ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors describe lessons learned from our collaboration to jointly conceptualize and create a research design and implementation of a longitu dinal, cross-cultural study of toddler teacher practice in US and Italy. The number of co-constructed cross-cultural research studies in early care and education are scarce because, in part, it takes a lot of time, resources, and effort. Insider–outsider dynamics were present since members of the research team represented both contexts and worked to implement all aspects of the project in both settings. Researchers at each institution managed their respective applications. A US research team member was visiting to work out future study steps and was able to be present as well. Once video recordings of each teacher's day were completed, teachers reviewed their footage alone and then again alongside a researcher. Often, contemporary researchers face the dilemma of combating ethnocentric research designs in which a study in one culture is simply replicated in a second culture.
