Conversations on Method: Deconstructing Policy through the Researcher Reflective Journal

Authors

Ruth C. Slotnick, University of South FloridaFollow
Valerie J. Janesick, University of South FloridaFollow

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Researcher Reflective Journal, Alternative Policy Analysis, Qualitative Methods

Publication Date

9-1-2011

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2011.1302

Recommended APA Citation

Slotnick, R. C., & Janesick, V. J. (2011). Conversations on Method: Deconstructing Policy through the Researcher Reflective Journal. The Qualitative Report, 16(5), 1352-1360. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2011.1302