I have become increasingly frustrated with my studies in educational psychology. I am no longer driven to do my research with only quantitative research methods. I believe this frustration has grown from several roots:
I have an advisor who refuses to help me or back me up in my learning needs or my research needs. I am coming to believe that he does not know how to be an independent researcher, so he does not know how to teach me to become one. He also does not believe that it is his job to help or support me. He has told me that many times over the past three years. I have come to find out that this is wrong. That IS his job as my graduate advisor.
I am also believing that I do not want to only studies quantitative research methods. I have come to believe that qualitative and sometimes historical methods need to be included in current educational research. We need to consider more than the numbers we get from surveys and assessments. We are dealing with the humanity part of learning, and humanity requires a qualitative component of research.
Because these frustrations have been ever present in my day-to-day doings, I have not blogged until I wanted to begin to voice my opinion about my research and studies. I have been working since May to change some things, and decisions are forthcoming in the next few weeks. I will post more information about my graduate studies and my ability to grow and progress in graduate school as I learn more about my future.
