Journals and logs

Synonyms:
Diaries

Journals and logs are forms of record-keeping tools that can be used to capture information about activities, results, conditions, or personal perspectives on how change occurred over a period of time.

They can be completed by service users, staff, program partners, and any group involved in a project or programme. When used systematically, they can provide a continuous record of activities and changes as they happen.

The terms ‘journal’ and ‘diary’ are often used interchangeably, though different organisations and contexts may have more specific or nuanced definitions of each type. Typically, these terms refer to descriptive records that might be captured at the time of specific events or activities, or on a periodic schedule (such as daily or weekly). Entries are often reflective and narrative in nature, and include thoughts, feelings and insights from the person creating the entry. Journal and diary entries can also be more structured and focus on recording specific observations, interactions and outcomes, and can be a way to communicate these to team members. (source: Warwick Academic Development Centre, n.d)

The term ‘log’ typically refers to a more structured form of record keeping that focuses on factual records and specific data points. Logs are often used to track progress, attendance, resource use, and other quantifiable aspects of a program and record what has been done or achieved. (Source: Measurement Toolkit, n.d.; Warwick Academic Development Centre, n.d.)

Examples

Diaries were used as part of research into the lives of people with dementia who campaign for social change. The research involved sixteen individuals with dementia keeping a diary for around one month about their experiences of campaigning (e.g. lobbying politicians, meeting Chief Executives, media work, and talking to students), and me (with research assistance)

observing them ‘in action’ at key events, such as conferences and Annual General Meetings. The diary-keeping phase was preceded by and followed up with an in-depth interview. (Bartlett, 2011)

In the Outcome Mapping approach, three different types of journals are used:

  • Strategy journal: Records activities undertaken to implement planned strategies
  • Outcome journal: Records significant observations that demonstrate changes to the behaviour, activities, policies or relationships of key actors (identified as ‘boundary partners’) that relate to the intervention’s theory of change and where the intervention can plausibly claim direct or indirect contribution.
  • Performance journal: Records organisational practices, including learning processes.

"Outcome Mapping, Building Learning and Reflection into Development Programs" (Earl et al., 2001) gives an example of how these journal types can be used, as well as templates for these.

Advice for choosing this method

To ensure timely and accurate documentation of an ongoing process, journals need to be completed close to the event. They are not suitable as evaluation tools post-implementation, although a table format of events can be used to reconstruct events after the fact.

Advice for using this method

The design of the journal is important and each programme has to make careful considerations about what format and fields are most appropriate to collect the information that is needed.

Because monitoring requires the commitment of human and financial resources, it is important to plan and prioritise monitoring needs and map resources against them, selecting only those tools that are within the limits of what can realistically be committed.

The Outcome Mapping (OM) Monitoring Plan (Earl et al., 2001, p 85) is helpful in thinking through those monitoring priorities.

Often, a conversation is the most important process in reflecting together on progress made, the writing of logs is then just for documentation. The value-added of any log "will depend on their integration into the program’s ongoing management and reporting processes and on the commitment of program members to collect data regularly and reflect on work honestly" (Earl et al., 2001, p 76)

Resources

Examples

  • Using diaries in research with people with dementia

    This paper was developed by as part of the Realities Toolkit by Ruth Bartlett at the University of Manchester in 2011. It discusses the reasons for selecting diary method, explains why and how it was modified for this study, and highlights its main advantage, namely to enable people to be in control.

  • Outcome mapping: Building learning and reflection into development programs

    This book by Sarah Earl, Fred Carden and Terry Smutylo takes an original approach to assessing development impacts by focusing on the way in which people relate to each other and to their environment rather than simply evaluating the products a program

Template

  • Example outcome journal template

    This template is based on the original Outcome Mapping guidance, incorporating elements from Outcome Harvesting (e.g. significance) and allowing tagging to particular progress markers (rather than listing them all as the original does).

Guides

Bartlett, R. (2011). Using diaries in research with people with dementia. University of Manchester. Retrieved from: https://www.socialsciences.manchester.ac.uk/morgan-centre/research/resources/toolkits/toolkit-18/

Earl, S., Carden F. & Smutylo, T. (2001). Outcome Mapping, Building learning and reflection into development programs. Ottawa: International Development Research Centre

Measurement Toolkit. (n.d.) Diaries and logs. https://www.measurement-toolkit.org/physical-activity/subjective-methods/diaries-and-logs

Warwick Academic Development Centre. (n.d.). Reflecting: journals and learning (b)logs - Using journals and learning (b)logs to assess learning. https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/academic-development/assessmentdesign/methods/reflecting

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