Dream Research

          My “dream” research project involves examining brain development as it relates to motor skill development in children from birth to age two.  My research question is, “How much does guided practice and teaching of emerging gross motor skills such as stepping, running, grasping, catching, and throwing effect normal brain maturation and the effect on future involvement in physical activity”?  On staff I have an expert in the field of ethics to research all ethical issues involved in using children from zero to two years of age as research subjects.  He or she will submit our research project for approval by the Institutional Review Board and ensure that guidelines set forth by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service: Office for Human Research Protections and the National Association for the Education of Young Children are strictly followed.    Additionally, this expert will determine and define how to obtain or recognize assent from subjects in this age group as well as defining informed consent, parental consent, and consent by any additional person that may be involved with a research subject during the project.  This staff person will pay particular attention to intended or unintended deception and appropriate disclosure (SRCD Ethical standards for research with children, n.d.).   A fellow staff member will research and collect data from other research projects that correlate the relationship of motor skill development with future involvement in physical activity and with the development of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.  A larger portion of additional staff will devote their time designing the research project, the strategies that with be used, and the research method to be employed. A neuroscientist who is a member of the International Brain Research Organization will be employed.  The neuroscientist will ensure adherence to the mission of the society, including “provide for and assist in education and dissemination of information relating to brain research by all available means” (International Brain Research Organization, n.d.).  Working closely with the neuroscientist will be a team of early childhood development experts.  Their role will be to oversee the entire research project to ensure the research respects each subject, their family, and any other person involved with their care and that appropriate developmental practices are followed. 

          The purpose of this research project is to explore if motor development is an experience-dependent function of brain development.  Depending on the particular experiences it has, an infant’s brain becomes structured and connected one way or another, as some dendrites grow and neurons thrive while others die (Berger, 2009).  The positive contribution this discovery will have to the early childhood field is a broadened understanding of brain development.  Educational programs for parents and educators will include the findings of this research project.  Infant and toddler programs will include intentional and well defined motor skill development.  The results of this research will spark new research to further develop the field of motor development and physical activity.  The impact this research will have on society is that new understanding and emphasis will be placed on intentional physical development and fitness beginning at infancy.  The long term effect will be a child’s continued participation in physical fitness throughout life resulting in a decrease in childhood and adult obesity, a decrease in diabetes, and a decrease in heart disease. 

References

SRCD Ethical Standards for Research with Children. (n.d.). Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD). Retrieved from http://www.srcd.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=68&Itemid=499

International Brain Research Organization (IBRO). (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.ibro.org/Pub/Pub_Main_Display.asp?LC_Docs_ID=2081

Berger, K. S. (2009). The Developing Person through Childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

Research

          I have never before delved into the research process as much as I am learning to do for this class.  At the beginning of class I was over zealous in my thoughts about the scope of what would make a good research project.  I was not much different than the beginning researcher described in our textbook, “Many beginning researchers tend to be overly ambitious in regard to their research aims” (Mac Naughton, Rolfe, & Siraj-Blatchford, 2010).  After reading and reflecting on our readings this week, I realized the goal of a research project is to concentrate on one part of the “big picture” and that research projects build on other related research projects.  I then realized I had to narrow my research question to something manageable, especially considering my time restraint.  Another insight I gained about the research process is the importance of knowing the definition of terms and understanding concepts.

          The subtopic I decided to focus on for my simulation in the coming weeks is my second subtopic, “Defining how social, motor, and talent skills are developed through certain activities such as dance classes, sports, gymnastics, music lessons, and classes in the arts”.  This subtopic is very broad and covers many topics.  Therefore, after much reflection on the concept of developing a research project, I decided to narrow my subtopic to motor skill development and physical activity.  I think this is at the core or at least beginning of my initial question of whether participation in extracurricular activities correlates with participation in sports and the arts throughout a child’s school experience.

          The reason I chose this topic is because I watched my children participate in extracurricular, non-school related sports, as well as sports in high school.  For the most part, the children that participated in extracurricular sports beginning in preschool also participated in school sports.  Watching my son’s and daughter’s friends develop from playing T-ball and doing tiny tumble class to playing high school sports  made me question how much their prior experiences correlated with their participaton on the high school team.  I now expand my observation to include questioning if early physical activity increases motor skill development.   

         During my search for articles related to my chosen topic, I came across a website that may prove beneficial to others.  It is the National Center for Education Statistics found at:  http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch.  Please share resources that you feel may be helpful, as I did not find an overabundance of articles related to my research topic.  I am not experienced doing research and welcome any input, insight, advice, or assistance you may offer. 

Reference

Mac Naughton, G., Rolfe, S.A., & Siraj-Blatchford, I. (2010). Doing early childhood research: International perspectives on theory and practice (2nd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.