Open AccessConversations on Method: Deconstructing Policy through the Researcher Reflective Journal
Author(s) -
Ruth C. Slotnick,
Valerie J. Janesick
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the qualitative report
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2160-3715
DOI - 10.46743/2160-3715/2011.1302
Subject(s) - presentation (obstetrics) , sociology , qualitative research , process (computing) , reflective practice , journal writing , epistemology , pedagogy , engineering ethics , psychology , computer science , social science , teaching method , medicine , philosophy , radiology , operating system , engineering
In this article the authors argue that the researcher reflective journal is a critical interpretive tool for conducting educational policy analysis. The idea for this research grew from the experiences of a doctoral candidate (Ruth) in pursuit of a policy focused dissertation and a series of on-going conversations with her qualitative methodologist (Valerie). The structure of the paper takes a dialogue form on the topic of policy analysis and the various uses of the journal, including found data poetry and photographic representations of the self as a research instrument, which may expand the findings and increase options for data presentation. Sections of the paper include a discussion on journal writing as a creative process, the reflective role of the researcher when examining policies, and the challenges of constructing a well-designed methodological framework.