When I Think of Research...

Reflecting on what insights I have gained about research during this course is amazing. I use to look at research as a long and drawn out project that was aimed at subjecting participants through harmful studies that did not benefit many people. Now I see that it takes a long time and lots of effort to work through these studies. I also see the amount of scrutiny that these studies have to go through before they are allowed to continue. After these eight weeks I have gained so much respect for research that I am so moved by my ability to now understand and interpret the data. 

I have learn many lessons when it comes to planning, designing and conducting research throughout the course. I can see how they all relay on each other to make the study work. Planning and designing are very complicated as they can change dramatically when you decide how to conduct your research. their are many types of design that they can implement and researchers need to make decisions that best suit their study and that will help them explain their hypotheses or prove it. These lessons have shown me that research takes time to happen and when done correctly it can help to change the field of early childhood education. 

My ideas about the nature of doing research has changed a lot, because I can see the potential of research to the field of early childhood education. Research helps the field to make important decision for children as they grow and learn. So many studies are being done to help children during conception and in the womb. Research has provided parents and educators with the data they need to provide and care for children from conception to birth, which I believe is wonderful. Research is not always harmless and pleasant, but I am glad that we have structures in place to make sure the research produces greater results with minimal risk. It is good that research has it's own checks and balances to answer to, so participants are treated with respect. 

During this course, the only challenge I had was learning how to read and interpret research. Research documents can be very overwhelming due to it appearances and length. During this course I have learn how to break them down by using research charts. I have learn how to gather the information that is most important from the research documents. This accomplishment has come through working on assignments and learning how to create and design a research simulation of my own interest. 

This course has shown me that dedication and perseverance is what allows these early childhood professionals that ability to conduct research that helps to shape the field of early childhood educations. They work hard to design and create their research topic in order to provide their field with information that can help shape the lives of our children, future educators and our society. I have always respect professionals that work with children because it is not easy but at the end it can be very rewarding to help put a smile on a child's face. I am even more impressed with the individuals that take the chances to help answer the questions that so many us ask when working with children. Their work and dedication is what allows us to help and support our field, our children, families, and society. 

Research Around the World

European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA)

http://www.eecera.org/

EECERA is an international association that promoted early childhood research. They are a non-profit, independent organization that has world-wide members that obtains its own funding and receives no outside funding. They aim is to promote and maintain the rich tradition of the European early childhood. They are well known for their by their pioneers Pestalozzi, Owen, Froebel, Steiner, Vygotsky, Piaget, Malaguzzi  among others as well. The organizations aims to support these pioneers and also add new development and research that can be associated with Europe's pluralist and diverse culture. Their Journal is one of four top journals in the field that is located in Europe and their annual conference is the largest one held in Europe that helps to promote research, learning and scholarly work among educators in the field. 

 

Current international research topics that are being explored in the EECERJ are:

1. Promoting play for a better future
2. Play and playfulness, basic features of early childhood education
3. Is it play? Towards a reconceptualisation of role play from a activity theory perspective.
4. Digital play in the early years: a contextual response to the problem of integrating technologies and play-based pedagogies in the early childhood curriculum
5. Adult play guidance and children's play development in a narrative play-world
6. Teaching science through play in kindergarten: does integrated play and science instruction build understanding?

After exploring the EECERA website, it is very interesting to me how they are continuing to solely fund their own journal and annual conference with no outside resources. Early childhood education in Europe is promoted to the fullest development and they are highly commited to providing the best for children. Their dedication to their pioneers and the acceptances of new information shows their commitment to the development of early childhood education in their country. 

The information provided on this sites gives you resources that credible and provides lots of data on the different aspects that can affect and promote early childhood education. The information provided allows individuals to promote their own understanding about the field and gives you the opportunity to absorb more knowledge. This site provides future researchers, scholars and educators with great fundmental information on how early childhood education is represented in Europe.