EDUC 6163 - week 8

As we wrap up the eight weeks of Building Research Competency, I can not help but think of how much my understanding of research has improved, and that I will always be much more critical of any article I read or any quote of research results.

I want to begin by thanking Dr. Parrish for breaking down the course in a very effective and enjoyable way. It was always interesting and informative, but not overwhelming.

The insight that I feel I walk away with is primarily that there is good reliable valid research, and that there is not so good and doubtful research. So the walk away message is to be critical with every research study we encounter. From my previous career in healthcare, I had some idea of how to read research studies and how to analyze their quality, but with the early childhood field there is an added element of qualitative research which is critical for this field. I realize now that methods can be combined and that validity as well as equity are important. I also realize that consent is also applicable to the children in the studies and not just the authorized adult, and that the ethical issues with studying children is more vast and intense than other fields.

I found the chapters on observation and interviews very interesting and practical. In addition, having learnt terms for the different ways we observe or interview and collect data, made me feel more prepared and resourced for conducting research. The same applies to the concept of sampling and choosing participants.

Being a very practical person, with little affinity for the philosophical side of issues, I had a harder time with chapters that explored equity and ethics. I found them very interesting and important, but not high on my personal priority list. This was a good challenge for me, since they are an integral part of research.

Although I realize that early childhood professionals have a vast range of responsibilities and career paths, adding research to that profession has added a dimension to the field in my perspective. In addition, for those of us not conducting research, I realize now that we are obligated to remain informed of the current research findings that influence our daily work.

I want to thank all my classmates for their comments, remarks and questions to my posts; it is always very exciting to read how others interpret my work. I am thankful also for all your hard work and posts which have taught me so much.

Wishing you all luck in future courses and in our precious field of work.