My definition of good research has changed and evolved over the course of AI I and has been informed by my personal

opinion, the authors weve read in class, and my classmates shared definitions. The idea that good research should have beneficial aims really resonated with me; the teacher in me responded to the idea of conducting research that benefitted students and families. But an equally powerful influence came from listening to people in class and looking at my definition from the perspective of granting money to a research project. I started rethinking my terms and have been trying for something more concrete and measureable. In writing this definition I keep thinking back to the research weve read in class, what stood out as especially good and what made it good, and what stood out as especially bad, and what made it bad. The research that stood out as really good was more about the content of what was researched (e.g. illegal organ donation) and how the research was presented (e.g. several of my lit review articles). The research that stood out as really bad was more about the conduct of the researchers (e.g. the tearoom study). So, after a semester of attempting to define good research, here is what Ive come up with: Good research is either quantitative or qualitative, has a clearly defined objective or aim, and the findings of the research should be beneficial to the research subjects and/or society in some way. Good research protects the confidentiality of the subjects and takes moral and ethical considerations into account, especially with regard to how the research is gathered and how the findings are disseminated. Also, good research is well thought out, explains the processes involved, and operationally defines terms being used. Lastly, the product of good research will be able to provide answers to the following questions: What is the point of this project? Who/what will be impacted by it? What will that impact be?

Keeping that in mind, I am moving forward and narrowing down my research interests with the intent of applying my definition to my own research. Currently I am interested in students with disabilities who are included in general education settings (as opposed to special education settings) and how those experiences affect the self-esteem of the students being included. Using my own definition of good research, I want to make sure that the work I do would positively impact the population I am working with, and that the well-being of my subjects always comes first. Constructing this definition has provided a road map of sorts in directing my research as it begins.