RAJANI MOHAN KONANTAMBIGI, Reader (Associate Professor)

M.A. (Psy.) ; Ph.D (Child Psy.)

Email: rajanimk@tiss.edu

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

The broad areas of development which interest me are in the realm of psycho-social development of children and adolescents. The emotional socialisation of children, the effects of maternal employment and substitute care on children, the effects of social change; specifically media on child and adolescent development, the context and practice of child upbringing and care in different cultural, geographical and SES groups; and child development in special contexts like street children or institutionalised children are some specific topics of my liking. Exploration of the psycho-social context and the related dimensions in the education of young children also fascinates me. The education of young children is also an area of work that I would continue to work in. Research studies that experiment and document different research methods hold my interest, especially qualitative research methods.

MEMBERSHIPS :

 

International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development.

National Association of Psychology.

Co-convener, Maharashtra FORCES (Forum for Creche and Child Care Services, India)

WORK EXPERIENCE

  • Worked as Research Officer/Ad hoc Lecturer in Tata Institute of Social Sciences from May 1989 to March 1992. Job description was to assist in formulating research guidelines, analysis and overall monitoring of the research related to day care for children , collating articles on child abuse from the written media and playing an active role in the moblization of adolescent girls from a slum area.
  • Worked as Lecturer in Nirmala Niketan College of Home Science, Bombay from November 1990 to April 1991. Teaching graduate and post-graduate students.
  • Worked as Guest Lecturer and Assistant Project Co-ordinator in the short term course , Provision for Day Care, at the Kalina Campus, Bombay University from Jan.1990 to Nov.1990.
  • Worked as Research Associate/Lecturer in M.S.University of Baroda from March 1992 to March 1995. The tasks were mostly academic in nature - research work, and guidance to students, teaching for graduate and post-graduate classes ,and supervision of one of their field based activities ( a day care centre ) .
  • Worked in Eklavya, Hoshangabad (M.P.) during April 1995 to June 1995. Job included evaluation of Eklavya’s primary school children.
  • Working as a Reader (equivalent to Associate Professor) in Tata Institute of Social Sciences from July 1995 onwards. Duties include, teaching post-graduation courses, conducting, publishing and guiding students’ research projects and participating in the administration of the Institute.

TEACHING OF ACADEMIC COURSES:

Currently teaching

1. Psychology (introductory courses) for the M.A. Course (Social Work).

Courses taught:

1. Child and human development and psychology related courses, and research methodology course for graduate and undergraduate students at the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Baroda (1992-1995) and the Department of Human Development at Nirmala Niketan, College of Home Science , Mumbai (1990-1991).

2. Marriage and the Family, Population Studies, and Research Seminar (training for group research) for undergraduate students at the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Baroda .

3. Qualitative Research Methods for the Post M.A. students of the Certificate Course in Research Methodology .

4. Human Growth and Behaviour, for the M.A. Course (Social Work).

PUBLICATIONS

  • Data collection: Multifaceted experiences in day care. In Pawar, M. (Ed.) 2004, Data collection methods and experiences: A guide for social researchers. USA . UK . INDIA : Dawn Publishers
  • Functional relationships in the nuclear and extended family: A 16 culture study. International Journal of Psychology, 36(5), 289-300. ( coauthored with multiple authors.
  • Child and Adolescent Development Research In J.Pandey (Ed.) Psychology in India Revisited: Developments in the field . (ICSSR’s Fourth Survey of Research in Psychology) Co-authored with Baljit Kaur & Shailaja Menon. New Delhi : Sage Publications. pp.163-227.
  • Perceived Maternal Satisfaction and Socio-emotional Behavioral Development in Preschool Children , 1998; Trends in Social Research, 5(1), 115-130.( First author, Monica Gupta)
  • Family Studies in India : Opportunities for Progression and Regeneration. In, S. Bharat (Ed.) Family Measurement in India . New Delhi : Sage Publications 1996, pp.66-78. Co-authored with Saraswathi, T.S.
  • Women, Work and Child Care. March 1994; The WHODSIC-WSRC Newsletter, Issue No. 11, Department of HDFS, M.S.University of Baroda . Guest Editor.
  • Industrialisation and Problems and Issues in the Upbringing of Children . In, A.K.Dalal.&Singh.A.K.(eds.) Research in Human Resource Development: Psychological Perspectives. Gurgaon : Academic Press.

RESEARCH/OTHER REPORTS

  • Report on National Workshop On Qualitative Research Methods, 22-24 December, 2003.
  • Teacher assessment of teaching learning problems as manifested by children in the normal classroom. Draft submitted to BRS, October 2003.
  • Report of the filed intervention project, Non-formal Education for Tribal Children of Betul District, M.P.
  • Annual Report For the intervention study, Non-formal Education of Tribal Children of Betul District, M.P.
  • Home-School Transition and Adjustment and Performance of School Children, 2000. A research study on the schools of Mumbai.
  • A Report of the Workshop on Creative Realms of Art. Mimeograph. TISS. 1999.
  • Beliefs about Child, Childhood and Child Upbringing, 1996. Mimeograph. Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.
  • Workshop on Infant Stimulation for Creche Caregivers, 1989 (Co-authored with Vrinda R. Datta).

