheses of environmentally based practices examine the influence of material availability and environmental arrangements on child behavior and development.
Interpersonal Interactions
Investigators conducting research syntheses of interpersonal interactions examine practices that strengthen the relationships between parents and their children, teachers or caregivers and young children, and children and their peers. The syntheses particularly examine parents’ responsiveness as it relates to positive, prosocial child behavior and development.
Complementary Care Practices
Investigators conducting research syntheses on complementary care practices examine different therapies and interventions used with young children. The investigators examine both interventions and therapies that complement or are consistent with mainstream clinical practice and alternative interventions and therapies designed to affect child behavior and functioning.
Allied Health Practices
Investigators conducting research syntheses on allied health practices examine interventions and therapies used with infants, toddlers, and young children by physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech and language pathologists.
Diagnostic Practices
Investigators conducting research syntheses on diagnostic practices examine studies investigating the reliability and validity of diagnostic practices for assessing the social-emotional and mental health functioning of infants, toddlers, and young children.
Knowledge Utilization Strategies
The investigators of knowledge utilization strategies research syntheses focus on the characteristics of different adult-learning methods for promoting adoption and use of evidence-based practices.