Blog Assignment: When I
Think of Research...
First, I would like to thank all my classmates and Professor Davis for providing a wonderful course this semester. I truly appreciate all the feedback and
prompt responses that I received, and even though I have a long way to go, I do recognize progress; and I am happy with all
that I learned.
I learned that research requires a lot of time
and prep work. I think that it very
important and it does help bring awareness to many issues, and causes within
the world of early childhood studies. This course opened my eyes to
complexity of research and how important it is to have a plan, and follow steps
to oversee the progress. Research to me is like give and take, basically the amount of work you put into the
research, reflects the outcome.
The lessons that I learned about planning and
designing and conducting were beneficial.
Plans have to be detail, but straight to the point to avoid wordiness
and overlapping of similar information.
The design should be geared towards your research topic, and it should
reflect the highlights of your study. I
think that some topics sort of lean a researcher in various directions, and
that direction should have more pros than cond.
If I am dealing with numbers and I want statistical data then I will
need quantitative research, and if I want surveys, in-depth interviews, and
observational data, then I will have to go with qualitative research. Basically one is well thought out and one kind of evolves as the study evolves, and it
is up to the researcher to recognize and make decisions that exhibit the study
at it best.
Some of
the challenges I endured were lack of prior knowledge, word expression with
grammar, and overdoing in areas where I should not, and not providing enough in
other areas where I should provide more.
I realize that I am indeed not a writer, though I have good ideas. I am artistic, and creative with design in a
child's world, but I have a lot to learn when it comes to creativity with
research, even though I tried this semester. I know now that is it not simply just jotting
down ideas, finding participants and hoping for the best, because validity
within a study, will set one researcher's study apart from others.
My
perception of early childhood professional since taking this course has not
changed. I believe that early childhood
professionals should be commended for all their hard work. So much goes in to researching topics,
issues, themes and the preparation is priceless when one considers the outcome
of the knowledge gain. This course was a
highlight of my time here at Walden, and no matter what the grade may or may
not be, I believe this coursed challenged me and pushed me to try to understand
what may have not been common knowledge and for that I am truly thankful. This was a success and I look forward to
learning more as I pursue the remainder courses within this program. Best of Wishes to Everyone.
