How Nursery School Directors and Early Childhood Education and Care Center Directors Select Infant Care Staff:

Narratives of Directors who Have Experience Working as Infant Care Staff

Abstract

This study sought to clarify nursery school directors and early childhood education and care center directors who have experience in infant care select infant care staff and identify the underlying concepts of the director’s selection process. By evaluating the interactions and causal relationships among the concepts, we identified what kind of expertise the directors expected for infant care staff. Specifically, using a semi-structured interview, we identified the directors’ criterion for selecting infant care staff; as well as their awareness and intention concerning the selection process. Grounded theory approach analysis of the data visualized their tacit knowledge regarding the expertise of infant care staff.