Research

Research Impact Clusters

Research Impact Clusters

Department of Early Childhood Education holds 6 Research Impact Clusters (RICs) funded by the Faculty of Education Human Development. These RICs aim to extend our research and knowledge exchange benefiting various stakeholders in the community including children, parents, schools, and organizations locally, regionally, and internationally. Throughout collaboration initiatives and community connections building, our RICs engage the members within the Department, across departments in the Faculty, and also in the community.

Research Impact Clusters (RICs) are formed in the below 5 areas:

 

Arts and Creativity Arts and Creativity 

Project status Project details
Current project 
Completed project

Research Output Reference

Book to be published

in Mar 2025

Bautista, A., Siu, C., Tam, P., & Wong, B. (Ed.) (2025).  Arts and Creativity in East and Southeast Asian Preschools: Towards ‘Glocal’ Pedagogies. Springer.

Published article 1 Yeung, J., Bautista, A., Siu, C., Tam, P., & Wong, B. (2022). Arts and creativity in Hong Kong kindergartens: A document analysis of quality review reports. Creativity. Theories – Research – Applications, 9(1), 87-107. https://doi.org/10.2478/ctra-2022-0005
Published article 2 Wong, J., Bautista, A., Ho, Y.-L., & Kong, S.-H. (2023). Preschool teachers’ music-specific professional development preferences: Does teaching experience matter? Research Studies in Music Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/1321103X221139992  
Published article 3 Yeung, J., & Bautista, A. (2024). Arts education in Hong Kong kindergartens: Provision of activities and impact of teachers’ demographics. Arts Education Policy Review. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10632913.2024.2336514
Published article 4 Yeung, J., & Bautista, A. (2023). Hong Kong preschool stakeholders’ perspectives on the teaching and learning of arts and creativity. Pedagogy, Culture & Society. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14681366.2023.2190751
Published article 5 Ho, Y.-L., & Bautista, A. (2024). Quality assessors’ feedback and recommendations on music education in Hong Kong kindergartens. Education Sciences, 14(5), 466. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14050466
Published article 6 Ho, Y.-L., & Bautista, A. (2022). Music activities in Hong Kong kindergartens: A content analysis of the quality review reports. Revista Electrónica de LEEME, 49, 32-49. https://doi.org/10.7203/LEEME.49.24249
Published article 7 Bautista, A., Yeung, J., Mclaren, M., & Ilari,B. (2022). Music in early childhood teacher education: Raising awareness of a worrisome reality and proposing strategies to move forward. Arts Education Policy Review, 125(3), 139-149. https://doi.org/10.1080/10632913.2022.2043969
Published article 8 Bautista, A., & Ho, Y.-L. (2021). Music and movement teacher professional development: An interview study with Hong Kong kindergarten teachers. Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, 46(3), 276–290. https://doi.org/10.1177/18369391211014759
Published article 9 Yeung, J. and Bautista, A. (2024) Definitions of Creativity by Kindergarten Stakeholders: An Interview Study Based on Rhodes’ 4P Model. Creativity. Theories – Research - Applications, University of Bialystok, 11(2), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.2478/ctra-2024-0008

Children Development Children Development

Project status Project details
Current project  

Completed project

Research Output Reference

Published article 1

Link to article

Cheung, S. K., Siu, T.‑S. C., & Caldwell, M. P. (2023). Mathematical ability at a very young age: The contributions of relationship quality with parents and teachers via children’s language and literacy abilities. Early Childhood Education Journal, 51, 705-715. doi: 10.1007/s10643-022-01338-x

Published article 2

Link to download

Siu, T.-S. C., Caldwell, M. P., Cheung, S. K., & Cheung, H. (2022). Deliberating on group sizes and child-adult ratios in infant-toddler care and education: Voices of practitioners and parents from Hong Kong. The First Years Ngā Tau Tuatahi, 24(1), 4-10.

