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Validity: An Integrated Approach to Test Score Meaning and Use
by Gregory J. CizekValidity is a clear, substantive introduction to the two most fundamental aspects of defensible testing practice: understanding test score meaning and justifying test score use. Driven by evidence-based and consensus-grounded measurement theory, principles, and terminology, this book addresses the most common questions of applied validation, the quality of test information, and the usefulness of test results. Concise yet comprehensive, this volume’s integrated framework is ideal for graduate courses on assessment, testing, psychometrics, and research methods as well as for credentialing organizations, licensure and certification entities, education agencies, and test publishers.
Validity: An Integrated Approach to Test Score Meaning and Use
by Gregory J. CizekValidity is a clear, substantive introduction to the two most fundamental aspects of defensible testing practice: understanding test score meaning and justifying test score use. Driven by evidence-based and consensus-grounded measurement theory, principles, and terminology, this book addresses the most common questions of applied validation, the quality of test information, and the usefulness of test results. Concise yet comprehensive, this volume’s integrated framework is ideal for graduate courses on assessment, testing, psychometrics, and research methods as well as for credentialing organizations, licensure and certification entities, education agencies, and test publishers.
Validity and Reliability in Built Environment Research: A Selection of Case Studies
by Vian AhmedThis book aims to guide researchers who are engaged in social science and built environment research through the process of testing the reliability and validity of their research outputs following the application of different methods of data collection. The book presents case studies that emphasize reliability and validity in different examples of qualitative, quantitative and mixed method data sets, as well as covering action research and grounded theory. The reader is guided through case studies that demonstrate: An understanding of the reliability and validity approaches from social science and built environment perspectives in alignment with the relevant research philosophies, approaches and data collection strategies Real research projects that have been conducted by expert researchers on topics such as Lean, BIM, Housing and Sustainability to answer specific or evolving questions in relation to the reliability and validity of research A simple and easy method that students at Masters and PhD levels can relate to in order to adopt a sound reliability and validity approach to their research This book is the essential guide for researchers at undergraduate and postgraduate level who need to understand how to validate the quality of the empirical tests they conduct using different techniques. The book will also be a great asset to supervisors from different backgrounds who need a refresher on this key aspect of the research cycle.
Validity and Reliability in Built Environment Research: A Selection of Case Studies
by Vian Ahmed Alex Opoku Ayokunle Olanipekun Monty SutrisnaThis book aims to guide researchers who are engaged in social science and built environment research through the process of testing the reliability and validity of their research outputs following the application of different methods of data collection. The book presents case studies that emphasize reliability and validity in different examples of qualitative, quantitative and mixed method data sets, as well as covering action research and grounded theory. The reader is guided through case studies that demonstrate: An understanding of the reliability and validity approaches from social science and built environment perspectives in alignment with the relevant research philosophies, approaches and data collection strategies Real research projects that have been conducted by expert researchers on topics such as Lean, BIM, Housing and Sustainability to answer specific or evolving questions in relation to the reliability and validity of research A simple and easy method that students at Masters and PhD levels can relate to in order to adopt a sound reliability and validity approach to their research This book is the essential guide for researchers at undergraduate and postgraduate level who need to understand how to validate the quality of the empirical tests they conduct using different techniques. The book will also be a great asset to supervisors from different backgrounds who need a refresher on this key aspect of the research cycle.
Validity and Validation in Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences (Social Indicators Research Series #54)
by Bruno D. Zumbo Eric K.H. ChanThis book combines an overview of validity theory, trends in validation practices and a review of standards and guidelines in several international jurisdictions with research synthesis of the validity evidence in different research areas. An overview of theory is both useful and timely, in view of the increased use of tests and measures for decision-making, ranking and policy purposes in large-scale testing, assessment and social indicators and quality of life research. Research synthesis is needed to help us assemble, critically appraise and integrate the overwhelming volume of research on validity in different contexts. Rather than examining whether any given measure is “valid”, the focus is on a critical appraisal of the kinds of validity evidence reported in the published research literature. The five sources of validity evidence discussed are: content-related, response processes, internal structure, associations with other variables and consequences. The 15 syntheses included here, represent a broad sampling of psychosocial, health, medical and educational research settings, giving us an extensive evidential basis to build upon earlier studies. The book concludes with a meta-synthesis of the 15 syntheses and a discussion of the current thinking of validation practices by leading experts in the field.
