Thread by @DrPetra

Today's #ResearchTip is as you're keeping records of your progress (in a log, diary etc) remember to note
- what you did
- why you did that
- how you went about it
and
- what happened as a consequence
You may think you'll remember, but over time you'll forget! #AcademicTwitter

Bonuses of keeping records that go beyond a simple description of what you did:
- you can pinpoint where things go well or badly
- easier to demonstrate impact
- helps remember the good times
- shows your progress and actions
- very helpful for teaching
- invaluable in a crisis

Remember, for some projects you're restricted to recording information in very particular ways, that often focus only on the 'what I did' and not the other details. So keep additional records to describe all actions taken and how you felt about it all.

You may decide to keep records that are formal within your uni/department/project and also keep a private record for yourself. That may be vital in cases of bullying, but can also be important if you want to detail reflexive accounts when the rest of your team/project doesn't.

Remember to check ownership - who keeps the records when the project is done and also how to maintain confidentiality, anonymity and data protection. Things you've observed may not be something you can still share widely (especially without consent and permissions).

You can keep records in audio, video, text or other creative and visual formats. It might be something you do alone or collectively. For example, peers on a project may all record observations and progress together; or doctoral students might interview each other about progress.

Finally, you can track your project progress (the what, how, why and when) with other documentation from your research or elsewhere. That can mean you're not searching for that paper that backed up what you noticed years down the line. It's all archived and linked together 😉

ps. the advantage of both keeping detailed notes *and* discussing progress (and the lack of it) with people you trust who have varying levels of research experience is you may spot problems much earlier and be able to address them - and describe that process.