Taking the Developing Research Competencies course
at Walden University has helped me develop a new respect for research that is
being done in the early childhood field. Researchers have many responsibilities
involved in planning and implementing research projects. They must ensure that
all participants are treated fairly and understood, and they should take steps
toward increasing the validity of the research study. Each part of the research
process involves a lot of time and work. I never realized how many different
options needed to be considered and how much time the planning alone could
take.
I find myself looking at
research from a whole new perspective. Previously, if I found a research study
that claimed to prove something I accepted it as truth. Now, I read more about
the details of the research project in order to determine the validity of the
study and whether the information should be generalized to the larger
population. The study of early childhood is really a science, involving
professionals that ask questions and plan ways to answer questions with the
support of valid research. Not an easy task!
I learned that it is of
utmost importance to protect the safety and wellness of participants involved
in research, especially children. Risks and benefits need to be evaluated from
the start, and participants need to have a choice whether they participate.
Participants should be given power to withdraw and opportunities to truly
express themselves. I also learned how important the planning process is in
order to ensure that the project is feasible, ethical, and transparent allowing
others to duplicate and evaluate the project (Mac Naughton, Rolfe, &
Siraj-Blatchford, 2010).
One challenge that I
encountered during this course was in understanding the different terms and
concepts about research. It was very helpful to read the discussion posts each
week and I am grateful to have such smart and capable classmates. Thank you for
all of your help this term!
Reference:
Mac
Naughton, G., Rolfe, S.A., & Siraj-Blatchford, I. (2010). Doing early childhood
research:
International perspectives on theory and practice (2nd ed.). New York,
NY: McGraw-Hill.
Hi Mary,
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you, early childhood research not only has brought more understanding about children's views and perspectives and dug deeper into their higher order thinking but it has also brought deeper reflection and understanding about equity and ethical issues when involving children in research. Our learning this week was precisely on equity and this involves more than a sense of equality and parity in research planning, design and methods. It is rather about the notion of justice and fairness towards children that can include power relations, inclusions and homogeneity issues. Your post was great, I really enjoyed it! Good luck and hope I'll hear from you for the next course.
Caroline