When I Think of Research...

This course has taken me on quite a bit of a journey.  In the beginning, learning how to evaluate research articles was a huge help not only for this course, but for future courses.  At first glance, the number of pages seems overwhelming, but by following the pattern of research articles and knowing what to skip was, and will be, extremely helpful in reading and writing research papers.  Through my career, I have been exposed to research, however, not to the extent that this course has done.  Defining and experimenting with the types of research approaches (quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method), has made me think through the nature of research studies and just made me more aware of vocabulary used in such studies.  What lessons have I learned about planning, designing, and conducting research?  EVERYTHING!  I didn't realize how much preparation goes into such studies, issues that can arise with participants, and the whole idea of ethics and ethic committees.  I have also learned that children, just like adult participants, should be given just as much respect throughout the entire research study, even when their parents sign the consent to participate.  I guess from working with children and building that positive rapport, I looked at it as...children love the attention and when finished with the study move on to what makes them happy. 

There were many challenges, and still are!  Trying to figure out a research question that is narrowed and focused and trying to keep the vocabulary straight and apply it to my own application papers are two challenges I can think of.  Rereading the information and searching on the internet for articles that may have clarified things easier were two strategies that I used.  Also reflecting on Dr. Myer's comments and through colleague discussions, helped me to see things in a different perspective.  Early childhood professionals have a high standard to uphold in their everyday careers, especially those doing research on young children.  A lot of time and effort goes into making sure that research is being done for a purpose, respectfully, and in a manner that is valid.  I can see myself paying closer attention to reading research studies, after taking this course.

Research Around the World

Early Childhood Development Virtual Universisty (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)

http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/index.php
http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/major_reports.php

This website lists the titles of students', at the School of Child & Youth Care University of Victoria, thesis or major project based on current research being done in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).  Some of the current research being done by these students include:

• Adaptation of an established measure to assess the quality of child services in a selected orphanage in Zambia:  The Inclusive Quality Assessment (IQA) Tool
• Coordinating the Development and Implementation of the 2003-2013 National Action Plan (NAP) for children in Malawi
• Integrating indigenous knowledge in ECD training and services
• Involving father in early childhood care and development
• Assessing the influence of different early childhood development models on pre-school children's school readiness in Kenya

To my surprise, research internationally is similar to the research that is currently being conducted in our country.  Not only is the research being done, but their beliefs and understanding of what is important in the development of young children and their families are similiar to what the early childhood field is currently focusing on here in the United States. 

On a side note, while reading some of the research papers, I have noticed many of the procedures that we have been discussing in this course about how a research paper is written and what are the important parts to read and what parts to skip.  I am finding sorting through the long lengths of documents easier each time I read them.