3.3 Topics from Comparable Studies

A review of the instrumentation used by comparable international studies indicates a

high degree of consistency between those studies (see chapter 1) and Growing Up in

Ireland for Cohort 08 at age 3. The review also identified topics that were a) explored

in Growing Up in Ireland but not in many comparable studies and b) explored in

comparable studies but not previously in Growing Up in Ireland.

Almost all studies asked about specific childcare arrangements. A large proportion of

studies, including Growing Up in Ireland, included items about the parents’ role in

fostering learning at home, as well as including some form of cognitive ability

measure. Less common topics included the number of (children’s) books in the home,

quality of the childcare environment, and primary school registration.

Topics within the domain of early learning and childcare explored in other studies but

not in Growing Up in Ireland included the education model of the childcare setting.

Other studies also had more detailed information on screen time (specifically passive

screen time, screen content, screen time while eating and screen time before bed)

than featured in Growing Up in Ireland’s Cohort 08 at 3.

3.4 Summary of Continuing Topics