Poster presentation 1 

Society for Research in Child  Development 2023 Biennial  Meeting (Salt Lake City, USA)

Interactive effects of teacher- child relationships and early  childhood learning experiences on children’s pre-academic skills 
Poster presentation 2

International Society for the Study of Behavioral  Development 26th Biennial Meeting (Rhodes, Greece) 

Gendered pathways to  socioemotional competencies and behaviors in very young  children: The roles of parent- child closeness and teacher- child closeness 
Poster presentation 3 

Hong Kong Educational  Research Association and Asia- Pacific Educational Research  Association International  Conference 2021 (Virtual)        

Evaluating structural and process qualities of infant and toddlers rooms in Hong Kong
Poster presentation 4 

Hong Kong Educational  Research Association and Asia- Pacific Educational Research  Association International  Conference 2021 (Virtual)        

Relations of parent-child and teacher-child relationships to very young children’s mathematical abilities: The  mediating role of receptive  vocabulary 

Family and Community Family and Community

Project status Project details

Current Project 

Completed  Project

Research Output Reference

Knowledge Transfer Booklet 

Link to download

親子互動新轉「機」:

家⻑使用手機習慣及手機冷落行為對其心理健康、管教模式、及親子互動的影響

Health Promotion and Well-being Health Promotion and Well-being

Project status Project details
Current project

Research Output Reference (# student involved)

Published article 1

Li, J. B., #Xu, Y., Sun, J., #Qiu, S., #Zhang, R., & Yang, A. (2024). A multilevel latent profile analysis of job demands, job resources, and personal resources in early childhood education: Implications for multidimensional well-being. Journal of School Psychology, 101405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2024.101405 
Published article 2 Li, J. B., Deng, J. X., #Xu, Y., Sun, J., Chen, J., Datu, J. A. D., #Zhang, R., & #Qiu, S. (2024). Which well-being elements are fundamental for early childhood educators in the Chinese context? A network analysis. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 19,103–134. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-023-10233-5 

Academic conferences

presentation 1

#Yan, J., & Li, J. B. (2025, April 23–27). Exploring factors contributing to Chinese early childhood educators‘ work meaningfulness: A machine learning approach [Poster presentation]. American Educational Research Association, Denver, United States. https://www.aera.net/Events-Meetings/AERA-2025-Annual-Meeting

Academic conferences

presentation 2

Li, J. B., & #Yan, J. (2024, September 20–22). Configuration of job stress and meaning of work and its work outcomes: A repeated measure latent profile analysis. Annual Conference of Educational Psychology of China. Tianjin, mainland China.

Academic conferences

presentation 3

Li, J. B. [chair] (2023, December 8-10). Chinese early childhood educators’ well-being amid the late/post pandemic era: Risk and protective factors, individual differences, and future direction [Symposium]. HKERA-APERA International Conference, Hong Kong, China. https://apera2023.hkera.org/2023/en/about.asp 

Academic conferences

presentation 4

Li, J. B., Xu, Y., & Sun, J. (2023, December 8-10). Mental, occupational, and physical well-being in Chinese early childhood educators: A random-intercept latent transition analysis. In J. B. Li (Chair). Chinese early childhood educators’ well-being amid the late/post pandemic era: Risk and protective factors, individual differences, and future direction [Symposium]. HKERA-APERA International Conference, Hong Kong, China. https://apera2023.hkera.org/2023/en/about.asp

Academic conferences

presentation 5

Li, J. B., #Yan, J., & Sun, J. (2023, November 4-6). Longitudinal associations between job demands and job burnout among early childhood educators [Paper presentation]. The 3rd SEED Biennial Conference (SEED 2023), Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China. 

Academic conferences

presentation 6

#Xu, Z., Sun, J., & Li, J. B. (2023, July 13-15). The link between job stress and job burnout in preschool teachers: The moderation of meaning of work [Poster presentation]. The 15th Biennial Conference of the Asian Association of Social Psychology (AASP 2023), Hong Kong SAR, China. https://asiansocialpsych.org/aasp-conference-2023/

Academic conferences

presentation 7

#Chen, Y., Sun, J., & Li, J. B. (2023, July 13-15). Preschool teachers’ basic psychological needs moderate the “job demands - turnover intention” link [Poster presentation]. The 15th Biennial Conference of the Asian Association of Social Psychology (AASP 2023), Hong Kong SAR, China. https://asiansocialpsych.org/aasp-conference-2023/  

