ERIC Number: EJ790644
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-May
Pages: 25
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0300-4430
EISSN: N/A
ADHD in American Early Schooling: From a Cultural Psychological Perspective
Lee, Kyunghwa
Early Child Development and Care, v178 n4 p415-439 May 2008
In this article, I present a study conducted with 10 Southeastern US early childhood teachers on their views concerning problem behaviour, in general, and the practice of diagnosis and pharmaceutical treatment for Attention/Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), in particular. Themes that emerged from the interview data included: (1) teachers' perceptions of problem behaviour and ADHD largely overlapped as both were framed as disruption to instruction and hindrance to a child's and his peers' learning; (2) while teachers had a unanimous view of gender differences, there were conflicting perceptions about socioeconomic, racial/ethnic and age differences between children with and without ADHD; and (3) teachers highlighted more positive than negative effects of the use of medication for children with ADHD. I examine each of these findings from a cultural psychological perspective in an effort to understand how these teachers' views reflect goals, priorities and practices valued in contemporary US contexts. I conclude with implications for early childhood research and practice, arguing that future research conducted within a culture as well as across cultures by interdisciplinary researchers may contribute to developing a new framework that combines biological and cultural insights for a better understanding of child development. (Contains 1 tables and 1 note.)
Descriptors: Hyperactivity, Attention Deficit Disorders, Age Differences, Gender Differences, Child Development, Early Childhood Education, Preschool Teachers, Teacher Attitudes, Behavior Problems, Student Behavior, Clinical Diagnosis, Drug Therapy, Socioeconomic Influences, Racial Differences, Cultural Influences, Elementary School Teachers, Elementary School Students, Preschool Children, Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education; Grade 1; Grade 2; Grade 3; Kindergarten; Preschool Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A