I have learned a great deal about research through this
class. I had always thought of research
as something done my scientists in a lab somewhere or in a foreign country
studying a lost tribe of indigenous people.
It was exciting to do our own little mini research projects. Walking through each step of the project I
learned the different ways that the design affects the outcome and which types
of studies are best for certain types of questions.
While the research project I designed was very simple and
compact, I learned that there were still a lot of steps to be taken and
information to be gained, even in a small project. I was very interested in the ethics behind
the research process. When you look at
the relationship between researcher and participant, you do see the power the
text talks about. I was impressed that
current research included people to strive for equity in that relationship.
The greatest challenge in my own research was validating the
results. In quantitative research
findings are subject to validation through man aspects, one aspect is
reductionism. This means breaking
everything down to its simplest form so that all of the terms used are
completely understood by all and the researchers are all able to get the same
results. Because my project was about
prosocial behavior, I needed to define exactly which behaviors would be used
for the purpose of this project.
I don’t know that my perception of early childhood
professionals has changed, however I now have a deeper understanding of how
research is used in our profession. I
also realize that there are many career opportunities for child development
professionals in the research field. I
don’t that is a path I personally will take, but you never know!
5 comments:
Stacie,
I too thought about why researchers always did research in a place that didn't identify with where I lived or the culture that I was from. I think that it is important to have information from all different types of people and cultures. Good Luck in the future.
Stacie, this course has really opened my eyes to research and all its different aspects and features. Like you said there is indeed a lot of scope for researchers in the early childhood field and there are so many things that must be taken into consideration, both when conducting the research and also when the researcher seeks to validate what they have done.
All the best in your future courses.
I am super excited to know that I am not the only one who thought research was something that was for sientists in a lab somewhere trying to cure something....There is so much information out there about so many subjects that it is insane. I can now see why there are so many ways of doing research, it has to get narrowed down somewhere.
Good luck in the future, hopw to see you next class.
Stacie,
I too, have gained a deeper understanding of early childhood education through research. I hope to grow more in this area in the future.
Janille
I have learned a lot about research through this class. I never took into consideration how difficult and time consuming it is until I began working on the simulation. I have so much more respect for the those who actually work in professions in which they are required to do any kind of research.
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