Author: Joshua Gray

Week Three: Validity and Reliability

Originally published here.

This week's reading an assignment built on last weeks task and the relevant reading as I became far more critical of the evidence that I used within the research project. I feel that if I completed the research again I would have scrutinise the reliability and validity of the project itself but also the evidence and secondary research that we used to ensure that it did not impact on our own validity and reliability. I also have a far greater understanding of what the terms ability and reliability mean and how they impact upon research and investigations.

This week has impacted on my undertaking of effective research as it has developed my critical voice and the ability to clearly identify concerns within others research that then can support and develop my own research as I know which elements I can clearly identified as being a liable to put into my own case study.

The skills of being able to evaluate and criticise the reliability and validity of research and case studies impacts my understanding of being an in(ter)dependent learner as it allows me to independently criticise and make my own judgements upon research that otherwise I would've found hard to do without the knowledge of what reliability and validity actually are and how they impact upon data.

I feel that the progress I have made since starting this course has been developed especially in the last week as I was able to clearly identify the pitfalls and pratfalls of the research task for the second week and how I can develop and improve those skills to ensure that my research in further years is supported.


Google Doc

Week Three: Validity and Reliability

Originally published here.

This week's reading an assignment built on last weeks task and the relevant reading as I became far more critical of the evidence that I used within the research project. I feel that if I completed the research again I would have scrutinise the reliability and validity of the project itself but also the evidence and secondary research that we used to ensure that it did not impact on our own validity and reliability. I also have a far greater understanding of what the terms ability and reliability mean and how they impact upon research and investigations.

This week has impacted on my undertaking of effective research as it has developed my critical voice and the ability to clearly identify concerns within others research that then can support and develop my own research as I know which elements I can clearly identified as being a liable to put into my own case study.

The skills of being able to evaluate and criticise the reliability and validity of research and case studies impacts my understanding of being an in(ter)dependent learner as it allows me to independently criticise and make my own judgements upon research that otherwise I would've found hard to do without the knowledge of what reliability and validity actually are and how they impact upon data.

I feel that the progress I have made since starting this course has been developed especially in the last week as I was able to clearly identify the pitfalls and pratfalls of the research task for the second week and how I can develop and improve those skills to ensure that my research in further years is supported.


Google Doc

Week Two: Research and Enquiry

Originally published here.

Though I'm quite adept at research as I have undertaken both in my academic work but also in personal interest and intriguing topic I found it very beneficial to have clarified and clearly identified the aspects of both primary and secondary research. I've also found it incredibly beneficial to have qualitative and quantitated research clearly and specifically explained and identified to me as this is an area that I felt I have always been cautious about as I never quite understood it. The topic that I have learnt about from this process is the aspect of triangulation of data to build a more comprehensive picture and results to ensure that the research has a greater validity.

I believe that the group that I was in completed the research project to a very effective and comprehensive level resulting in a clear answer and solution to a very ambiguous question that could have been taking in several directions. I also think that we managed to undertaken in a wide range of research aspects including primary and secondary. However I would like to have investigated some statistical data from secondary evidence, as I feel that this would have supported and developed argument further and stronger.
Unfortunately I don't feel that I was as effective in the collaborative process as I would like to have been due to other factors interfering with the time I could've spent doing the research. As an older and experience individual within the research arena I feel that I could've supported and encouraged my fellow collaborators more to ensure that we progressed and developed a more holistic and comprehensive argument and approach towards the data and the research.

A challenge that I've faced was trying to filter and decide upon the specific arguments and sets of sub questions that I wanted to answer within my own research. Due to the nature of the question being ambiguous I found it hard to specify and focus on the sub questions that I wanted answered as they didn't flow naturally I felt. To overcome this I decided on having a focus on the health and nutrients aspects of the egg and whether that changed due to the conditions that it was cooked in or not. In this aspect I feel that I accomplish my research fully as I have a clear focus that I wanted to investigate.

Week Two: Research and Enquiry

Originally published here.

Though I'm quite adept at research as I have undertaken both in my academic work but also in personal interest and intriguing topic I found it very beneficial to have clarified and clearly identified the aspects of both primary and secondary research. I've also found it incredibly beneficial to have qualitative and quantitated research clearly and specifically explained and identified to me as this is an area that I felt I have always been cautious about as I never quite understood it. The topic that I have learnt about from this process is the aspect of triangulation of data to build a more comprehensive picture and results to ensure that the research has a greater validity.

I believe that the group that I was in completed the research project to a very effective and comprehensive level resulting in a clear answer and solution to a very ambiguous question that could have been taking in several directions. I also think that we managed to undertaken in a wide range of research aspects including primary and secondary. However I would like to have investigated some statistical data from secondary evidence, as I feel that this would have supported and developed argument further and stronger.
Unfortunately I don't feel that I was as effective in the collaborative process as I would like to have been due to other factors interfering with the time I could've spent doing the research. As an older and experience individual within the research arena I feel that I could've supported and encouraged my fellow collaborators more to ensure that we progressed and developed a more holistic and comprehensive argument and approach towards the data and the research.

A challenge that I've faced was trying to filter and decide upon the specific arguments and sets of sub questions that I wanted to answer within my own research. Due to the nature of the question being ambiguous I found it hard to specify and focus on the sub questions that I wanted answered as they didn't flow naturally I felt. To overcome this I decided on having a focus on the health and nutrients aspects of the egg and whether that changed due to the conditions that it was cooked in or not. In this aspect I feel that I accomplish my research fully as I have a clear focus that I wanted to investigate.

Week One: Why #crit101? & in(ter)dependent learning.

Originally published here.

The reason I'm participating in critical skills 101 is because I want to develop my skills for becoming a self-critical, reflective and a more independent learner as a whole. I also found that the jump between GCSEs and A-levels was greater because my skill range wasn't as broad or as well developed and I don't want this to be a factor that holds me back at University. Therefore I want to achieve a strong foundation of skills that will support my learning at University both in terms of the compulsory reading and learning but also the self investigation and exploration into different topics to develop me as a learner. Also the skills that I will develop within this course are transferable across different area and therefore the skills that I will gain are not just for university but the later on, with a career in an industry.

I define independent learning as the process in which one explores, develops and becomes critical of a topic that they have researched and investigated to broaden their own knowledge and interests. Independent learning is not about completing tasks which are set for you but setting tasks to complete yourself. It's about discussing and collaborating on ideas as a group as much as is about developing your own thoughts and ideas. I believe that the main characteristic of an independent learner is to be someone that is interested and exploring new avenues, new areas of investigation outside of their own compulsory learning within an institution. Most of all it is about finding pleasure and enjoyment in learning and developing one's own self.

I don't believe people are born with the skills to become an in(ter)dependent learner, but I also don't believe that you can learn to become an in(ter)dependent learner either. It is not a process that can be broken down in stages, nor is it a process that can be taught. It is a process that one develops through trial and experimentation, not being afraid to get things wrong but learning from ones own mistakes. It's about finding what works best for yourself and then developing that to achieve independent learning. Individuals can be supported and guided to become an in(ter)dependent learner, but at the end of the day it is about what works best for one individual and developing those strengths to achieve a holistic learning approach.