Everyone that knows me also knows that I love to read, refer to, and quote research. I love to read about different research and about the results. I am always forwarding interesting research articles to my spouse and friends (I am pretty sure they do not read them). However, the idea of performing the research is a different story. I want someone else to do all of the work and then just fill me in on what they find out. I am a curious person with a lot of questions and research helps me to look up and read about the subject to get my answers. Although I learned a lot in this class, I find that I am still very much on the side of loving research, but not wanting to be involved in the process of performing said research. The final result interests me very much, but I just do not have any interested in the process of it.
The biggest insight that I gained was that one study does not have to answer the big question. I think that research makes many people nervous because they feel like they have to be able to have earth shattering results that will change the world. Most of us want that. My insight was that this is just not realistic. The answers to the really big questions actually come from breaking that big question down into several smaller questions and tackling it a little at a time. It may take hundreds of studies to answer one question. We have to learn to accept this and even embrace it because tackling it a little at a time can actually enlighten us to a new avenue or show us that we need to be looking in a different direction.
In fact, this enlightenment also changed my ideas of the nature of research and about planning, designing, and conducting research. It also showed me my biggest challenge and how to encounter it. For me it was all about learning that research is not about one study that answers it all. It is about many, many smaller studies all working off of each other... like peeling an onion one layer at a time until the big picture is revealed.
As an early childhood professional, I have learned that in order to find my answer, I must be able to define what I am looking for. I can't just research which kinds of teachers are more effective; I have to be able to define what an effective teacher is. I can't ask which children will be more successful; I have to be able to define what successful is.
Shana,
ReplyDeleteI have really enjoyed being able to learn from you throughout this course. Thank you for all that you have contributed the last eight weeks. I agree that actually conducting research is not as enjoyable as being able to just read research articles and find answers to questions that are already available. I love your insight about the fact that research is done through many small studies, rather than just trying to answer one big research question. It would be much too difficult to try and do a huge research study and would probably be impossible due to all of the data and analyses that would have to take place. Good luck with your future classes!
-Linzie
Shana,
ReplyDeleteYour insights throughout this class were very helpful, thank you! I think it's great that you know what place research has for you and you've embraced it. I love your comparison of research studies to an onion, so very true!
Danielle
Shana,
ReplyDeleteYour graphic really sums up my feelings on research! I came into this course with dred because the terminology and actual process just seemed overwhelming. However, like you I learned that breaking the process down and defining it for myself made things much easier! Thank you for sharing in the class and good luck in your future courses.
Tonya
Shana,
ReplyDeleteI can truly relate to your inspiration!
Although the course itself wasnt as bad as I thought it would be, I truly learned about research and its meanings.
Yvonne
"One study doesn't have the answer to the big question" That is a great way to summarize our works. I was thinking about my thoughts on my topic of study. My thoughts were I know this could contribute to the development of early childhood but will it fix it all. Your response has put things into perspective. No it may not but it will contribute to the works.
ReplyDelete