Academic conferences

presentation 8

#Zheng, X. L., Sun, J., & Li, J. B. (2023, July 13-15). Workload and life meaning in preschool teachers: School-level supportive climate as a moderator [Poster presentation]. The 15th Biennial Conference of the Asian Association of Social Psychology (AASP 2023), Hong Kong SAR, China. https://asiansocialpsych.org/aasp-conference-2023/

Academic conferences

presentation 9

#Xu, Y., #Zhang, R., #Qiu, S., Sun, J., & Li, J. B. (2023, March 23-25). A person-centered approach to job demands and job/personal resources in kindergarten teachers: Implications for well-being [Poster presentation]. The Society for Research in Child Development 2023 Biannual Meeting (SRCD 2023), Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. https://www.srcd.org/event/srcd-2023-biennial-meeting 

Academic conferences

presentation 10

Li, J. B., #Zhang, R., & Sun, J. (August 2022). Well-being among early childhood educators: A network analysis. EdUHK x HKPS Psychology Research Poster Conference. (Virtual mode)

Academic conferences

presentation 11

Li, J. B., Sun, J. & #Zhang, R. (July 2022). A large-scale survey of multifaceted well-being among early childhood educators from Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area during the post COVID-19 period [Paper presentation]. The 22nd Pacific Early Childhood Education Research Association (PECERA) Annual Conference. (Virtual mode) https://pecera2022.com/

Talks, newsletter, and social

media dissemination 1

Early childhood educators’ well-being: Concepts, cores, correlates, caution, and chances. Talk at University of Macau, Macau. 

Talks, newsletter, and social

media dissemination 2

Newsletter sent to ECE department’s network and promoted at different occasions

Talks, newsletter, and social

media dissemination 3

Care about early childhood educators’ well-being, build up positive management literacy. Professional developmental talk for the Education Bureau of Nanshan District, Shenzhen.

Talks, newsletter, and social

media dissemination 4

Early childhood educators’ well-being during the (post) pandemic period: Core features and the role of job demands and resources. Professional developmental talk for the Education Bureau of Luohu District, Shenzhen.

Talks, newsletter, and social

media dissemination 5

(後)疫情時代,幼兒教師快樂嗎?Ming Pao

Talks, newsletter, and social

media dissemination 6

Early childhood educators’ well-being during the (post) pandemic period: Core features and the role of job demands and resources. Guangzhou University, China.
Completed project

Research Output Reference

Published article 1

Link to article

Link to download

Wan AWL, Chung KKH, Li J-B, Xu SS and Chan DKC (2024) An assessment tool for the international healthy eating report card for preschool-aged children: a cross-cultural validation across Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the United States. Front. Nutr. 11:1340007. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1340007

Published article 2

Link to article

Link to download

Wan, A. W., Chung, K. K., Li, J., & Chan, D. K. (2024). Healthy Eating Report Card for Pre-school Children in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Medical Journal. https://doi.org/10.12809/hkmj2210649

Press Release

Link to download

A healthy eating report card for pre-school children in Hong Kong grades children’s eating behaviours and family home food environment (21 May 2024)

Published article 3

Link to article

Link to download

Chiu, R. M. Y., Capio, C., Hagger, M. S., Yung, P. S., Ip, P., Lai, A. Y. K., & Chan, D. K. C. (2023). Grandparent Caregivers’ Adherence towards Preventing Childhood Domestic Injuries: A test of the Integrated Model of Self-Determination Theory and Theory of Planned Behaviour. SSRN. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4330164
Completed project

Research Output Reference

Published article 1

Link to article

Cheung, S.K., Chan, W.W.L. & Fong, R.Wt. Parents’ perfectionistic tendencies and children’s early numeracy competence: the mediating roles of children’s executive functions and numeracy interest. Eur J Psychol Educ 38, 1185–1200 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10212-022-00640-x
Completed project

Research Output Reference
Resource Portal Website https://www.hkidsmove.info/

Published article 1

Link to article

Link to download

Mak TCT, Chan DKC, Capio CM. Strategies for Teachers to Promote Physical Activity in Early Childhood Education Settings-A Scoping Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jan 20;18(3):867. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18030867. PMID: 33498374; PMCID: PMC7908495.

