While taking SOCL-345 (Social Research and Program Evaluation), my process for doing academic research changed tremendously. During my time studying Criminal Justice at Longwood University, I have done a lot of academic research, but before this course I had little to no experience with conducting a program evaluation. I learned that that every program evaluation must have applied research. Before creating the literature review, I had some knowledge on the elements that needed to be included in these papers. Now I can say that I have a deeper and greater understanding of the purposes of a literature review. Writing the literature review section was challenging, but it allowed me to positively change my processes for doing academic research.
When I began the process of evaluating and selecting sources for my research, I began with selecting a research topic. In my opinion this was the easiest part of finding proper sources for my paper. I chose to focus my research around a specific topic that allowed me to sort and categorize other information relating to the topic itself. I then began selecting sources that were clear and concise. I chose sources that demonstrated familiarity and established importance of their study. I tried to stay away from sources that did not outline the important research trends in my paper. I found strong sources that benefitted the study as well as my other research for this project.
The most challenging encounters I had when doing research was comparing and critiquing other’s studies. I had a hard time finding evidence that was inconclusive or lacking. I also found it challenging to find unsatisfactory research designs and methods within the research I was analyzing. To overcome these challenges, I collaborated with other classmates where they gave me helpful advice on how to compare and critique other’s studies. I also found other recourses that explained how to critique sources on a more basic level.
My attitude and perception about conducting research has positively changed over the timespan of taking the course SOCL-345. I have more confidence within myself when doing academic research in other courses. I feel less stressed when doing research now. I also am more confident in analyzing research.
What does it mean to think like a researcher? In my opinion, to think like a researcher one must be passionate about the research they are conducting. When I was doing research for this course, I began to become very passionate in what I was trying to figure out. To think like a researcher an individual must also be curious about what they are researching. Most importantly, I believe that in order to think like a researcher one must take the challenges they face and strive to overcome them.