When I think of research.............

As the end of the course approaches I think about my journey with research. In the beginning I was no stranger to research, but I have learned a lot over the semester.  Especially when it comes to research design and choosing a method of design.  It is important to ensure the validity of your research design, consider ethical issues, and recognize limitations in your research study. In the creation of my research study I encountered design problems in the beginning but adjusted the method that I was using.  In early childhood education research is a necessity to evaluate current methods, policies and procedures.  Research has been the sole way of developing new ideas for the field for years. For myself as an early childhood professional this course has changed the way I look at the field and things that I experience daily. I now think about to improve through research, through studying new methods and theories, staying current is a necessity.

Research Around the World

I took a look at Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) website. I discovered their are links to several websites in regard to research projects conducted in different parts of Africa.  Such as In Nigeria the federal government has joined with UNICEF to train those who work with children in centers on AIDS awareness and health in children. In Ghana they are focusing on creating quality early childhood centers.  As with most individuals I did not think there would be much early childhood research in African nations but this proves that the federal government of many African Nations are making similar efforts to create quality care for children in the early years as well as educating parents.

Reference:

http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/major_reports.php