When I think of Research....

At the beginning of this research class I thought I was going to be a pro at the subject.   I was fooled.  I did not realize that there were so many elements that bring it to a full circle.   As Rolfe & Mac Naughton (2010) state in their first chapter, “Research is about uncovering and enabling the emergence of new understandings, insights, and knowledge.”  I find researching any subject to be challenging at first but once you get in depth and have an understanding of the subject, it becomes interesting and wanting to know more.  I made this statement in my first discussion and my thoughts on this research class have changed since then.   This class was extremely challenging and I feel that I would have been a better student if I had been sitting in front of my professor.  There’s always a first time for everything I guess.

My perception of an early childhood professional has been modified for the simple fact of the different responsibilities of this field.    Research is relevant to young children, their families, and all those around them that support them.    As our families entrust their children with us they also entrust that we are continuously researching new methods, technology, or new subjects in regards with improving the quality of life with their children.  

In my line of work, research is needed to improve the quality of care for our families.  Part of research is collaborating with other professionals; reading other research articles and papers are a great help with the understanding of what really belongs in research.  Is there a wrong way to research?  I do not believe so.  You have to want to know more about the subject and enjoy the research.  Having an interest in the subject is also a must.   I have a better understanding of what is expected with research.  The outline is the skeleton of the research and keeps you on a track without straying off into another subject.  As week 8 ends I wish the rest of my colleagues the best of luck and hope to use the words of wisdom they shared on the discussion board in future experiences. 

 

Mac Naughton, G., Rolfe, S.A., & Siraj-Blatchford, I. (2010). Doing early childhood research: International perspectives on theory and practice (2nd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.