How Should I Record My Research Journey?

Abstract

This chapter reinforces the valuable social and behavioural research practice of maintaining a journal (or diary or notebook) that records your entire research journey, typically over a period of several years. You should use your research journal to record any and all aspects of your research journey, from its commencement to completion. It will form an invaluable memory aid when it comes to contextualising aspects of your journey as well as for producing specific research outcomes. It will provide a vehicle for tracing your evolving critical thinking and reflections. A well-maintained research journal can provide you with a rich and unique source of textual and visual data that are analysable, thereby serving as a qualitative data source in its own right.