When I Think of Research…..

I am still intimidated, but I have gained many insights about research from taking this course.  I have learned how to read research studies and to evaluate if the research is credible.  I have learned about the decision-making process that goes into each step of a research design and the many factors one has to take into account each step along the way.  I have added to my “research” vocabulary the many terms we learned and applied to our research simulations using a quantitative and qualitative research design. 

My ideas about the nature of doing research have changed throughout this course.  I began this course with very little knowledge of research and was very nervous about this topic.  However, as the information was gradually presented to us and as we were given the opportunity to apply what we learned to our own research simulation studies, I became less nervous with the research process.  I am still intimidated by how daunting the whole research experience is, but I feel more comfortable reading and analyzing researching studies. 

One of the challenges that I encountered was narrowing down the focus of my research study.  Each week, I would nip-and-tuck the topic a little bit more until I finally had my final research question and hypothesis.  Another challenge was choosing the sampling process for my research study.  I would debate this issue for weeks before finally deciding what I wanted for my research simulation.

My perceptions of the early childhood profession have been modified as a result of this course.  For example, I have learned firsthand the importance of research to the field of early childhood education.  The wide range of various topics that my peers have chosen for their research simulations is a testament to how broad the field of early childhood is and how important these topics are to our profession.