Introduction
Reflective writing is considered to be effective for engaging students in the process of reviewing personal achievements and prospects for further development. The use of a case study format to reflect on the lessons learning is an academic task that requires synthesizing the relevant literature and one’s knowledge and skills acquired during the course. Since my awareness of the APA style, case study concept, and academic writing increased significantly, it is important to reflect on my experience. This paper is a case study with the subject of me, and the goal is to better understand my progress, linking it to the literature.
Methodology
The identification of methods is an integral part of the case study as it clarifies how data was collected. For this paper, information was taken from the course textbooks and peer-reviewed articles to support my thoughts. I also referred to the Bible to find relevant excerpts and link them with the lessons learned. Self-observation is another method that helped me to gather and analyze information about my performance during the course and its outcomes. Continuous self-reflection is implemented to track my academic progress.
Reflecting on Lessons Learned
Importance of the APA Style
The completion of this course has led me to realize that the APA writing style is effective for research. When the sources being discussed are found, this style helps in structuring and documenting them properly. I have learned that each of the sources should be cited according to the templates given, while the general information includes the author(s), the title of the work, the publishing or publisher, and other details (Bonds-Raacke & Raacke, 2017). Also, the study should begin with the introduction and end with the conclusion, which allows readers to understand the key ideas and think over the ideas presented. The use of headings is another significant issue that contributes to the proper organization of the paper. Different level headings can structure the document, which is useful for both the author and readers (APA, 2020). On the one hand, the author remains focused on the topic of research and includes all the necessary points. On the other hand, readers can easily look through the body of the paper and note the themes being discussed.
In addition to the format of the paper, the writing style is identified in the APA manual for the convenience of students. For example, I have learned that it is of great importance to be specific when discussing a topic and avoid biased language. An ethical approach in writing implies politeness, attentiveness, and responsiveness to the subjects of research and readers as well (Bonds-Raacke & Raacke, 2017). Bias-free language requirements clarified that attention should be paid to gender, sexual orientation, race, and socioeconomic status. A lack of the bias-free approach can result in labeling and blaming, for example, people with low income or racial minorities (APA, 2020). Instead, it is better to use descriptive phrases, such as people who have a grade school education. At a larger scale, writing should have a continuous flow, leading readers to logical conclusions and recommendations. For this purpose, it is possible to use transitions, use proper tone, and follow an average paragraph length. The sentence length should not be excessive as it hampers the understanding of the text.
It became evident to me that the process of writing can be quite challenging, and this course showed that there is a range of strategies to handle it. First of all, continuous engagement in learning is the fundamental principle of effective writing. While reading books and academic journals, a person develops his or her ability to express ideas clearly and select proper words to deliver messages to readers (Bonds-Raacke & Raacke, 2017). Learning through examples is one of the strategies that point to the opportunity to read other literature reviews if a student is assigned with preparing a review. The consultation with colleagues can also be beneficial to share ideas and have good advice. Once the draft was completed, the process of proofreading is important for detecting and addressing any grammar, punctuation, and consistency errors. By revising the paper, the student should think about information organization, instructions points, and publication rules, if required.
Looking back at the beginning of this course, I can state that my writing experience lacked the awareness of APA and its role in research. Now, I consider that my academic writing skills and knowledge increased as I have mastered the basics. However, I understand that this is an introductory course, and research writing is much more complex than it might seem. Spending time on the assignments and assigned sources, I developed my patience and concentration on the details that are necessary for successful research completion. For example, the discussion board citations required pondering over real-life situations and discussing them following the APA guidelines.
Continuous Assessment: Case Study
Speaking of the lessons learned regarding the case study, I would like to emphasize that not only the guidelines on its essence and structure were learned but also its place in research was discussed. While working on the corresponding assignment, I have learned that the case study research method contributes to analyzing the subject of research in its context (Gog, 2015). Such an approach allows considering both positive and negative aspects that impact the subject, as well as evaluating it in connection to the theory. The implications of theoretic assumptions promote a greater understanding of the topic and lead to a more comprehensive view of the problem (Gog, 2015). However, it should be remembered that the case study can also have disadvantages, including but not limited to a lack of rigorousness and biases. In this paper, I try to reflect on both my strong and weak sides to avoid biases and subjective assessments. My research of myself shows that it is quite challenging to reveal personal weaknesses, but it helps in preventing mistakes and further improvement.
