Blog Assignment: When I Think of Research...

Happy Holidays

I would like to begin thanking all my classmates for their responses and insights. I would also like to thank our Professor Dr. Davis. She encouraged us and allowed us an opportunity to think beyond our interpretations with critical questions and guidance.
Prior to my educational research studies I had limited comprehension concerning the research process.

My insights and perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified or confirmed, such that: “I have always believed sound research would benefit science and the public”. Through insights in this course I have begun to define sound. The data is truly valid, reliable, useful, ethical, and worth the researchers efforts to provide the best data possible without biases, political issues, or other challenges. Some perceptions I have encountered are how broad the topics can be. One topic easily opens doors for additional and even more in-depth studies.
My research is focused toward poverty and how it impacts childhood development. Throughout each week I begin to learn the research process and how it will guide me to an understanding of the steps organizing my topic simulation. I can now read others research and identify with the methods, designs, and ethical issues. I look for qualitative and quantitative methods, or mixed methods. Based on single studies there are ways shown how to survey, observe, and document participation.

Some challenges I faced was arranging my research questions to justify my research validity and a sound outcome. I was able to overcome this challenge by exploring past and new information each week in my lessons. As I incorporated mixed methods I begin to feel more confident about my simulation. Applying mixed methods I was able to do survey gathering public information, then evaluating the data through the quantitative method. To ensure validity I choose to use the investigator triangulation method. This allowed alternative interpretations of the data.