Validity in Educational and Psychological Assessment
by Stuart D Shaw Paul E NewtonLecturers, request your electronic inspection copy to review it for your course. Validity is the hallmark of quality for educational and psychological measurement. But what does quality mean in this context? And to what, exactly, does the concept of validity apply? These apparently innocuous questions parachute the unwary inquirer into a minefield of tricky ideas. This book guides you through this minefield, investigating how the concept of validity has evolved from the nineteenth century to the present day. Communicating complicated concepts straightforwardly, the authors answer questions like: What does 'validity' mean? What does it mean to 'validate'? How many different kinds of validity are there? When does validation begin and end? Is reliability a part of validity, or distinct from it? This book will be of interest to anyone with a professional or academic interest in evaluating the quality of educational or psychological assessments, measurements and diagnoses.
Validity in Educational and Psychological Assessment (PDF)
by Stuart D Shaw Paul E NewtonLecturers, request your electronic inspection copy to review it for your course. Validity is the hallmark of quality for educational and psychological measurement. But what does quality mean in this context? And to what, exactly, does the concept of validity apply? These apparently innocuous questions parachute the unwary inquirer into a minefield of tricky ideas. This book guides you through this minefield, investigating how the concept of validity has evolved from the nineteenth century to the present day. Communicating complicated concepts straightforwardly, the authors answer questions like: What does 'validity' mean? What does it mean to 'validate'? How many different kinds of validity are there? When does validation begin and end? Is reliability a part of validity, or distinct from it? This book will be of interest to anyone with a professional or academic interest in evaluating the quality of educational or psychological assessments, measurements and diagnoses.
Validity of Educational Assessments in Chile and Latin America
by Jorge Manzi María Rosa García Sandy TautThis edited volume presents a systematic analysis of conceptual, methodological and applied aspects related to the validation of educational tests used in Latin American countries. Inspired by international standards on educational measurement and evaluation, this book illustrates efforts that have been made in several countries to validate different types of educational assessments, including student learning assessments, measurements of non-cognitive aspects in students, teacher evaluations, and tests for certification and selection. It gathers the experience of validity studies from the main international assessments in Latin America (PISA, TIMSS, ERCE, and ICCS). Additionally, it shows the challenges that must be taken into account when evaluations are used to compare countries, groups or trends of achievement over time. The book builds on the premise that measurements in the educational field should not be used if there are no studies that support the validity of the interpretation of their scores, or the use made of such tests. It shows that, despite the recognition given to validity, relatively few educational measurement assessments have accumulated enough evidence to support their interpretation and use. In doing so, this volume increases awareness about the relevance of validity, especially when assessments are key component of educational policies.
Value-Added Roles for Medical Students, E-Book (The AMA MedEd Innovation Series)
by Jed D Gonzalo Maya M. Hammoud Gregory W. SchneiderProviding real-life clinical experiences and context to medical students is an essential part of today’s medical education, and the partnerships between medical schools and health systems are an integral part of this approach. Value-Added Roles for Medical Students, the second volume in the American Medical Association’s MedEd Innovation Series, is a first-of-its-kind, instructor-focused field book that inspires educators to transform the relationship between medical schools and health systems with authentic workplace roles for medical students, adding relevance to medical education and patient care. Gives instructors the tools needed to create roles for medical students in the health system that benefit the student’s growth, empathy, and understanding of patient needs; develop a working knowledge of the health system itself; and provide true value to both the health system and patient experience. Contains both theoretical and practical material for instructors and administrators, including guidance on how to implement value-added roles for medical students in today’s institutions. Explains how to apply a framework to implement value-added clinical systems learning roles for students, develop meaningful medical school-health system partnerships, and train a generation of future physicians prepared to lead health systems change. Provides numerous examples from schools with successful implementation of value-added medical student roles such as patient navigators, community-based health care programs involving medical students, and more. Describes real-world strategies for building mutually beneficial medical school-health system partnerships, including developing a shared vision and strategy and identifying learning goals and objectives; empowering broad-based action and overcoming barriers in implementation; and generating short-term wins in implementation. Helps medical school faculty and instructors address gaps in physician training and prepare new doctors to practice effectively in 21st century health care systems. One of the American Medical Association Change MedEd initiatives and innovations, written and edited by members of the Accelerating Change in Medical Education Consortium – a unique, innovative collaborative that allows for the sharing and dissemination of groundbreaking ideas and projects.