Every case study analysis should start with the search for pertinent information, as I have understood from this course. For me, it was not easy to find the sources that would meet the requirements of the assignment. The assignment on reviewing Jerry Falwell Library was useful to gather knowledge on potential search ways. In addition, I have mastered the ability to follow the expected structure of assignments and research tasks. The case study should have the introduction, methodology, information review, discussion, recommendations, and conclusion sections. In this paper, I combined the review information with discussion since it seems to be the best solution for examining self as a subject of research. The key advantage of applying the case study method in this paper is that it provides a place for generating new ideas. Namely, I believe that I need to conduct more case studies to strengthen my skills, which would help in my future career. For example, I want to explore such areas the role of a social worker, and the strategies to mitigate addiction consequences based on available case studies.
Integrating a Christian Perspective
The principles of the Bible are incorporated not only in everyday life but also in research. In my point of view, research is an integral part of our lives since it begins in early childhood and continues in adulthood. For example, a toddler explores colors, textures, and tastes while interacting with the objects and people around. When it comes to academic research, I believe that God’s intent for people is to give them knowledge and make their decisions informed. “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning, and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels” (Proverbs 1:5). People have the ability to think, analyze, and practice other intellectual skills, which help in gaining and sharing knowledge.
God desires to show Christians that there are many ways to improve their lives, and research is one of the methods to achieve it. Love, integrity, truth, and the spirit of wisdom are the fundamental principles that should be implemented in research from the Christian perspective. The lessons learned that are discussed in the previous section of this paper show that the information of this course is consistent with the mentioned principles. The APA guidelines instruct students that they should apply bias-free language to ensure that their research is ethical. More to the point, the manual emphasizes that it is useful to refer to colleagues for advice, which strengthens cooperation between them. Along with respect to colleagues and participants of research, it is essential to learn through examples. Likewise, the Bible teaches through a variety of stories, researchers are expected to read the existing academic publications, using them as valuable examples.
However, research can be ungodly if its reliability is not confirmed, and information is distorted or intentionally changed to make an impression. The Bible states: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2). This verse means that information should not be misleading and written by default. Instead, I believe it to be critical to abandon seeking pleasure to transform and become more conscious in decisions. Accordingly, the Christian perspective and the APA guidelines point to justice, responsibility, respect for people, fidelity, and beneficence as the characteristics of godly research. Both of these authoritative sources urge a researcher to ask correct questions to explore the world around, the way of life, and the place of a person. Therefore, I consider that these course lessons are consistent with the Biblical understanding of wisdom and its transition to others.
Recommendations
Taking into account my reflection on the lessons of this course and their connection to the Christian perspective, I would like to outline some recommendations for my development as a researcher. First, it seems to be appropriate to engage with God on what to research to choose the most relevant topics. In Colossians, it is stated that “God as the Father of Jesus Christ who promises that knowing the truth would lead to freedom (John 8:31). To uncover the truth, I believe that I should connect with the community of other researchers who are interested in topics I will study. The majority of researches ends with the clarifications of gaps and limitations. It seems to be a great way to promote a dialogue among researchers.
Another recommendation for my future development is to study other qualitative methods of research, such as literature reviews, interviews with participants, and so on (Percy et al., 2015). The benefits of this form of research seem to be especially important for working with people and interpreting their intentions to help them with their problems, be it alcohol addiction or psychological issues (Cozby & Bates, 2015). In general, the connection with God should inform the decisions of a researcher as all the people are created by the same source.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I would like to state that my skills and knowledge of research increased significantly. I have learned to properly structure the paper, search for and cite academic sources, write case studies, and practice ethical writing. The reflection on my performance in the case study format allowed me to practice all the theoretical information received. The implications of the Biblical principles clarified the perspective for my future growth as a researcher. I believe that information, assignments, and sources from this course are absolutely essential for my further academic progress. I am grateful to be granted this experience, and I am enthusiastic about continuing my journey.
References
APA. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. 7th ed.
Bonds-Raacke, J. M., & Raacke, J. (2017). Introduction to research: Less fright, more insight: A customized version of research methods: Are you equipped? 2nd , Kendall Hunt Publishing.
Cozby, P.C. & Bates, S.C. (2015). Methods in behavioral research (12th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
Gog, M. (2015). Case study research. International Journal of Sales, Retailing & Marketing, 4(9), 33-41.
Percy, W. H., Kostere, K., & Kostere, S. (2015). Generic qualitative research in psychology. The Qualitative Report, 20(2), 76-85.