Thinking of Research...

Thinking of Research

I have had an amazing experience building my research competencies. I have learned many new things concerning research. I have learned the correct way to conduct research. Research involves many important steps. Finding an appropriate research question and learning if it will evolve into a hypothesis was new to me. I initially thought that anything I wanted to research would be appropriate, I was wrong. I also learned different design styles and ways to set up my research study.

Also, learning about the different aspects of research has enabled me to confidently conduct a research study in the future. I think that I would be less intimidated about conducting research in the future. This class has really taught me a lot and I am very glad that I had the opportunity to learn about research. I feel confident that I can conduct a good research and implement everything that I have learned.

In addition to learning about the overall process of research, I learned key aspects that are very important to the entire process. I learned that planning my research will help me avoid mistakes such as; using the wrong approach to research, not getting proper consent, and not choosing the best way to get the information I need to carry out a good research.

However, I encountered a few problems along the way. I learned the difference in a case study and a research study. I learned that what I had was actually a case study with a few participants. I also had trouble with the understanding of some of the definitions. I got confused with methodological triangulation and theory triangulation. With the help of Dr. Davis I was able to distinguish the differences between the two. I also read re-read the text so that I could get a better understanding of the definitions.

In conclusion, a new dimension to early childhood has taken place in my mind. I realize that contributing to research is very important to the field. As I further my education this class will have helped me in a great way. I plan on getting my Doctorate in the future and I know that research will be a big part of my study. Also, as an early childhood professional I will be able to contribute to my profession by conducting meaningful research that will help my community. I would like to thank my classmates and Dr. Davis for providing me with support throughout this learning experience. I wish everyone the best of luck in their futures.