The Value and Limits of Academic Speech: Philosophical, Political, and Legal Perspectives (Routledge Studies in Contemporary Philosophy)
by Donald Alexander Downs Chris W. SurprenantFree speech has been a historically volatile issue in higher education. In recent years, however, there has been a surge of progressive censorship on campus. This wave of censorship has been characterized by the explosive growth of such policies as "trigger warnings" for course materials; "safe spaces" where students are protected from speech they consider harmful or distressing; "micro-aggression" policies that often strongly discourage the use of words that might offend sensitive individuals; new "bias-reporting" programs that consist of different degrees of campus surveillance; the "dis-invitation" of a growing list of speakers, including many in the mainstream of American politics and values; and the prominent "shouting down" or disruption of speakers deemed inconsistent with progressive ideology. Not to be outdone, external forces on the right are now engaging in social media bullying of speakers and teachers whose views upset them. The essays in this collection, written by prominent philosophers, political scientists, sociologists, and legal scholars, examine the issues at the forefront of the crisis of free speech in higher education. The contributors address the broader historical, cultural, legal, and normative contexts of the current crisis, and take care to analyze the role of "due process" in protecting academic freedom and individuals accused of misconduct. Additionally, the volume is unique in that it advances practical remedies to campus censorship, as the editors and many of the contributors have participated in movements to remedy limitations on free speech and open inquiry. The Value and Limits of Academic Speech will educate academic professionals and informed citizens about the phenomenon of progressive censorship and its implications for higher education and the republic.
The Value and Limits of Academic Speech: Philosophical, Political, and Legal Perspectives (Routledge Studies in Contemporary Philosophy)
by Donald Alexander Downs Chris W. SurprenantFree speech has been a historically volatile issue in higher education. In recent years, however, there has been a surge of progressive censorship on campus. This wave of censorship has been characterized by the explosive growth of such policies as "trigger warnings" for course materials; "safe spaces" where students are protected from speech they consider harmful or distressing; "micro-aggression" policies that often strongly discourage the use of words that might offend sensitive individuals; new "bias-reporting" programs that consist of different degrees of campus surveillance; the "dis-invitation" of a growing list of speakers, including many in the mainstream of American politics and values; and the prominent "shouting down" or disruption of speakers deemed inconsistent with progressive ideology. Not to be outdone, external forces on the right are now engaging in social media bullying of speakers and teachers whose views upset them. The essays in this collection, written by prominent philosophers, political scientists, sociologists, and legal scholars, examine the issues at the forefront of the crisis of free speech in higher education. The contributors address the broader historical, cultural, legal, and normative contexts of the current crisis, and take care to analyze the role of "due process" in protecting academic freedom and individuals accused of misconduct. Additionally, the volume is unique in that it advances practical remedies to campus censorship, as the editors and many of the contributors have participated in movements to remedy limitations on free speech and open inquiry. The Value and Limits of Academic Speech will educate academic professionals and informed citizens about the phenomenon of progressive censorship and its implications for higher education and the republic.
Value and the Humanities: The Neoliberal University and Our Victorian Inheritance (Palgrave Studies in Literature, Culture and Economics)
by Zoe Hope BulaitisTracing the shift from liberal to neoliberal education from the nineteenth century to the present day, this open access book provides a rich and previously underdeveloped narrative of value in higher education in England. Value and the Humanities draws upon historical, financial, and critical debates concerning educational and cultural policy. Rather than writing a singular defence of the humanities against economic rationalism, Zoe Hope Bulaitis constructs a nuanced map of the intersections of value in the humanities, encompassing an exploration of policy engagement, scientific discourses, fictional representation, and the humanities in public life. The book articulates a kaleidoscopic range of humanities practices which demonstrate that although recent policy encourages higher education to be entirely motivated by outcomes, fiscal targets, and the acquisition of employability skills, the humanities continue to inspire and aspire beyond these limits. This book is a historically-grounded and theoretically-informed analysis of the value of the humanities within the context of the market.
