When I Think of Research...

      The course EDUC-6163-7, Building Research Competency allowed me look at research in a different light. Early Childhood professional research allowed me to view research differently. Before this course, research seemed to be simply a gathering or collection of data. I was able to understand research and its components better. Research is a complex process and necessary. The purpose of research is to uncover, gain insight and knowledge (Naughton, Rolfe, & Siraj-Blatchford, 2010). It is something every early childhood professional will need.  Every early childhood professional may not become a researcher themselves, but will read research information or implement a procedure based on current research.

     Research requires many planning steps before actual research begins.  I have learned the research process requires a lot of thought. Before coming up with a hypothesis, the researchers must think about the question they want answered, what information they want. The type of research method, the participants, the data collection methods, data analysis method and validity are components of research one must consider before beginning research. Once cannot decide he/she wants to research something and go out the next day and begin. Without the planning stages, the data collected is not valid.

Researchers must consider the challenges of ethics when researching. They have to determine the acceptable risk or even if there are any acceptable risks the participants should be subjected to. Researchers must decide if they want to use the qualitative method, quantitative method or the mixed method when gathering and validating research results. The validation process is very important for creditable research. Research need to be awake of equality when researching. They must remember not to subconsciously evaluate their results based on norms that are created the Eurocentric ideology (Naughton, Rolfe, & Siraj-Blatchford, 2010).

         This course along with previous courses has given me the power to explain the role of early childhood professionals. Many people still view early childhood professional as glorified babysitters. My knowledge of research allows me to explain the importance of the professionals. Early childhood professional have the ability to shape the profession, the children and policies in so many ways.

Reference

Naughton, G. M., Rolfe, S. A.,& Siraj-Blatchford, I. (2010). Doing Early Childhood Research
    
     Intenational Perspectives On Theory & practice (2nd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill