Research tools

There are many research tools that can be used in an inquiry. 

One research tool could be field journals. This would involve key observation at certain events. The observer would need to monitor the activities, record reactions, behaviour and developments.  Field journals provide a valid method of data collection allowing the observer to participate in the meetings and see first -hand how the children engage with the tasks. The use of a journal will help collate these findings.

Another research tool could be interviews. Asking questions direct to participants can provide a good set of data that is clear and precise.  With interviews they need to include open questions to allow the interviewee to answer freely without being pushed towards a specific set of responses before answering the question. Open questions allow individuals to answer freely and from their own thoughts and views with just being directed the topic that is being researched in to.  With an open ended question it allows the data to represent true findings from each interview. 

Another method is surveys to gather research for a study.  Surveys have advantages that include sourcing to a wide amount of participants, gathering a wide amount of results, and also you can use questions that point towards specific answers/answers that fit in to a category. 

Another research tool is observations.  Observing participants can be very valuable but also can have disadvantages. 

I think the best methods for me are interviews and field journals.  Interviewing subjects on a one on one level gives a much more detailed and personal response as opposed to a survey with limited response due often to closed questions. A field journal is a profitable method to gather the data as my study is based upon young children; therefore it was easier to be involved in the activities than observing from afar or using surveys.