What Would I Research?

If I possessed the means and the knowledge to conduct research studies about any topic in the early childhood field, and was not restricted by the reality of the present, what topic would I choose? What would the positive contributions would be?

I would like to compare and contrast high quality care settings.  I wonder which setting is the best for the whole child's development.  I would like to focus only on high quality settings in order to compare the best outcomes and influences on children.

The positive contributions would be the ability to focus resources and encourage expansion of certain care settings.  It would be interesting to learn which components of which settings produce the best outcomes in order to blend components of each into the other.

Choosing a Research Topic: Challenges

After deciding to research the topic of technology, I narrowed my subtopic down to "the effect of educational screen time on the social/emotional development of young children." 

I am keenly interested in this topic because of the new iPad initiative in my children's school system and the possible implications this shift in curriculum may have on them as well as young children in our community through the trickle-down of trends and expectations.

However- the LACK of research on this topic is part of the issue.  It is still unknown whether or not technology such as iPads in the classroom have any significant benefit for students.  What is known is the fact that many factors are at play. 

The lack of research on this topic worries me.  As I have began to construct my research chart and mini-research review I am growing more and more concerned that I will not have enough material to read for this project.

Is anyone else finding that they may have chosen a subtopic that may make this application even more challenging?!

I wonder if there will be room for reflection and re-defining of a topic if the topic is just too new and under-researched?