Research Class Review

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

I was very nervous about taking this class. I like to find answers through scholarly articles, but I never saw myself wanting to do research on a large scale. I gained insight about the challenges research including but not limited to design, consent, and equity. Learning about all the different aspects and details of research made it clear that I am not a person that wants to design a research project, but I like reading them.  I admire research professionals

In what ways have, your ideas about the nature of doing research changed.

Research is more than just reading what the early childhood philosophers say, it is about creating a question and doing what it takes to find the answer. I used to think it was about reading numerous articles and reports, I never thought about the process of creating those reports.

However!!! I also discovered how I am a researcher on a daily basis when I am learning about each child.

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

I learned that designing a research project, putting it down on paper is challenging, and there are so many avenues to find the answers. Through our text, I have found that there are so many unexpected challenges that researchers must think fast on your feet, and be willing to be reflexive through the process.

Through this course, I was shocked to find the many different designs to conduct research. True researchers find their topic and then find the best design that suits their project whether it is qualitative, quantitative, or mixed.

What were some of the challenges you encountered—and in what ways did you meet them? I had many personal challenges in my life during this class and was unable to give it the focus it deserved and needed. I honestly can say I probably did not get as much out of this class as I wanted to or should have.

The content itself, I struggled with grasping and understanding some of the topics. I often felt ignorant when reading the material. I combated this by rereading the material numerous times, and using the glossary..

What are some of the ways your perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified because of this course?

My perception of an early childhood professional has modified in that an early childhood professional is also a researcher. We utilize steps in the research process on a daily basis within the classroom.  I really appreciated the resources in how to read research; I feel that when I read material I will understand it better.

Although I had a rough semester, I am glad I was educated in research. 

International Research

What are some of the current international research topics? Some of the topics I found in the journal were:

1.    -   Stress and caregiver sensitivity among childcare staff in Santiago, Chile

2.      - Demographic factors, temperament and the quality of the preschool environment as predictors of daily cortisol changes among Finnish six-year-old children

3.   

-        -Foregrounding silences in the South African National Early Learning Standards for birth to four years

You must be a member in order to read the full articles; however, you can read the abstract.

4.       What surprising facts/insights/new ideas about early childhood did you gain from exploring this international early childhood website? I found it very interesting that even countries in Europe are studying and discussing some of the same issues we are in the United States. Often times we think other countries are completely different than us but in all actuality it is very similar.

 

       What other noteworthy information did you find on this website?

European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA) Has developed Country Coordinators to keep abreast of all the research going on I the world. In addition it promotes research.

The expectations of the country coordinator are:

EECERA Country Coordinators will be expected to:

• be active in their role to meet the aims outlined above;
• provide an annual activity report by 15 November each year which shows how they have carried out their role over the previous year and what success they have had in achieving the aims of this role, for example:
  - increased membership
  - increased number of submissions for the journal
  - increased attendance at the conferences
• maintain contact with, and be accountable to, the EECERA Trustee who supports Country Coordinators (currently Maelis Karlsson Lohmander: maelis.karlsson-lohmander@ped.gu.se)

The country coordinators seek out the research in their country and make it available to the Journal.