Sobral

Action Research for Conflict Mediation in an Early Childhood Collaborative Context

Dr. Catarina Sobral, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

Abstract

This paper reports on a PhD study in Education, specialization on teacher education concerning conflict mediation in early childhood education. The study took place in a social care institution in Lisbon involving all (eleven) kindergarten teachers and lasted about fifteen months.

This research aims primarily: to understand how action research in collaborative context is established as a strategy of training for participating teachers in the conflict management domain; to promote an investigative attitude by reflective analysis of their practice; and to understand the impact on their knowledge and practices.

This process contributed to: a greater involvement between teachers; a different way of perceiving conflicts and conflict mediation; a more regular use of reflective practices; a greater awareness of performances towards conflict situations among children and the values conveyed; a knowledge transfer from their professional to their personal sphere; and, finally, a deepening of the collaborative culture of the school.

Keywords

Action Research; Early Childhood Education; Professional Development; Collaboration; Conflict Mediation