When I Think of Research…
What insights have you gained about research
from taking this course?
This course has taught me a lot about
“authentic” research. I have learned many new insights about research from the
sources provided. I now know the different types of research designs, data
collection methods, techniques, how to validate research, how to be aware of
ethic issues, understand the limitations and challenges to studies, how to
properly state a research title and major topic and overall goals, how to state
the major research question, the independent variables and dependent variable
of a study, and the extraneous variables and how in what ways I can control
them. I also now know how to create a research study outline. In addition I
feel I have a solid understanding about how to be equitable. Before this
course, I had no clue what any of this meant. I also learned that there are a
multitude of research protocols and a lot of historical information about
research and how it has changed over time.
In what ways have your ideas about the nature
of doing research changed?
Before starting this class I was very nervous
about “real” research and overwhelmed about the process. I now feel that I
understand more about the process of research and see it as something I could
actually do (with guidance). I realize that my own classroom would be a great
place to start! I will keep the course text and resources for reference. I
found them fairly easy to read and comprehend. They will be great resources to
refer to if needed.
What lessons about planning, designing, and
conducting research in early childhood did you learn?
This course has taught me that planning,
designing, and conducting research in the early childhood field takes a lot of
time and mindful decision making to create a credible and valid research study.
A lot of planning and designing goes into the research process before
implementation even starts. Then after the data collection, analyzing begins
which needs to be planned and organized too. The research process is not something
that you can just jump into without proper planning and designing. I did not
realize that reviewing related literature was part of the process until I
learned that there is a lot of research protocol.
What were some of the challenges you
encountered—and in what ways did you meet them?
Some of the challenges I encountered were
understanding the different terminology, methods, and techniques of research.
For example, I really needed to study the different triangulation methods and
the differences between quantitative and qualitative research. The application
part 1 charts did help me take time to read and re-read topics and terms and
put things into my own words. Also, the open dialogue I had with my colleagues
in the discussions posts were helpful and gave me other viewpoints and
perspectives.
What are some of the ways your perceptions of
an early childhood professional have been modified as a result of this course?
Some of the ways my perception of early childhood
professionals have been modified as a result of this course are that I now view
us as researchers and data analyzers in addition to educators. Prior to this course, I really didn’t see early
childhood professionals as researchers. I mostly saw us as teachers,
caregivers, and educators. I see how we can be researchers because by nature of
our position we understand the early childhood field but now have a basic
understanding of research design and have the perfect field from which to
study. This excites me but I need to process how I would do this within my
current time/schedule constraints. That in itself needs to be a study!!