Published article 2

Link to article

Leung, F.Y.W., Chan, D.K.C., Mak, T.C.T., Capio, C.M. Early Childhood Educators’ Physical Literacy Predict Their Self-Efficacy and Perceived Competence to Promote Physical Activity. Early Education and Development. doi: 10.1080/10409289.2023.2243187

Pedagogy and Professional Development Pedagogy and Professional Development

Project status Project details
Current project
Completed project

Research Output Reference
Edited book (coming in Mar2025)

Bautista, A. (in preparation). Culturally situated pedagogies in Hong Kong kindergartens: Towards glocalization. Springer.

Completed project

Research Output Reference
Published article 1 Yang, W., Wang, C., & Bautista, A. (2024). A YouTube video club for teacher learning: Empowering early childhood educators to teach STEM. British Journal of Educational Technology, 55, 605–624. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.13396
Published article 2 Yang, W., Wang, C., Lin, C., & Bautista, A. (2024). Teacher learning and preschoolers’ STEM habits of mind: Evidence from two studies. Teaching and Teacher Education, 153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2024.104836  
Conference paper presentation

Wang, C., Yang, W., & Chiu, M. M. (2024, April 11–14). Teachers’ STEM knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs predict children’s STEM habits of mind: A multilevel model [Paper presentation]. 2024 Annual Meeting of American Educational Research Association: "Dismantling Racial Injustice and Constructing Educational Possibilities: A Call to Action" (AERA 2024), Philadelphia, United States.

Published article 3

Link to download

Hu, X., Fang, Y., & Liang, Y. (2024). Roles and Effect of Digital Technology on Young Children’s STEM Education: A Scoping Review of Empirical Studies. Education Sciences14(4), 357. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14040357

Published article 4 Xu, R., Bautista, A., & Yang, W. (2023). Learning Satisfaction with Online Teaching Video Cases Among Pre-Service Preschool Teachers in China. Early Education and Development35(1), 77–95. https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2023.2214163

Published article 5

Link to download

Xu, R., Bautista, A., & Yang, W. (2024). Learning with Online Teaching Video Cases: Investigating Pre-Service Preschool Teachers’ Perceived Usefulness and Needs. Education Sciences14(5), 479. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14050479

Published article 6

Link to download

Yang W, Bautista A and Li H (2023) Editorial: Curriculum-based professional learning in early childhood education: conceptualization, implementation and evaluation. Front. Psychol. 14:1252236. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1252236

Published article 7

Link to download

Saxena A and Chiu MM (2022) Developing Preschool Teachers’ Computational Thinking Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs, and Teaching Self-Efficacies: A Curriculum-Based Professional Development Program. Front. Educ. 7:889116. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.889116

Completed project

Research Output Reference
Poster Presentation 1

The Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting, Salt Lake City, United States.

Sun, J., & Wang, Y. (2023, March 23-25). From professional experiences and qualifications to professional practices: The case of early childhood mathematics education [Poster presentation].

Completed project

Research Output Reference

ECE STEM Project Website

https://home.eduhk.hk/~ecestem 

ECE STEM Teaching packages

26 sets of co-developed teaching packages with 12 project schools developed

ECE STEM Home-based

Learning Videos on Youtube

Link to video 幼兒STEM學習和創客教育計劃 - 李子建教授

Link to video 六個幼兒STEM和創客活動簡介

Link to video 幼兒STEM和創客活動 - 手機投影器

Link to video 幼兒STEM和創客活動 - 磁力車

Link to video 幼兒STEM和創客活動 - 節水裝置

Link to video 幼兒STEM和創客活動 - 簡單機械:滑輪

Link to video 幼兒STEM和創客活動 - 蔬菜再生

Completed project

Research Output Reference

Youtube video

Link to video 自由遊戲 [實踐篇] Extending the Margin of Play

Teaching tool inventions

https://www.eduhk.hk/ece/en/highlights.php?s=news_event&id=8208