1. Objectifs

Intentions :
« The present study is in line with previous research on educational child care quality conducted in Quebec. The instruments used in this study to measure process and structural quality are adapted to Quebec’s realities and context. This study’s first objective was to determine whether center-based and family-based CCS [child care services] serving infants in Quebec differ with respect to process quality scores measured by the EQOS [Educative Quality Observation Scales]. The second objective was to identify the structural quality characteristics associated with higher process quality scores in these two types of settings. » (p.136)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
« This study’s sample, which is part of a larger longitudinal and correlational study, is made up of two groups (53 center-based child care settings and 36 family-based child care settings) from 89 Quebec regulated CCS serving children 18 months old or younger. » (p.136)

Instruments :
- Educative Quality Observation Scales (EQOS; Bourgon and Lavallée 2004a, b, c)
- The Child Care Providers and Family Child Care Providers Questionnaire (Drouin et al. 2004)

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

« This study seeks to determine whether center-based and family-based child care services differ with respect to process quality, as measured by the Educative Quality Observation Scales (EQOS, Bourgon and Lavallée 2004a, b, c), for groups of children 18 months old and younger. It also seeks to identify structural variables associated with process quality in these settings. The study included two types of regulated child care settings located in the greater Montreal area (center-based: N = 53 and family-based: N = 36). Results indicate that process quality was lower in family-based child care than in center-based child care for the majority of elements measured by the EQOS. Hierarchical regression analyses indicate that higher levels of process quality were associated with structural variables, including a lower adult-child ratio, the presence of more staff with specialized early childhood education training, and center-based care. The discussion focuses on strategies to improve these types of child care services. » (p130)