Information About Writing a Research Journal
The research journal is an ongoing log of your thoughts and activities connected to your research. It captures your ideas as they occur on possible research topics/areas for further consideration and development. The research journal should be started at the very beginning of the research pursuit, when your ideas are just beginning to form.
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Generating Ideas
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Ask yourself why you even felt you had to do research at the particular level. What inspired you? What is your passion? Write whatever comes to mind.
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Research Approach
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Think about your research approach. What are possible research topics? What research methods would possible topics suggest?
Review Entries
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Reflect on what you have written before continuing. Consider the implications of your thinking. Note recurring patterns/themes. Find articles that explore your thinking, ideas and feelings.
Research Resources
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Note different resources you think about or have discovered. Make notes on studies you have read: Write the research topic, findings, ideas for further research, your main impressions and location of articles.
Coursework Reflections
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Note significant and relevant learning during coursework. Write weekly summaries and reflections. Note unanswered questions and sources for possible answers.
Research Proposal and Implementation
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Note milestones of research proposal/implementation. Note challenges and your thoughts about how you coped. This journal becomes a record of this particular research experience.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit "Questioned Proposal" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: Eleaf (Ethan Lofton) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
