Is quality a subjective or objective matter?

Everyone involved in early childhood services needs to think about how program quality is defined--as either objective, or as subjective and value-based. Subjective accounts involve perspectives on the nature of quality which come from thinking persons, while objective accounts involve the nature of quality as it exists, independent of the way that it is being interpreted. Research-based objective definitions of quality come from three waves of research: (1) whether being in a child care setting was good or bad for children compared to being at home; (2) what effects variations in the quality of child care settings have on children's development; and (3) how child care quality combines with family factors to produce effects on children's development. It is impossible to define quality without considering cultural goals, and definitions of quality do not emerge from research alone. Research findings have an important role to play in defining quality, however, and a solely values-based approach is not without danger. Quality is a matter of collective values, which must be negotiated by consideration of the value perspectives of the various stakeholders, including the children. (Contains 24 references.) (MOK) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. 0 Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this docu. ment do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. Is quality a subjective or objective matter? Anne B. Smith Children's Issues Centre University of Otago PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY