In thinking about this course, I have definitely learned that I absolutely do not envy those in the field of research. This course has given me a new insight as to how much I appreciate those who have dedicated their careers to conducting useful, meaningful, and compelling research studies.
My ideas about the nature of research has changed in that I now realize how much time, effort and in my opinion restless nights go into planning, preparing, conducting and then assessing a study. There is much more to the process than I had once thought.
The lessons about planning, designing and conducting research in the early childhood field I've learned mainly stem around the amount of time and effort it takes to conduct high quality research. I've also learned that there are several different ways to conduct research in this field and that researches must remain flexible as well as have the assistance of this who are professionals in the early childhood field.
The challenges that I encountered during this course mainly stemmed from time management. Researching research is a job all in itself. It was difficult to commit so much time to learning and understanding the ins and outs of research. I took a lot of time reading our text but also looking to the internet to find additional resources for explanation for certain topics.
The main way my perception has been modified due to taking this course again, revolve around respect for researchers and the field in which they have committed their efforts to. I must say it is much more refreshing to know that I personally am not responsible for research, I would much rather be in a supporting role rather than in charge :-)
Good luck to everyone in your future courses!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Tasha - I couldn't be more in agreement with you about having a higher appreciation for those who are called to research. Although I have learned a great deal in our course, I feel that research may not necessarily be the route for me. But just like you said, I am so thankful to those who have chosen this route!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your insightful posts and feedback throughout our course! Best wishes for all of your future endeavors!
Hi Tasha
ReplyDeleteYou sound like me, I can appreciate those who have a passion for research, but I do not think this is my calling. Sounds like you have learned a lot. I know I did.
Tasha,
ReplyDeleteYour appreciation for researchers is very evident as I'm sure is a result of our research simulation. It was a very dauntig task but manageable in weekly steps. Despite the duanting task, I actually felt proud of what we have accomplished in this course. There was a lot to learn and the text was challenging. But I found our discussions to be the most helpful in understanding the topics. Have a Merry Christmas and I hope to see you in future courses. Maggie