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The Natural History of a Doctoral Research Study: The Role of a Research Diary and Reflexivity

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Emotions and Reflexivity in Health & Social Care Field Research

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to locate critical moments of reflexivity in my doctoral research, focusing on my longitudinal research diaries. The moments highlighted were practical, theoretical, analytical and personal. I will present the actions I took, the implications arising from these moments, the strategies used, the insight that emerged and the outcomes achieved. I will use the analogy of traffic movement, signs, rules and regulations to depict and describe the challenges, obstacles, turning points, struggles, despair and triumph in this journey. I will provide a table of features that, in my view, constitute the concept of reflexivity and the strategies that I used to practice reflexivity.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. St George’s, University of London, London, UK

    Sarah Li

Authors
  1. Sarah Li
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Middlesex University, London, United Kingdom

    Helen T. Allan

  2. University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom

    Anne Arber

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Li, S. (2018). The Natural History of a Doctoral Research Study: The Role of a Research Diary and Reflexivity. In: Allan, H., Arber, A. (eds) Emotions and Reflexivity in Health & Social Care Field Research. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65503-1_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65503-1_2

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-65502-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-65503-1

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

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