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ERIC Number: EJ1462301
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Apr
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1082-3301
EISSN: EISSN-1573-1707
Available Date: 2024-04-15
Does Support for Professional Development in Early Childhood and Care Settings Matter? A Study in Four Countries
Joana Cadima1; Tiago Ferreira1; Carolina Guedes1; Diana Alves1; Catarina Grande1; Teresa Leal1; Filipe Piedade2; Ana Lemos2; Andri Agathokleous3; Vicky Charalambous3; Charalambos Vrasidas4; Demos Michael4; Manuela Ciucurel5; Georgeta Chirlesan5; Bogdan Marinescu5; Delia Duminica5; Anastasia Vatou6; Maria Tsitiridou-Evangelou6; Evridiki Zachopoulou6; Vasilis Grammatikopoulos6
Early Childhood Education Journal, v53 n4 p1181-1193 2025
Professional Development (PD) can be a powerful lever for improving the quality of teacher-child interactions in early childhood education and care (ECEC) and teachers' feelings of support and competence. However, there is a dearth of studies examining different formats of PD and their links with workplace features. The present study aims to understand (a) different types of PD participation (structured and center-embedded) and their levels of interest of preschool teachers in four European countries (Cyprus, Greece, Portugal, and Romania), and (b) the extent to which they are associated with PD incentives and perceived support. Participants were preschool teachers from Cyprus (N = 93; M[subscript age] = 41; SD = 7.47), Greece (N = 92; M[subscript age]= 40; SD = 9.81), Portugal (N = 92; M[subscript age]= 45; SD = 9.65), and Romania (N = 97; M[subscript age] = 40; SD = 10.40). The vast majority of participants were women (95-99%). Participants reported on PD attendance -- structured (courses/seminars, conferences) and center-embedded (e.g., observation visits, peer and/or self-observation) --, levels of interest in PD; PD incentives (e.g., release from working with children; reimbursement/payment of costs); and perceived workplace support. Results from the Multi-Group Path Models showed that, in all countries, the provision of incentives was associated with increased participation in center-embedded PD, but not in structured PD. Additionally, the perceived support from their setting was positively associated with greater interest in PD. Understanding what best supports different types of PD can be critical to inform policy efforts aiming to increase PD attendance.
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Cyprus; Greece; Portugal; Romania
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1University of Porto, Centre of Psychology of the University of Porto, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Porto, Portugal; 2University of Porto, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Porto, Portugal; 3Institute of Development, Nicosia, Cyprus; 4Center for the Advancement of Research & Development in Educational Technology, Nicosia, Cyprus; 5University of Pitesti, Pitesti, Romania; 6International Hellenic University, Department of Early Childhood Education and Care, Thessaloniki, Greece