 FIELD ACTION PROJECTS :

  • Maharashtra Forces, co-convener.
  • Non-formal Education for Tribal Children of Betul District, Madhya Pradesh State .
  • Balwadi (centre for preschool education) for Disadvantaged Children, at Mumbai Central, Mumbai. (Handed over to the NGO, Hamara Foundation, Mumbai Central, Mumbai, in September 2002).
  • Children’s Center, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai; from June 1996 to July 1997.

PAPERS PRESENTED :

  • Teacher Identification of Learning Problems: Comparisons with a screening device and learning disabilities test, paper presented at the International Conference on learning disabilities and Young at Risk, 19-21 February, 2003, Allahabad , and Lucknow . (With Mamatha Shetty)
  • Play and Play way method in the elementary grades: Is it really there? Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Association for the Study of Play, 19-22, Charleston , SC , U.S.A.
  • University sponsored child care in four countries: Implications for play theory and practice. Olga S. Jarrett, Editor with, Sarah Bexell, Stacey French-Lee, Nimet Korkmaz, & Rajani Konantambigi. Paper presented at a cross-cultural symposium at The Association for the Study of Play, Charleston , SC , U.S.A. February 2003.
  • Beliefs about Child, Childhood and Upbringing: A Crucial Component of the Developmental Niche at XIV Biennial meetings of the ISSBD, Canada . 12-16 August 1996. Poster Presentation.
  • Home Environment, Day Care Quality and Development of Pre-schoolers: A Study in the Indian Context. XIII Biennial Meetings of International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development (ISSBD) .28 June to 2 July 1994 . Poster Presentation.
  • Gender Differences in Moral Reasoning. Annual Conference of the International Association of Cross Cultural Psychology , July 1994, Lisbon , Spain.( First author, Joyeeta Sengupta, second author, Saraswathi T.S. )
  • Orientation Programme on Teaching Methodology. January 1993; Centre for Advanced Studies in Education, M.S.University of Baroda .
  • Cognitive and Social Development of Pre-school Children in Day Care Centres, at the National Seminar on the Pre-school Child, November 1992, at SNDT Women’s University, Churchgate Campus, Mumbai.
  • A Profile of Women Business Entrepreneurs . National Seminar on “Leadership Behaviour”, February 23-25, 1989 . University of Bombay . (Co-authored with Purnima Rao , Personnel Executive, CEAT India Ltd.)
  • Television and Child Development in India : A Review of Contemporary Research, Seminar on “TV and Child Development” February 12-14, 1987 . National Institute for Public Co-operation and Child Development, New Delhi (Mimeograph).

WORKSHOPS ORGANISED

  • National Workshop on Qualitative Research Methods, 22 nd to 24 th December 2003 ; Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.
  • Workshop on Emotional Development and Emotional Coping in Preshoolers, Jan 28, 2000; for preschool teacher trainees , Arya Vidya Mandir, (affiliated to the Bombay University) Juhu, Mumbai.
  • Unexpected Realms of Art, April 12-16, 1999 at the Unit for Child & Youth Research, T.I.S.S. Mumbai.
  • Workshop on Infant Stimulation for Creche Caregivers, June 1989, TISS (Assisted Vrinda R. Datta).

PARTICIPATION IN SEMINARS/WORKSHOPS :

  • National Consultative Committee meeting on Standards for Crèches, Department of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Human Resources Development, New Delhi, 4 th December, 2002.
  • Head Start’s Sixth National Research Conference at Washington DC . during 26 th to 29 th June 2002, organised by Department of Child Development, U.S. Federal Government.
  • National Consultative Conference on the Social Changes Facing the Family. Workshop-cum-Seminar. 15-17 May 1998, NIPCCD, New Delhi .
  • Workshop On Qualitative Research Methods in Child Development, Feb.,1 – 3,1997 Dept. of Human Development and Family Studies, M.S. University of Baroda.
  • Workshop on the Community Out-Reach Programmes, Feb. 4 – 5, .1997, Dept. of Human Development and Family Studies, M.S. University of Baroda .
  • Cognition and Learning; June 1996; Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, (affiliated to TIFR), Mankhurd, Mumbai.
  • National Conference on Child Mental Health in India , April – May 1996, TISS, Mumbai.
  • Annual Conference of the National Association of Psychology, November1995; Gulbarga University , Karnataka State , India .
  • Orientation Programme on Teaching Methodology. January 1993; Centre for Advanced Studies in Education, M.S. University of Baroda .
  • Workshop on Qualitative Research Methods in Health Sciences, April 1991, Department of Health Services and Sciences, TISS, Mumbai.
  • National Workshop of Institutions Involved in the Monitoring and Supervision of Crèches Under the Scheme of Crèches for Children of Ailing and Working Women , National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development , Regional Centre , Bangalore , Aug. 1989.

