I-Search: What I Learned
I-Search: What I Learned
Rebecca
May 10, 2010
My first research question for this project is what specific events can cause a soldier to have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? In researching about this question I found that any kind of traumatic event can cause the disorder. Soldiers at war must see their comrades and other soldiers being killed right in front of them which can be very traumatizing. Also, the conditions that soldiers must live in are very difficult to deal with. Interviewing my uncle really helped to answer my questions. In the interview he explained some of the living conditions that he had to deal with. Also, my uncle talked about everything that they must see on a daily basis while at war. Finding out these answers really made me realize how hard it is to be at war. Soldiers go through so much everyday while they are at war. Even though I found out about everything that they have to go through, I still cannot imagine being at war. War can be very traumatizing for a soldier causing them to suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
For my second research question I wanted to find out what can soldiers or loved ones of soldiers do to help treat PTSD, substance abuse and suicide or prevent it? In my research I found out about some very good therapies they have for soldiers who suffer from PTSD. The therapies are most effective in helping soldiers get over their PTSD. Also, there are some therapies that soldiers can do before going to war to help prevent getting the disorder. I found out information about these therapies using sources from the LibGuides Pathfinder. One of the main sources I used was the National Center for PTSD. This source provided me with the causes, effects, treatment and many explanations of this disorder. I think that the therapies are a very good way to help soldiers and veterans. Instead, some soldiers may take medications. However, I think therapy could be much more effective than medicine. PTSD can be very hard to deal with but the therapies can help the soldiers get through the pain.
My third research question for this project is why do so many soldiers suffering from PTSD turn to alcohol or drugs and suicide? During my research I found out more about why soldiers turn to substance abuse and even suicide. Suffering from PTSD is very hard and painful to deal with. So, people with the disorder often turn to substance abuse to help ease the pain. Also, when they feel that alcohol and drugs isn’t enough they turn to suicide. Before starting this project I did know a little bit about why people would choose to drink or do drugs. Another source that helped me realize the reasons for substance abuse was my uncle. He explained it to me and also researching on the National Center for PTSD helped me find my answers. I think that it is very harmful and can lead to even worse things. I also think that if anyone suffering from PTSD is considering substance abuse they should immediately seek counseling or therapy to help. Therapy could prevent substance abuse and suicide.
There are a few aspects of this project that I think I did well on. First, I feel I did well on in this research project is my multigenre elements. I really enjoyed the elements that I chose and I feel that they show some of the main points of my project. Also, they really helped wrap up my research. Second, I feel that I did well on my Google Site. It kept me on track being able to see what I’ve done and what was still left to do. Also, all of the elements I have posted show each step of my research during this project. Third, I feel that my interview went really well. Being able to interview my uncle made it a lot easier. Also, I came up with some questions that I was really interested in knowing and he answered them very well. Doing all of this really helped me with my entire project. I feel that I did most of the elements of the project well and they can really show everything that I have done throughout the semester.
If I had the opportunity to do this project again there are a few things that I would do differently. First, I would spend more time practicing my presentation and becoming more comfortable with what I wanted to say in my presentation. Doing so I think would help to prevent me from becoming nervous and forgetting what I want to say. After doing this project I have learned that I do get nervous and try to get through my presentation quickly. Second, I would be more consistent with my blog entries. There were a few that I did not do or I turned in late. I learned that not doing these really can affect my grade. Third, if I was to do this project again I would do more with my Netvibes page. I feel that I was worried more about my Google Site and other things that I had to do. I should have spent more time adding to my Netvibes page. Overall, there are some things that I could have done better on.
Thinking about all elements of this project the grade I think I would give myself is a low B. I feel I deserve this grade because I did spend a good amount of time on this project in class and outside of class. Also, I feel that I made a major improvement from last semester. This semester I spent more time on each element of the project. I feel that this semester I did a lot better on my blog entries as well. Furthermore, I seemed to be much more organized this semester.
My digital elements, Netvibes and Google Site, show a lot about the research I did and all of my work during this project. Posted on my Google Site are all of my I-Search documents. These documents summarize each part of my research I did during the project. Also, I have my multigenre elements posted which show some main facts of my research. Another thing that I have on my Google Site are my project updates and daily agendas. This shows what I have been working on each day. It also helped keep me on track throughout the project.
