ABSTRACT
Any research report involves setting out clearly what is to be investigated, recording the process and drawing conclusions based on what has been discovered. All of this is governed by a set of ‘rules’ designed to ensure that the findings are objective, as free as possible from bias, and that claims made – perhaps claiming the benefits of a carefully planned intervention for a small group of children – can stand scrutiny by those versed in research procedures. This is vital because then the claims could legitimately be applied to other children in other settings, thus spreading the good work, allowing others to benefit from it and perhaps encouraging them either to replicate the investigation in another setting or to take the investigation further. It goes without saying that any proposed change would be to benefit the children. On the other hand, if the intervention did not produce the anticipated or hypothesised result, the investigation is not wasted, for other practitioners could share the process and the reasoning and so avoid the pitfalls in their own setting. Research need not ‘work’ to be successful. Success comes in setting out a careful plan, following a set of research rules, and so discovering, confronting and recording discoveries and dilemmas before drawing conclusions. This sounds a little tedious but adhering to a discipline also provides security that the correct steps in a complex undertaking are being followed. Above all, finding something new that supports your own children in your setting is fascinating, confidence-giving and so worthwhile. Becoming a researcher is true professional development.
