Research Reflection

This course has allowed me to gain certain insights into research practice in the early childhood field.  One insight includes a new understanding of the process of planning and preparation that allows a researcher to design a study.  I've also been able to experience this process through our research simulation, allowing me to experience the process first hand.

My ideas about the nature of doing research have changed to some extent throughout this course.  If nothing else, I have gained a respect for the professionals who are constructing and carrying out the pertinent research that is guiding practice in our field.  One thing I have learned during this course is that it takes a very specific type of brain to be able see the world through the design, activity, and analysis of research!

I have learned about planning, designing, and conducting research in early childhood.  One lesson I learned is that attention to detail is key.  I have learned that any research involving human subjects is complex and warrants considerations on many levels.

One challenge I encountered during this course was tackling the technical terms.  The weekly charts helped me learn the terms.

One way my perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified as a result of this course is in gaining an understanding of the process that shapes the practices and information we use in the field.  Understanding how research findings come about is an important part of being an early childhood professional.