My process of doing academic research has changed since the beginning of the semester. Understanding the importance and all the factors that go into accomplishing successful research. Knowing the types of ways to collect data and the methods of assessing data has also been something that has changed from the start of this research experience. The most change has come from using online resources to analyze and evaluate the findings from my research. I have been able to successfully use and understand how to use coding and Rstudio to better evaluate my research findings.

In collecting data, I was able to understand the difference between a reliable and unreliable source. Finding articles that are peer reviewed journals have become an easier experience which I have used to better my research credibility. Going into my Literature Review, I had an understanding of where I wanted my research to go. Therefore, after finally finishing my paper and research, I did not have to change any of my sources. Instead I was able to use those sources to explain my findings and when I saw correlations in my finding to the review I had done, it gave me more confidence in my work.

I believe the most challenging part of doing this research project was the literature review. I was unsure where to start and how to go about doing it. It was hard because I never really did a literature review before. Nonetheless, I was able to accomplish the literature review by looking at past reviews and also pulling from a past class in which I attempted to do one. The sources that were listed in the modules also better helped me understand what went into the literature review and what the professor was looking for. Starting each assignment was also a challenge, but I realized that once I started, I was able to get into it and understand what exactly I was doing.

My attitude and confidence level has definitely changed when it comes to doing research. Coming into this class, at the beginning of the semester, I was a bit nervous as to how I would accomplish this class to the best of my ability. I was also weary of what exactly the professor was expecting as she had stated that her standards for us were very high. Nonetheless, I took this class as a challenge that I needed to accomplish in order to further my education and resources for the next level. Due to the way the class was set up and how our professor was able to explain and help us through the project in each step, the process was made easier. So when I felt an unsettling feeling while doing the literature review, I also had much resources from the professor and also the source she had out in the modules. I feel confident in saying that I can execute an academic research and an actually looking forward to doing more.

Looking back at the research I did this semester, I believe thinking like a researcher means wanting to find out more about a situation or things that happen around us. To be able to think like a researcher, you have to understand all the factors that go into research and know that the outcomes may not be equivalent to your hypothesis, but it could be a research that finds something that other researchers can use to further their work. Being able to process all factors of research work and relate findings to the world and also past research helps the research process and the credibility of the researcher. A researcher must think and know that their research has to, in some way, bring benefit to the greater public, because research brings greater knowledge and understanding.