Throughout your dissertation you should keep a research diary specifically relating to your work. Research diaries take a number of forms as they obviously reflect the particular approach and learning style of the individual researcher.
It is very important that, as soon as you start to think about what it is you want to research, you begin to capture your thoughts, recollections and experiences. Once you have clarified your research question you should continue to record your progress throughout your research. This will include, for example, recording what happened when you sought permission to interview individuals. Did you have any problems? Were some people more interested and enthusiastic than others? Did any appear anxious or unhappy about the prospect of being interviewed? These are all important clues which help you build up a picture of individuals and their situations (although obviously at this stage you cannot read too much into these reflections – you will need to check out your personal interpretations and assumptions carefully as the research develops). Similarly, once you begin your fieldwork and are visiting different institutions, places of work, or are present at a meeting, observe as much as possible and make notes about the location, the atmosphere, the people there and how they acted and interacted. This will help you to contextualise your research and enhance your understanding of, for instance, the conditions under which people work.
Your research diary is intended for your eyes only! Record in it what is important to you, and in a way that makes most sense for you. You will not be asked to show it to anyone else - although you may choose to do so, or to select extracts from it to share with your supervisor. You may, if it seems appropriate, include extracts from your research diary in your dissertation. If you do so, you should reference it as you would any other text, including in the bibliography (e.g. Smith A (2001) Personal Research Diary [Vol 1: December] unpublished.)
As an adjunct to your diary, you should also collect any literature and other data which you come across and which may be relevant to your study. This may include policy documents (Government, Local Authority, university, college, school, etc.), school/ college/university timetables, brochures, mission statements, development plans, statements on equality issues etc. These can be linked to comments and questions made in your research diary. Appendix 5 is a form devised by a previous student which you may find useful for recording information about documents you are using in your study.