Reflective Learning Journal

 

A drawing of a pen and a paper
Who is it for?

Researchers

Overview:
The aim of the reflective learning journal is to capture ongoing reflections about undertaking participation work or fieldwork (interviews and/or focus groups). It was designed to capture short reflections about what went well, what did not go well, what one would change next time, and what resources would be needed to implement these changes. It allows research teams to learn from and adapt their approaches on an ongoing basis, and functions similarly to a communal ‘field diary’. 

Key strengths: 
The reflective learning journal uses simple, effective question to capture short, ongoing reflection. Researchers can type directly onto the form, or they can audio record their reflections (individually or as a group), using the questions as a guide. It provides a common framework and data collection tool for individual and group reflection and can be adapted for reflection on specific tools e.g. for CAFADA the Measures tools. It aims to capture learning during the process might otherwise be lost over the length of a project.

Key challenges:
When many activities are happening at the same time, the reflective learning journal can feel onerous. Researchers may not remember to use the journal every time they complete an activity, and/or may feel their own ‘consultation fatigue’ about the ongoing need for reflections. Additionally, if the journal is consistently completed, there may be a substantial amount of information to process throughout a project.