Developing a Research Topic and Question

This semester I am taking Quantitative Research Methods, which is learning to use statstical methods to analyze and synthesize data.  As our final assignment we must develop a research question and answer this question using a pre-identified set of data.  I know how I work and I know that this class intimidates me.  With that being said and realized, I knew that I needed to start early on this assignment in order to have any kind of hope of finishing it well and on time.

Finding a dataset I am interested in has been challenging.  There are tons of datasets, but I really wasn't finding any that piqued my interest until I came across the School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) conducted in 2006 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  I don't often forget my roots in Health Education and enjoy revisiting this set of skills and knowledge whenever I can.

The SHPPS 2006 explores specific components of school health policies and practices such as health education, physical education, nutrition services, mental health and social services, faculty and staff health promotion, and health services.  After looking at some of the fact sheets and data, I began to form questions regarding the implementation of school health policies on the health of America's children.  Although my primary interest lies in adolescent development and sexuality, I couldn't help but to continue to wonder if the current policies reagrding comprehensive health education and services in America's schools have a correlation to the incidence of obseity in our children.  Therefor, I am proposing to complete my research paper based on this question (that may need to be refined a bit more): Do school health policies and practices have an effect on the incidence of childhood obesity in the United States?  This may end up focusing on a couple of states or just New York State.  I'm not entirely sure yet.  The first step is having the dataset and research question approved by my professor, so that's the next thing I need to do.

If I head down this path it will be interesting to see if there is a correlation.  It's good to know that deep down I will always be a health educator.    

What am I doing here?

I am a part-time Ph.D. student at the University of Rochester in the Human Development program.  Some days I love it and know it's exactly what I want to be doing.  Other days, though?  I wonder what the hell I was thinking and if I will ever really finish...  But I have to.  I've come too far and spent too much to bail out on this thing now.  

Specifically, my program of study is Human Development in Educational Contexts.  This seemed a good fit for me because of my background in health education and community health initiatives, but also my work as a teacher and after school program coordinator and manager.  Human development is just looking at the process of growth and change, rather than the static conception of the individual.  In considering development, sociological, cultural, historical factors are all considered as impetus' for growth and change.  An individual does nto exist in a vacuum and is influenced by all aspects of culture and their environment.  Does a person create their environment or does the environment create the person?  

I am currently in my fourth semester.  I have completed the following courses:

-Issues in Social Science Research

-Managing Crisis in Schools and Universities

-Qualitative Research Methods

-Contemporary Learning Theories

-Research in Life Course Studies

-Using Quantitative Software

-Theories of Human Development

Currently, I am in Quantitaitve Research Methods and Research in Cognitive Development.  I have several courses left to complete in addition to a research apprenticeship (beginning Fall '09), comprehensive exams (begin Spring '10), and my dissertation research process (begins Fall '10).  All in all, I guess that I don't have that much left to complete.

I struggle with narrowing my research focus and hope that blogging will help focus the lens on this subject.  I know that I am interested in adolescent development and probably some lines of sexual behavior or development.  I also know that I want to focus on development of rural youth.  It can not go unnoticed that the development of rural youth is not the same as that of urban, or even suburban youth.  I'm just not sure yet and I guess that's okay.

Anyway, welcome to the inaugural posting of "Becoming a Researcher."  I hope we can stick it out.