 TALKS GIVEN

  • Data collection and data management in qualitative research, The ICSSR Regional Center, Kalina Campus, April 1, 2004, presentation for the workshop on Training in Research Methods (for faculty and research scholars of Mumbai University).
  • Data analysis and validity of data in qualitative research, The ICSSR Regional Center, Kalina Campus, April 1, 2004, presentation for the workshop on Training in Research Methods (for faculty and research scholars of Mumbai University).
  • Discourse analysis, presentation for the Refresher Course in Research Methodology, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, February 2-21, 2004 .
  • Ethics in qualitative research, presentation for the Refresher Course in Research Methodology, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, February 2-21, 2004.
  • Developmental Needs of School Aged Children, at Turbhe Municipal School No. 2. Navi Mumbai, 16 th November 2003, organised by Chetana Foundation, Vashi, Navi Mumbai, as a part of in service Teachers’ Training Program: Alternative Teaching Methods.
  • Perspectives in psychology, Refresher Course in Special Education, Department of Special Education, SNDT Women’s University, Juhu Campus, March 21 st, 2003 .
  • Youth development: Self and social nexus, 9 th December, 2002 , Orientation Course of National Service Scheme (5th to 14th December, 2002).
  • Joyful Learning: Case of Mumbai Schools - India . March 2, 2002 , organised by Department of Special Education and Educational Psychology , Georgia State University, College of Education , presentation for faculty of the College of Education .
  • Working with children from various cultures, at Georgia State University , College of Education , Atlanta , U.S.A. , April 2002, for post-graduate students in Education and Counselling.
  • Indian Education System, at Georgia State University, College of Education, Atlanta, U.S.A., April 2002, for post-graduate students in Education.
  • Problems and Issues in Data Analysis: Example of the Study – Teacher Assessment of Teaching Learning Strategies with Children in the Normal Classroom, at Georgia State University, College of Education, Atlanta, U.S.A., July 2, 2002, for post-graduate students in Education.
  • Play through Joyful Learning in the elementary schools of Mumbai , India , at Georgia State University , College of Education , Atlanta , U.S,A., July 2002, for post-graduate students in Early Childhood Education.
  • Integrating Theories in Human Development , March 1999 ; for post graduate students in Human Development at the S.N.D.T. Women’s University, Juhu Campus, Mumbai. Same talk was also given during March 1998.
  • Child Development and Health : for parents of pre-school children; December,1998. Mahila Mandal Community Centre , Bandra , Mumbai
  • Quantitative Statistical Analysis, March 1997 for M.Phil/Ph.D. scholars of the Home Science Faculty, S.N.D.T. Women’s University, Juhu campus, Mumbai.
  • Personality Development and Career Choice, October 22, 1995 , Youth Camp of the Malabar Mass Centre, Mankhurd, Mumbai .
  • Child Development, for teachers of pre-school programme, managed by the Methodist Church , Jan.,1994, Baroda , Gujarat .
  • Careers in Psychology, November 1993, for undergraduate students, Karnatak Arts College , Psychology Association, Dharwad, Karnataka State .
  • Factors Affecting Child Development; November 1991; for nursing trainees, Department of Nursing, K.E.M. General Hospital and Wadia Children’s Hospital, Parel, Mumbai.
  • A series of lectures on different psychological aspects of child development, for creche caregivers of the Government of Maharashtra, at the Training Programme for Creche Care Givers, Unit for Child and Youth Research, March 1991, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.
  • Impact of Maternal Employment and Day Care on Young Children, undergraduate students, Nov. ,1990; Psychology Association, Karnatak Arts College, Dharwad , Karnataka State.
  • Industrialization and Problems and Issues in the Upbringing of Children, January 1988, for Post-graduate students, Psychology Forum, Karnatak University, Dharwad, Karnataka.

STUDENT GUIDE FOR MASTER'S DISSERTATION :

Consequences of maternal employment maternal employment

Ms. Monica Gupta

Dept. of HDFS

M.S.University of Baroda , 1993-94.

Impact of cinema on street children.

Fr. Francis Anthony TISS, 1995-97

Resilience in street children.

Ms. Shweta Gandhi TISS, 1996-98

Coping in People Working with the dead.

Ms.Rizwana Ghadially TISS, 1997-99

_ _ _ _ _ _

Education

B.A. Psychology, Karnatka University, Dharwad, 1982

M.A. Karnatka University, Dharwad, 1982

Dip. in French Literature, Karnatka University, Dharwad, 1984

Ph.D. Tata Institute of Social Sciences

Tata Institute 1991 - - Thesis titled: “Cognitive Social and Development of Pre-school Children in Home and Day Care Environments".

Fellowships:

The Fulbright Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship for 2001-2002. Affiliation was with Department of Educational Psychology and Special Education , Georgia State University, Atlanta . The fellowship was for the research topic, "Teacher Assessment of Teaching Learning Strategies With Children Manifesting Learning Problems In the Normal Classroom.

The Rockefeller’s Team Residency Fellowship (at the Bellagio Study Center, Italy) with colleague Dr.Vrinda Datta, from Nov. 10 to Dec.9, 2000, to edit the book on Child care in India : Prospects and Issues.

 

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