A growing research literature documents the nature, process, and consequences of early childhood learning and development, and directs attention to the role of risk and protective factors in children's development. Research in CDFS on early childhood education focuses specifically on understanding the relations between home and school factors that contribute to children's positive developmental and learning outcomes. A primary research focus is on the design and evaluation of targeted interventions that support the development of children's social, cognitive and academic competence.

Two children's programs (the Child Development Laboratory Preschool and the Miller Child Learning Center) provide child development practicum and student teaching experiences for students, fulfill a need in the community for child care, and support child development research.

The Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in Early Childhood Research at Purdue University is supported by a grant from the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. The program supports two IES Postdoctoral Fellows.

Faculty Research

• Karen Diamond
  There is substantial evidence that young children who are at-risk enter school already behind their peers. Dr. Diamond's research focuses on the development and evaluation of interventions with early childhood teachers that support the academic and social development of young children at-risk.
• Jennifer Dobbs-Oates
  Dr. Dobbs-Oates' research is focused on the relationship between pre-academic skills and social-emotional development in preschool-aged children. A particular area of focus is on interventions directed toward literacy and mathematical skills and their outcomes in both pre-academic and psychosocial domains.
• James Elicker
  Dr. Elicker is investigating child care quality and young children's development in early care and education contexts. (Evaluation of Child Care Quality Rating Systems; Child Care Quality and Child Outcomes in Low Income Working Families)
• Douglas Powell
  Early literacy and language skills provide an important foundation for later school success, including reading competence. Dr. Powell's research focuses on the development and evaluation of professional development interventions with pre-kindergarten teachers aimed at enhancing the early literacy and language development of at-risk preschoolers.
• Seung-Hee Son
  Dr. Son's research examines the impact of aspects of the home and preschool learning environment and parental involvement in education on young children's language, literacy and numeracy skills learning and seeks ways to design evidence-based intervention programs for at-risk low-income children's school readiness, especially using home reading and writing activities.