Reflecting on Research

     First, a huge thank you to each of my classmates who has challenged me to grow in my learning, stretched my assumptions, and shared valuable insights. It's been an interesting term both personally and academically, and I'm thankful, if a bit bruised, for the experience. In addition, thank you to Dr Todd who has provided helpful feedback and encouragement to myself and my peers throughout this term.
     Having taken Research Methods, Statistics, and Research Design courses in the (not too distant) past, I found myself pretty well prepared for this course. And while it was introduced to me in the past, getting a chance to focus on equity issues in research design, was a fairly new concept. I was familiar with power issues, and homogeneity, but was intrigued to learn about research and the deficit model. With the abundance of ethical standards and review board procedures involved in conducting research, it is hard to imagine that we continue to produce studies that reinforce potentially negative delineations between groups. It's certainly something that I will pay greater attention to as I read scholarly literature in the future.
     The greatest lesson that I learned (or had reinforced for me) this term was to approach research as you would a client: from a position of wonder, not expertise. While we may think that we have the answers, or desperately want our hypothesis to be supported, this mindset often leads to bias issues in research and potentially flawed results.
     My greatest challenges were personal. As the single mother of a very energetic 4 year old, my days are busy. Paying the bills involves a job, which I am thankfully able to do online after he goes to bed (around 8). Homework needs to find a space too, which is often either before or after the job. My days and nights have been stretched to their limit this term as I've had no additional care-giving support (my parents are vacationing). The past 8 weeks have reinforced for me that finding balance is a life long endeavor, and that priorities can shift from hour to hour, often in unexpected and even negative ways. We cope. We do our best. And we go on.
     Finally, my perceptions of early childhood education have been deepened this term. I appreciate the value of research specific to the field more so now than before. Previously, I believed that research in the ED field was primary secondary to psychology, sociology, and education. However, it is now clear that not only is there a place for this type of research, but a demand. I wonder though, how many in the field are choosing this route, and whether or not they are prepared for the rigors of research.
     Again, thank you to each of you who has contributed to the course this term. Eric, as always, it's been a pleasure and incredibly gratifying to read your work. Tequilla, it's been wonderful to gain insights from your posts and your blog. Traci and Tishae, it's been wonderful getting the additional perspectives that you have provided, particularly in the last 4 weeks. I wish you ALL the best in the coming terms and know that you will continue to do great things in the field.