Research Diaries & Reflexive Practice Dr Cath Exley Senior Lecturer in Medical Sociology Telephone (0191)

“whether they are called diaries, log books, journals, field notes or lab books, some version of this type of ‘external memory’ has been used by researchers in many disciplines for recording their daily observations in the field.” Reference: Altricher, H. and Holly, M.L. (2005) ‘Research Diaries’ in Research Methods in the Social Sciences, Somekh, B. and Lewin, C. (Eds). Sage: London

“For better or worse, the human mind forgets massively and quickly.” “In order, then, to have any kind of an edge on the participants in articulating and understanding their world, it is necessary to have some means to overcome forgetting. Writing is such a device.” Reference: Lofland 2004, p 232, in Social Research Methods: A Reader, by Seale C (Ed). Routledge)

Field notes - ethnography What do field notes consist of? –A chronological log –Running description –Previously forgotten, now recalled information –Methodological field notes –Analytic ideas and inferences –Personal impressions and feelings (recording the researcher) “Some of these ideas may seem obvious and trivial; some may seem far fetched and wild; and many may seem in between. Put all of them into field notes.” (Lofland 2004, p 233)

Why do field notes help? Analysis “By building a foundation of memos and tentative pieces of and directions for analysis, the analytic period will be much less traumatic.”

Why do field notes help? Referee guidelines – Sociology of Health & Illness Has adequate account been taken of the impact of researcher and research process on the data obtained? Are ethical issues acknowledged and addressed satisfactorily? (accessed via )

Main purpose Reflection

Bibliography Bryman, A. (2008) Social Research Methods (3 rd Edition). Oxford University Press: Oxford Seale, C. (2004) Social Research Methods: A Reader. Routledge: London Somekh, B. & Lewin, C. (2005) Research Methods in the Social Sciences. Sage: London