When I Think of Research....

When I Think of Research

1)     Insights – My insights from this course primarily involve research design.  Now, I know more about variables, mixed-method approaches, validity, and ethics.  The course readings helped me understand what it takes to design investigations which yield transparent, self-reflexive, and equitable outcomes to support social change.

2)     Research Ideas – My ides of research have changed primarily in the area of quantitative and qualitative approaches.  I have a science background, so I always considered research to be quantitative.  Now, I understand the importance of triangulation and adding qualitative aspects to one’s research.  Triangulation adds validity and richer outcomes.  Adding qualitative approaches to research design also allows participant involvement and a more even distribution of power.

3)     Lessons – I learned the importance of bringing my ontological and epistemological views to the foreground of my research design.  How I approach a research study will become evident in my theoretical framework, so I should be transparent from the start regarding my views.

4)     Challenges – My greatest challenge is actually in the data collection plan.  I am not sure if OSS data can be pulled from the district database by teacher.  I need to see the OSS impact of the treatment group versus the control group of teachers; therefore, OSS data must be pulled by teacher.  I also think it is unlikely the district will allow me to add subcategories to “other” in their database.  I am afraid this category will be overused which will hinder my efforts to analyze OSS by specific violation.  I may have to give teachers a paper form to overcome this problem.

5)     Perceptions – My perception of an early childhood professional was one who had deep expertise in the developmental stages of childhood.  I had not considered that EC professionals would be concerned with global issues that plague children all over the world, but it makes perfect sense.  I also had not considered the importance of research design to the EC professional.