When I Think of Research

What insights have you gained about research from taking this course?

I have learned that there is a lot of details that need to be addressed when undertaking any research project.  I understand that there are ethical issues that need to be addressed when soliciting participants.  Obtaining the necessary permissions and assents from parents and children is key.  Also understanding the risk factors of a research project is important to be able to receive the necessary approval to proceed with a project.

In what way have your ideas about the nature of doing research changed?

Prior to taking this course I had assignments that involved my reading research papers and I was challenged with understanding the material presented, particularly the results section of a research paper.  I now understand how to read and interpret a research paper, because of the material covered in this course.  I think one of the key components to research is conducting a valid research project and I now understand that triangulation is an important factor in producing a valid research project.

What lessons about planning, designing and conducting research in early childhood did you learn?

I learned that your question in a research project cannot be a general question, but incisive and that creating sub topics helps to identify what your research will address.  I also learned that equity is important to any research project.  Researchers need to address the issues of justice and fairness when designing a project.  Researchers need to be sensitive to their perception of authority or power when undertaking a researcher project, because their outcomes may be tainted or contaminated.  Over all I have learned there is much detail that goes into the design of a research project.

What were some of the challenges you encountered and in what ways did you meet them?

The work I did on my own research project was challenging to me.  The process of identifying a effective research questions was challenging to me.  I think that my initial question was too general so I came up with several subtopics, but could not decide which one closest addressed the issue that I was trying to research.

What are some of the ways your perception of an early childhood professional has been modified as a result of this course?

I have a greater respect for research and how it helps improve and guide the early childhood field.  I have learned that research is a science that has many details that need to be addressed before research can be valid and can improve the lives of young children. 

Research Around the World

Early Childhood Australia about us states that they will advocate to ensure quality, social justice and equity in all issues relating to the education and care of children from birth to eight years old.  Their values are the rights of children, leadership, excellence and respect, courage, honesty, and openness, collaboration and diversity, justice, and social inclusion of children(ECA, 2011).  This site announces upcoming conferences and offers books and journal subscriptions.  One of the journals I found was Australasian Journal of Early Childhood is Australasia’s foremost scholarly journal and the world’s longest running major journal within the early childhood field.  This journal is published quarterly and offers evidence-based articles that promote an exchange of ideas among early childhood practitioners, students and academics.  I found a list of various topics related to the early childhood filed such as Aggression and young children, dealing with bullying together:  Preventions and resolutions and Learning and teaching through play.

What I found interesting was an article Young Children as active learners this article states that the way children were once viewed or the Western perspective about young children assumed that they were vulnerable so they are viewed in terms of what they cannot do, requiring adult care during this time.   Adults must always determine what is best for children.  The article states that the traditional ideas  about childhood is changing such as time of dependency on adults and a time of innocence due to children’s access to computer games, mobile telephones and obtaining information from the internet.  “It is argued that this greater access to popular culture has subverted contemporary children’s consciousness of themselves as incompetent and dependent entities”.    Children are now considered as active agents in and of their own learning.

Early Childhood Australia has taken a position regarding children of refugees and children in detention the paper is called ECA Position Statement :  Children of Asylum Seekers.  Asylum seekers are people who have entered Australia claiming refugee status under the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and seeking protection of the Australian Government.  The children of these people are experiencing their childhood in detention centers or in the communities of Australia.   The ECA developed principles  that should be applied to all policies and practices as they relate to the children of asylum seekers and children of refugees.  The main goal of these principles is to ensure the protection and healthy development of all children and to achieve durable solutions which are appropriate to the immediate and long-term developmental needs of children.

Reference:

ECA. (2011). Early Childhood Australia: A Voice for Young Children. Retrieved from http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/resource_themes/resource_themes.html