Why is research important? Personal experience...

Research is extremely important!  When a family gets word from a doctor that a child is sick or a loved one has been diagnosed with a disease or terminal illness, what is the first thing they do?  They begin to ask questions and google what research is available.  Research can ease a parent’s mind an give hope for the family.  It also allows parents to make an informed decision about what treatments to take etc. 

                 One of my close friends got word that her son was born with an extreme cleft palate.  The hospital started making arrangements for surgery and she decided to look at all her options.  After seeing the research on a new surgical procedure that was happening in Chicago, she made arrangements and flew to the hospital several times over the next 6 years.  She is so glad she found this research and now her son is 10 and is doing wonderful.  He is my son’s best friend and I am thankful for the research that helped inform her decision. 

Research topic

I am trying to decide on my research topic for my class.  I have narrowed it down however I am having trouble deciding on which direction to go.  I want to do something with children and risk taking and how this important for their development (Allowing stick play). I am also thinking about the topic of how conflicts are reduced when preschool children are exploring outdoors versus indoors.  Does anyone have any ideas about the direction I should chose? 

Reaserch in Early Childhood