Coming to the end of this course, I have learned a lot about the importance of research and what makes research studies valid. I also found the three different types of triangulation very interesting. With research, it is very important to make sure to include a variety of information from different sources and different professionals and individuals. This will make your study the most valid. The last thing that I have gained is the importance of qualitative vs. quantitative research. Each of these research types entails different types of information that needs to be acquired.
Before this class, I had never really done any research on early childhood topics. I also did not break down the aspects that are included in a research study. My views have changed in nature in the fact that I know that there are two sides to every study, and it is very important to use the information of different sources and individuals to make it the most valid. I also did not realize that there is a lot of biased out there on any topic.
The most important thing I learned about was the planning of research in the early childhood field. The planning is very important when considering a research study. It is important to know what type of research you are going to conduct. I chose to focus on direct observation and interviews. There is preparation that needs to be done before you interview an individual. The interviewer needs to make sure that they make sure they know everything is confidential and also that the interviewee needs to feel comfortable.
I did not face any challenges. There is a lot of information that is out there regarding my topic, which is play. The only challenge that I may have encountered would be the cultural differences and backgrounds. I would have made sure to communicate and make sure that the children's families felt comfortable.
The one way that my perceptive has changed of the early childhood profession is that there are many different ways that are effective to conduct research. You get your best results from varying the types of research.
I also chose to utilize direct observation and interviews for my study. I think your subject of play is crucial to early childhood development. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteChelsea, Reading through your blog throughout this course has helped me see the importance of research in our field of early childhood. I agree with you that triangulation is very interesting to learn and should be used in all research. Do you feel that validity is the most important aspect to investigate in research? We need to make sure we plan out everything when we research all topics in our field. This course has helped me see how important it is to research and conduct it in a way that gives equity to all children. Thanks for sharing and good luck in your next course! - Brittany
ReplyDeleteChelsea, everything you mention in this blog describes the how's and why's of research. It is important for research to be fair and just, especially in the early childhood field. As early childhood professionals we have an obligation to make sure the right kind of research enters our classrooms, schools, and country. Chelsea thank you for your support and your discussions and replies.They have been helpful and insightful to read.
ReplyDeleteLike you I agree that triangulation is so important to validating research. It's a way to analyze and substantiate data. I also concur with you about there being more than one side to research. It was interesting to me how differently things can be perceived, but the different perspectives made sense. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and ideas in our discussions and blog post. I also have appreciated our dialogue over the course of this class. It's been a great learning experience.
ReplyDelete