I think one of the most important insights for me
came at the very beginning of this course as we learned how to efficiently read
research. We learned the key areas to read in order to gain a complete
understanding of the research study. It has already saved me so much time in
reviewing articles and understanding. I can see that this new found skill will
be invaluable as I continue on at Walden and for the rest of my career in the
field of early childhood. I also now have an understanding of the types of
research including both quantitative and qualitative. I now understand the
process of conducting research from start to finish as I have learned all of
the steps. I understand that conducting research is a great task but worth the
undertaking. What has truly amazed me the most is that over the course of eight
weeks we have been able to construct a research simulation.
My ideas about the nature of research have changed
as I can now completely see what goes into research. Through this program, I
have read numerous studies but I was not familiar with the complexities and
steps necessary to conduct research. I have learned that there are steps that
need to be carried out in order establish, design and conduct research. There
is a specific method and approach that needs to be considered before and during
any research study. I hope to now be a much better consumer of research. There
are many complexities to research but it is well worth delving into and maybe
someday expanded my own participation as a researcher.
I learned many lessons about planning, designing and
conducting research in the early childhood field. I learned that all of these
steps are important and need to be carefully thought out. A research study
needs to be carefully planned, designed and conducted. There are so many
factors to be taken into consideration and thought about prior to beginning and
while implementing a study. When planning, designing and conducting research in
the early childhood field there are many decisions and choices that need to be
made to best meet the needs of your study and also the needs of your
participants. Care needs to be taken in order to conduct ethical and equitable
research while at the same time collect data that will yield valid information
that will benefit the participants and the early childhood field.
I think my greatest challenge was the fear of
research going into this course. I have read research but never attempted to
understand and learn how to be a researcher. A challenge for me was grasping
all of the new ideas and vocabulary of research. I now can think of research in
a whole new way. I think that the research charts helped a lot. Through these
assignments, we were able to review our textbook, review and define vocabulary,
state and respond to an issue and answer a reflection question. I really feel
that these assignments helped and I was able to use them throughout the course
to assist with each research simulation. Now that we have compiled these
charts, we will have them always at our fingertips for review. Another challenge was narrowing down my topic
into one very specific question. Dr Dartt was able to help me through this
challenge. I read through one of the articles related to the topic I was
interested in studying and I was able to find a key word and that key word
helped me to narrow my question down to one manageable question to study.
I have learned that it is so
important for early childhood professionals to keep doing research. I have an
even greater respect for the hard work and dedication of professional that
undertake research as research continues to add to an increasing body of
knowledge that helps our field in so many ways.
I have learned that as early
childhood professionals working in early childhood settings, we are conducting
research with our children every day.
I have learned that we can
never stop being consumers of research. Early childhood professionals need to
continue to read the current research. Research from all fields related to
early childhood will help to further the knowledge that those in the field are
professionals. Early childhood is a very important field that needs to be
continuously studied.