Value-Creating Education: Teachers’ Perceptions and Practice (Routledge Series on Life and Values Education)
by Emiliano Bosio Maria GuajardoOffering a pivotal reference point and a wide range of global perspectives of teaching experiences on value-creating education (VCE), this book is a timely spotlight on contemporary issues of globalisation that many educational institutions around the world may encounter. It contributes to the originality of constructing new knowledge in the field of VCE, a forward-looking framework, and an ethical and educational imperative that can be understood in different ways, from diverse theoretical orientations. The chapters written by experienced international educators explore the following questions: How do educators understand the role of VCE? What pedagogical approaches to VCE do educators employ in their classes? How do educators support the values and knowledge of VCE in all curricular areas? What do educators see as the key essential values and knowledge that students should develop through VCE? It offers valuable insights and applied pedagogical practices for postgraduate students, researchers, educational policy makers, curriculum developers, and decision-makers in higher education institutions and non-governmental organizations (e.g., UNESCO, OXFAM).
Value-Creating Education: Teachers’ Perceptions and Practice (Routledge Series on Life and Values Education)
by Emiliano Bosio Maria GuajardoOffering a pivotal reference point and a wide range of global perspectives of teaching experiences on value-creating education (VCE), this book is a timely spotlight on contemporary issues of globalisation that many educational institutions around the world may encounter. It contributes to the originality of constructing new knowledge in the field of VCE, a forward-looking framework, and an ethical and educational imperative that can be understood in different ways, from diverse theoretical orientations. The chapters written by experienced international educators explore the following questions: How do educators understand the role of VCE? What pedagogical approaches to VCE do educators employ in their classes? How do educators support the values and knowledge of VCE in all curricular areas? What do educators see as the key essential values and knowledge that students should develop through VCE? It offers valuable insights and applied pedagogical practices for postgraduate students, researchers, educational policy makers, curriculum developers, and decision-makers in higher education institutions and non-governmental organizations (e.g., UNESCO, OXFAM).
Value-Creating Global Citizenship Education: Engaging Gandhi, Makiguchi, and Ikeda as Examples (Palgrave Studies in Global Citizenship Education and Democracy)
by Namrata SharmaThis book fills an existing gap within the practice of global citizenship education by offering Asian perspectives. In this book, Soka or value-creating education developed by the Japanese educators, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi (1871-1944) and Daisaku Ikeda (b. 1928) is compared to the ideas of the Indian political leader Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948). This study of their respective thoughts and movements has a significant bearing on the three domains of learning within the global citizenship education conceptual dimensions of UNESCO – the cognitive, socio-emotional, and behavioral. This book deftly combines theoretical discussions with themes and suggestions for practice and future research.
Value-Creating Global Citizenship Education: Engaging Gandhi, Makiguchi, and Ikeda as Examples (Palgrave Studies in Global Citizenship Education and Democracy)
by Namrata SharmaThis book fills an existing gap within the practice of global citizenship education by offering Asian perspectives. In this book, Soka or value-creating education developed by the Japanese educators, Tsunesaburo Makiguchi (1871-1944) and Daisaku Ikeda (b. 1928) is compared to the ideas of the Indian political leader Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948). This study of their respective thoughts and movements has a significant bearing on the three domains of learning within the global citizenship education conceptual dimensions of UNESCO – the cognitive, socio-emotional, and behavioral. This book deftly combines theoretical discussions with themes and suggestions for practice and future research.
Value-Creating Global Citizenship Education for Sustainable Development: Strategies and Approaches (Palgrave Studies in Global Citizenship Education and Democracy)
by Namrata SharmaThis volume brings together marginalized perspectives and communities into the mainstream discourse on education for sustainable development and global citizenship. Building on her earlier work, Sharma uses non-western perspectives to challenge dominant agendas and the underlying Western worldview in the UNESCO led discourse on global citizenship education. Chapters develop the theoretical framework around the three domains of learning within the global citizenship education conceptual dimensions of UNESCO--the cognitive, socio-emotional, and behavioral--and offer practical insights for educators. Value-creating global citizenship education is offered as a pedagogical approach to education for sustainable development and global citizenship in addition to and complementing other approaches mentioned within the recent UNESCO guidelines.
