When I Think of Research

When I Think of Research

Insights:                                                                                                                                  Through this experiential learning process I have acquired the necessary tools and skills needed to proficiently analyze and fully comprehend formal research articles. My understanding of research has deepened from this experience because it has allowed for a triad of significant reflections of my own ‘neophyte researcher’ experience as well as the opportunity to share the critical reflections of my ‘travel guide/professor’ and my colleagues. These interpersonal relationships that were developed as we worked throughout this course have provided me with inspiration, new knowledge and experience, and an active voice in the research processing arena.

Ideologies:                                                                                                                                          Because of my personal and professional interests in enhancing Pre K children’s literacy skills I have become more acutely focus-centered on the necessity for me to become more connected to the formalities and details of ‘quality’ research. I now have the ability to read, understand, evaluate, design and carry out research about young children, families, and the early childhood field in general. I have come to the realization that research is the professional tool that makes the job of finding answers highly probable and most effective.

Lessons Learned:                                                                                                                                          As I proceeded on this journey I was in search of answers to take confident ownership of this experiential learning process. Throughout this process was introduced to the standards and guidelines that eventually led me to becoming a critical consumer of research. I became familiar with ethics in early childhood research. As I learned how to become a designer of research I became more knowledgeable of the available options and considerations. I learned about quantitative research and deductive reasoning in action. I was introduced to the workings of qualitative research and its relationship to documenting rich stories of the early childhood field. I learned the significance of bridging the quantitative-qualitative divide to the value of mixing methods. I learned about the issue of equity in research and the necessity to move beyond equality to justice and fairness. This journey has provided me with a wealth of useful knowledge.  

Challenges:                                                                                                                            Challenges are an inevitable circumstance and will occur throughout our lives. Depending on one’s coping skills, available support networks, and ability to recover and learn from the temporary apprehension, challenges should be welcomed and viewed as being a necessary entity to our experiential growth patterns. Challenges were met through and by our collective collaboration, networking, and being respectful help-mates to one another.

Perceptions:                                                                                                                                       What I knew as an early childhood professional and who I was at the start of this journey is profoundly different from what I now know and who I am at the ending of this course. With honesty and sincerity I am truly ‘thankful’ for having the opportunity of sharing this experience with all of you. Best of luck in all you set out to do.