We are all familiar with ‘fact-checking’ which aims to sort facts from fiction and to evaluate the reliability of sources. In music education articles we often read ‘research has shown’ followed by claims that are intended to validate certain approaches and practices.
However, we should not take these statements at face value but question them. This calls for rigour. Rigour is not only a disposition – a healthy scepticism - but also a set of skills and knowledge. It combines some knowledge about how research is usually carried out with an understanding of how to interpret the statistics and terminology that researchers typically use.
These skills are not complex, they are not difficult to learn and many turn out to be plain common sense.
As Dr Susan Young explains how to ‘fact check’ she will draw on some examples of claims from research that frequently crop up in early years music education discussions and will demonstrate how they are not as reliable or accurate as we are led to believe.
Being able to ‘fact check’ is an essential professional skill. We owe it to the integrity of our practice – and we owe it, in turn, to the children we work with.
This is an online training event.
Please note this session will not be recorded.
Wednesday 30 April 2025, 7.30 – 9.00 pm
£5.00 people working in early years in Somerset/Dorset; £10 others; Free for students.
Booking closes at 9 am Monday 28 April 2025
Joining instructions will be sent out at least 24 hours before the event.
Dr Susan Young
Susan Young lectured at the universities of Exeter and Roehampton specialising in early childhood, music education and childhood studies. In her early career she taught in primary schools, early childhood settings and secondary schools. Now retired, she holds the position of Honorary Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Research in Early Childhood (CREC), Birmingham.
She has completed PhDs in music education and biological anthropology, and originally trained as a pianist before gaining qualifications to teach. She has participated in many early childhood projects that have focused on music, theatre and creativity and has worked closely with a range of arts organisations.
She has written several books and numerous articles and is frequently invited to speak at conferences, both nationally and internationally.