Introduction/Overview

Many researchers are advised to maintain a research journal. However, there is often little guidance on how to practically deal with a research journal for it to be a useful tool. The aim of this training session is to provide delegates with an overview of how they can make the most of their research journal.

Based on tried-and-tested approaches to maintaining a research journal, this session enables delegates to experiment with different forms and formats for research journaling. We consider what to record and how, whilst also discussing what can be done if important details have not been recorded, and need to be filled in at a later point in time.

The course is delivered as a mixture of interactive group tasks, discussions and lectures to enable active and experiential learning.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the workshop, participants will:

• Have critical awareness that there is not one research journal
• Have practical knowledge and personal experience of effective methods for research journaling
• Understand the aims and purposes of research journaling
• Have a critical awareness of the relationship between the what, why and how of journaling and sharing the entries
• Feel permitted to "experiment" and "try" in qualitative research

Topics

The course will cover:

• The role of the research journal within a research journey
• Theoretical and practical underpinning to research journaling
• Practical strategies and methods for recording and deciding what, when and how to record
• Practical strategies and approaches to catching up with what's been missed

Who will benefit?

This course is suitable for anyone who would like to learn more about research journaling or who needs to teach others in how to use research journals effectively. There is no particular expectation regarding prior experience of and with qualitative research. Participants at the early, middle and final stages of a qualitative research project will benefit.

Course tutor

Dr Nicole Brown is Lecturer in Education at the UCL Institute of Education and Director of Social Research & Practice and Education Ltd. Underpinned by her interpretation of human communication relying on the embodied, metaphorical understanding of the world, she regularly uses participatory and creative approaches to data collection and analysis. Nicole has taught research methods for over ten years, including at the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR), the Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE), the National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM), Photovoice Worldwide and the British Medical Association (BMA). Nicole has authored Making the Most of Your Research Journal and co-authored Embodied Inquiry: Research Methods. For Nicole's publications check https://iris.ucl.ac.uk/iris/browse/profile?upi=NBROW65

  This course contributes 6 hours to the MRS CPD programme

n.b. This course runs in one afternoon.