Value Creation through Executive Development
by Solomon AkrofiThe ability of organisations to generate long-term value and growth depends to a very large extent on the capacity of the executive cohort to conceive and implement strategic initiatives through a well-motivated and enabled workforce. However, generating consistent value in today’s volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) and rapidly evolving digital economic landscape can be challenging and, therefore, executives need to update their capabilities regularly to align with the changing value drivers required for long-term growth. To achieve the expected value and growth at a more sustainable level, executive development must be managed as a strategic asset and optimised through effective design and implementation and the effects must be proactively evaluated through meaningful leading indicators and actual 'hard' measures. Value Creation through Executive Development, therefore, offers a well-supported and clearly structured approach to address the gap between executive development initiatives and the creation of long-term organisational value and growth. This book provides a valuable resource to executives and management development professionals who have experienced frustration about the lack of non-value-adding executive development programmes. It also serves as a professional resource for managers of executive and management development programmes, organisational development departments and organisational development consultants, allowing them to integrate this material into existing programmes to achieve value-centric outcomes and to achieve long-term performance targets. Additionally, it serves as a teaching resource for participants in executive/management development courses or seminars globally; offering them the capacity to conduct value-centric initiatives and gain the capacity to influence the tactical, operational and strategic dimensions of their organisational performance.
Value Creation through Executive Development
by Solomon AkrofiThe ability of organisations to generate long-term value and growth depends to a very large extent on the capacity of the executive cohort to conceive and implement strategic initiatives through a well-motivated and enabled workforce. However, generating consistent value in today’s volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) and rapidly evolving digital economic landscape can be challenging and, therefore, executives need to update their capabilities regularly to align with the changing value drivers required for long-term growth. To achieve the expected value and growth at a more sustainable level, executive development must be managed as a strategic asset and optimised through effective design and implementation and the effects must be proactively evaluated through meaningful leading indicators and actual 'hard' measures. Value Creation through Executive Development, therefore, offers a well-supported and clearly structured approach to address the gap between executive development initiatives and the creation of long-term organisational value and growth. This book provides a valuable resource to executives and management development professionals who have experienced frustration about the lack of non-value-adding executive development programmes. It also serves as a professional resource for managers of executive and management development programmes, organisational development departments and organisational development consultants, allowing them to integrate this material into existing programmes to achieve value-centric outcomes and to achieve long-term performance targets. Additionally, it serves as a teaching resource for participants in executive/management development courses or seminars globally; offering them the capacity to conduct value-centric initiatives and gain the capacity to influence the tactical, operational and strategic dimensions of their organisational performance.
The Value of Art Education: Cultural Engagements at the Swedish Folk High Schools (Sociology of the Arts)
by Henrik Fürst Erik NylanderThis book shows the continuing importance of art education. Art education attracts students who see multiple meanings and justifications for the worth of that education. Their engagement in art education is not limited to the uncertain prospects for jobs or routes into employment in the arts. Fürst and Nylander approach art education through a rich array of empirical examples derived from Swedish folk high school programs in music, visual arts, and creative writing. Based on an analytical framework of pragmatic sociology, the book allows the reader to understand the competences and critical capacities held by students and teachers. The book challenges the dominant public perception of art education and broadens our understanding of what it is good for. The Value of Art Education is essential reading for those defending the status of this vital sector of education, offering a deeper understanding of why people engage, what they gain, and the social importance of the arts.
The Value of Drawing Instruction in the Visual Arts and Across Curricula: Historical and Philosophical Arguments for Drawing in the Digital Age (Routledge Research in Arts Education)
by Seymour Simmons IIIBy applying philosophical and historical perspectives to drawing instruction, this volume demonstrates how diverse teaching methods contribute to cognitive and holistic development applicable within and beyond the visual arts. Offering a new perspective on the art and science of drawing, this text reveals the often-unrecognized benefits that drawing can have on the human mind, and thus argues for the importance of drawing instruction despite, and even due to contemporary digitalization. Given the predominance of visual information and digital media, visual thinking in and through drawing may be an essential skill for the future. As such, the book counters recent declines in drawing instruction to propose five Paradigms for teaching drawing – as design, as seeing, as experience and experiment, as expression, and as a visual language – with exemplary curricula for pre-K12 art and general education, pre-professional programs across the visual arts, and continuing education. With the aid of instructional examples, this volume dispels the misconception of drawing as a talent reserved for the artistically gifted and posits it as a teachable skill that can be learned by all. This text will be of primary interest to doctoral students, researchers, and scholars with interests in drawing theory and practice, cognition in the arts, positive psychology, creativity theory, as well as the philosophy and history of arts education. Aligning with contemporary trends such as Design Thinking, STEAM, and Graphicacy, the text will also have appeal to visual arts educators, and those involved in arts integration. Seymour Simmons III is a Professor of Fine Arts Emeritus at Winthrop University, USA.
