Walden University (2016d) asks doctoral students to incorporate a social change component into the capstone in alignment with “a deliberate process of creating and applying ideas, strategies, and actions to promote the worth, dignity, and development of individuals, communities, organizations, institutions, cultures, and societies.”

Perhaps you may ask, “How can the results of my one small study make a difference in people’s lives?”

Journaling is a rigorous qualitative research tool and a process for self-examination. It allows you to inquire into the meaning, intention, desire, methodological choices, and personal ego of yourself as the researcher in this most intensive exploration of the experiences of your participants. If you expect your participants to share deeply, consider that you have to reflect deeply as well.

A journal is a perfect place to explore questions such as the following:

• How am I…?
• Why am I…?
• Where am I…?
• What do I do now?

Journaling and the use of the journal as a source of data contribute to the transparency of the research process as a means of keeping your biases “in check.” Journaling also provides an opportunity to keep track of your own transformation.

A journal can be written (words, drawings, collage), audio, or video. In this course, you will have the opportunity to try out several approaches, with recommended guidelines for each weekly entry. You are also encouraged to go beyond the guidelines if you feel compelled to do so.

To prepare for this Journal:

• Read about using reflective journaling in the article by Ortlipp (2008), found in this week’s Learning Resources.
• Reflect on the following statement as a broad consideration for social change as a research lens:
  • Rapid social change and the resulting diversification of life worlds are increasingly confronting social researcher with new social contexts and perspectives…thus research is increasingly forced to make use of inductive strategies instead of starting from theories and testing them…knowledge and practice are studied as local knowledge and practice. (Flick, 2002, p. 2)
• Consider your intrinsic motivation for pursuing your chosen research topic. In other words, ask yourself why you have chosen to pursue this topic.
• Consider how your intrinsic motivation aligns with Walden’s mission of social change. In other words, to what social change do you hope the results of your study will contribute? As you consider this, recall the following directive: Think globally, act locally!
• Consider if there is anything else you would like to reflect on in this video journal entry.

Record a brief (5-minute maximum) autobiographical video using the Kaltura Webcam recording option. In your video journal, introduce yourself to your classmates and share your thoughts based on your considerations of the five points you explored to prepare for this journal.

Submit your video Journal entry.