Research That Benefits Children and Families

As a infant, my younger sister had severe asthma. She had to go to the emergency room often to receive life saving care. Her pediatrician recommended that she be a part of a study at a local hospital that was testing a new medication for asthma. Participation included free supplies, medication, and close monitoring of my sister's physical health. She was required to perform various breathing tests and physicals twice a month until the age of twenty-one. All the participants were informed that one group would receive the medication and the other group would be taking a placebo.

This research process was a positive experience for my family. My sister's condition improved, and it helped my mother financially because all of the asthma medication and supplies were free. They also provided valuable information about how to prevent asthma attacks and proper treatment methods. Beyond the medical care, my family developed and maintained personal relationships with the researchers and their assistants. One of the women became a mentor to my sister. She encouraged her to maintain her grades and stay in school. Her and my sister still keep in touch today.

My sister no longer experiences the effects of asthma. In fact, her condition improved so much that everyone believed she was a part of the group who was taking the medication. So, it was hilarious when they found out that she had never taken the medicine. She was in the placebo group the whole time! This means that the care she was getting during the study was the cause of her condition improving. Personally, I believe that if it was not for this research study my sister would have had an unhealthy childhood plagued with severe asthma attacks. I am grateful that my mother consented to this research study, which positively effected my sister's health and well-being.

My Personal Research Journey

The topic I chose for my research simulation is the effects of bullying on young children. I chose this topic because I have seen recent reports about how bullying has caused young children to become depressed, and as a result, their grades drop. Some children even resort to committing suicide. It was once believed that bullying actually aided young children's development, making them more capable to handle adversity and build and maintain relationships with peers. While preparing my literature review, I found that bullying has no positive outcomes for the victims, bullies, and even their peers who are simply bystanders. Considering that bullying has no positive outcomes for children directly or indirectly involved, makes this topic an even more pressing matter. Hopefully, bringing attention to the effects of bullying on young children will make teachers aware of the importance of establishing a classroom community. Teachers should create an atmosphere that encourages kindness, acceptance, and carrying relationships among all their students.

So far, the research simulation process has been an informative and a positive experience. I have benefited the most from learning how to read research articles and how to evaluate electronic resources. Learning how to do these two things is critical to the research process because they enhance the validity and reliability of your research. They also help save time when organizing and reading information. The biggest insight I have gained at this point is how to find relevant literature. The required text explained that the first step is to determine important key terms to narrow down the search for articles on an electronic database. Another great suggestion for gathering more information was to attend a conference that addresses your topic.

Personally, I found that the Walden library databases were the best places to find reputable and relevant articles. Do you know any other websites that offer reputable research articles?

What insights have you gained from the research simulation process so far?