The Value of English in Global Mobility and Higher Education: An Investigation of Higher Education in Cyprus (Critical Perspectives on Language, Mobility and International Education)
by Manuela Vida-MannlThis book offers a unique insight into the dynamics of the English language in higher education in Cyprus through the lens of universities situated on both sides of its geopolitical division. It takes an original perspective on 'value' in the context of the sociolinguistics and political economy of English as a global language and as an apparent commodified entity. The problematic issues of value as they apply to language are dealt with from Marxist and Bourdieusean perspectives. The book also offers a helpful critique of the claims of alternative paradigms of English expansion, such as ELF, and their shortcomings in respect of the concept of value. Manuela Vida-Mannl puts forth a critique of the marketization of English and the complicity of higher education in the reproduction of linguistic hierarchies and social inequalities in Cyprus and, by implication, more generally. She presents a conception of English as a marketable attribute that does not necessarily require competence, which points to the ongoing imbrication of English in the reproduction of global structural and social inequality, as it exposes the myth of class advancement through English. Building on an extensive study (based on 205 questionnaires and 25 subsequent in-depth ethnographic interviews) and by focusing on the value of English within the unique context of divided Cyprus, this book uncovers an intriguing perspective on the neoliberal role and significance of the English language in our globalized world.
The Value of English in Global Mobility and Higher Education: An Investigation of Higher Education in Cyprus (Critical Perspectives on Language, Mobility and International Education)
by Manuela Vida-MannlThis book offers a unique insight into the dynamics of the English language in higher education in Cyprus through the lens of universities situated on both sides of its geopolitical division. It takes an original perspective on 'value' in the context of the sociolinguistics and political economy of English as a global language and as an apparent commodified entity. The problematic issues of value as they apply to language are dealt with from Marxist and Bourdieusean perspectives. The book also offers a helpful critique of the claims of alternative paradigms of English expansion, such as ELF, and their shortcomings in respect of the concept of value. Manuela Vida-Mannl puts forth a critique of the marketization of English and the complicity of higher education in the reproduction of linguistic hierarchies and social inequalities in Cyprus and, by implication, more generally. She presents a conception of English as a marketable attribute that does not necessarily require competence, which points to the ongoing imbrication of English in the reproduction of global structural and social inequality, as it exposes the myth of class advancement through English. Building on an extensive study (based on 205 questionnaires and 25 subsequent in-depth ethnographic interviews) and by focusing on the value of English within the unique context of divided Cyprus, this book uncovers an intriguing perspective on the neoliberal role and significance of the English language in our globalized world.
The Value of Foreign Language Learning: A Study on Linguistic Capital and the Economic Value of Language Skills
by Tobias SchroedlerBased on a highly interdisciplinary theoretical framework, Tobias Schroedler provides a comprehensive picture of the value of language skills within the Irish economy. The author manages to present and merge theories from economics, business studies, sociology, and applied linguistics making this an innovative and valuable contribution to the growing field of research on the value of multilingualism and languages. The first of two datasets presented in the book provides a macroeconomic quantification on the economic performance of four different global language communities. The second dataset consists of an expert interview study on the matter. Based on the data analysis, the author derives recommendations for economically beneficial language education policy making.
The Value of Play
by Perry ElseMost recognize that play is good for children yet we are confused by the dangers we see in the wider environment and so often restrict children's natural opportunities to play. As a result children's play has gained increased awareness amongst a variety of professions working with children, many of whom have different approaches to play and children. The Value of Play is explained using the Integral Play Framework, a model that draws together differing views on the purpose of play and its various types. These ideas are then used as the basis for chapters of the book: showing why playing is valuable to our bodies, our minds, and culturally and socially. There are examples of how play can be supported both informally and formally, at home and in children's settings. As well as theory, there are relevant, practical approaches for play activities, and observations of playing children to help explain the processes. Key questions are asked at times to help those who may be engaged in a more reflective form of practice. The Value of Play has been written to be accessible by a broad spectrum of readers, including all those training to work with children; those specifically engaged in playwork as a field in itself; and those on Childhood Studies programmes.Â