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							<p>How you keep a record of your research depends on best practices in your field of study, the resources you have available, and your own ways of working. Historically, the written notebook was the standard for many fields of research. Today, digital notebooks are more common, and open-source software solutions are increasingly being made available online. Whatever format you use, your research record should provide a complete account of what you did in a way that allows for subsequent validation.</p>
							
							<h3>Types of data</h3>
							
							<p>The format you use for keeping a research record can be driven by the type of data/information you are collecting: <glossary content="Findings recorded in numerical form (e.g. the weight or size of an object, the number of individuals who answered &ldquo;yes&rdquo; or &ldquo;no&rdquo; on a survey).">quantitative</glossary> or <glossary content="Findings recorded as words, images or sounds (e.g. photographs of paintings, passages where an author discussed a particular topic, archival records documenting past events).">qualitative</glossary>.</p>
														
							<p>Quantitative data is usually kept in a digital format (e.g. in spreadsheets, text files or other more bespoke formats), while qualitative data can be digital or written. However, even if you are primarily collecting quantitative data, keep in mind that it needs to be accompanied by qualitative descriptions (written or digital) of your procedures, thoughts and observations.</p>
							
							<instructional-text><p>Watch the animation below for an explanation of how you should keep a research record.</p></instructional-text>
							<instructional-text-accessible><p>Continue on for an explanation of how you should keep a research record.</p></instructional-text-accessible>
							
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							<p>What information needs to be entered into a research record? In brief, the answer is everything you or someone else would need to understand &ndash; and, if necessary, duplicate &ndash; your research.</p>
							<p>Your record should be complete and focused; however, it can be difficult to appreciate exactly what will be needed later, as small details can sometimes prove to be very important in retrospect. Because of this, it is usually better to record too much than too little.</p>
							
							<h3>Research record checklist</h3>
							
							<p>To help you determine what should be included in a research record, work your way through the following activity.</p>
							
							<instructional-text><p>Click the "tick" alongside information that you think should be included in a research record, and the "cross" alongside information that you think should not be included. Read the feedback on best practices before moving on to the next item.</p></instructional-text>
							<instructional-text-accessible><p>Consider each statement and decide whether you think the information should be included in a research record. Then proceed to our feedback on best practices before moving on to the next item.</p></instructional-text-accessible>
														
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							<checklist allow-restart="true" has-ticks-and-crosses="true">
								<check-item>
									<p>Methods/procedures</p>
									<check-tick-cross>
										<check-tick correct><strong>Correct.</strong> It is important to fully understand the methods used for each stage of your research. Be sure to include small details that may or may not be relevant as you conduct your research (e.g. publishing information for books, chemical batch numbers, precise timings or who did what experiment).</check-tick>
										<check-cross incorrect><strong>Incorrect.</strong> Even if the methods you are using are well known, you should provide details to document that you followed standard methods. Be sure to include details that may not be obvious as you conduct your research (e.g. publishing information for books, chemical batch numbers, precise timings and who did what experiment).</check-cross>
									</check-tick-cross>
								</check-item>
								<check-item>
									<p>Project meeting notes</p>
									<check-tick-cross>
										<check-tick correct><strong>Correct.</strong> Thorough notes from project meetings can serve as evidence of discussions and important decisions made through the course of the project. Dated notes can also be used as evidence in support of intellectual property applications.</check-tick>
										<check-cross incorrect><strong>Incorrect.</strong> Important decisions are often made during research meetings. If they are not recorded, it can be difficult to reconstruct and justify them. Dated notes can also be used as evidence in support of intellectual property applications.</check-cross>
									</check-tick-cross>
								</check-item>
								<check-item>
									<p>Data collection procedures</p>
									<check-tick-cross>
										<check-tick correct><strong>Correct.</strong> Include the dates and times information was collected, how it was collected, and any deviations from the planned methods.</check-tick>
										<check-cross incorrect><strong>Incorrect.</strong> This information is key to the reconstruction of the research process. Include the dates and times information was collected, how it was collected, and any deviations from the planned methods.</check-cross>
									</check-tick-cross>
								</check-item>
								<check-item>
									<p>Data filenames, formats and locations</p>
									<check-tick-cross>
										<check-tick correct><strong>Correct.</strong> For easy location of data and to enable data quality assurance procedures, such as data backup and quality checks, it is important to document the locations, formats and names of data files as they are stored.</check-tick>
										<check-cross incorrect><strong>Incorrect.</strong> Although there may be established procedures for storing data, it is always best to record data filenames, formats and locations in the research record, along with any important notes pertaining to the data contained in the file.</check-cross>
									</check-tick-cross>
								</check-item>
								<check-item>
									<p>Data analysis procedures</p>
									<check-tick-cross>
										<check-tick correct><strong>Correct.</strong> Analysis of data is a complex task upon which the conclusions of the research rest. It is imperative that the research record includes detailed information on the analysis procedures used to obtain results. If using processing scripts, old versions should be saved if possible.</check-tick>
										<check-cross incorrect><strong>Incorrect.</strong> Analysis of data is a complex task upon which the conclusions of the research rest. It is imperative that the research record includes detailed information on the analysis procedures used to obtain results. If using processing scripts, old versions should be saved if possible. </check-cross>
									</check-tick-cross>
								</check-item>
								<check-item>
									<p>Evidence of approvals</p>
									<check-tick-cross>
										<check-tick correct><strong>Correct.</strong> Evidence of approvals (such as outcomes of ethics reviews, peer reviews or governance approvals) is an essential part of the research record, giving the researcher authority to collect the data necessary to complete the research project. It is a good idea to keep all the documentation that was originally reviewed (e.g. participant information sheets), just in case questions are ever raised. This evidence sometimes needs to be provided to journals prior to publication.</check-tick>
										<check-cross incorrect><strong>Incorrect.</strong> Without evidence of the necessary approvals (such as outcomes of ethics reviews, peer reviews, governance approvals, animal licences), a researcher cannot prove they had the authority to collect the data necessary to complete the research project. It is also a good idea to keep all the documentation originally reviewed (e.g. participant information sheets), just in case questions are ever raised. This evidence sometimes needs to be provided to journals prior to publication.</check-cross>
									</check-tick-cross>
								</check-item>
								<check-item>
									<p>Confidential information</p>
									<check-tick-cross>
										<check-tick incorrect><strong>Incorrect.</strong> If your research notes are open for others to review, they should not include confidential (e.g. personal or otherwise protected) information. However, if your notebooks are carefully controlled through a data protection plan and are only open to approved researchers, then confidential information can be included. Indeed, the inclusion of confidential information may be essential in some fields (e.g. clinical research).</check-tick>
										<check-cross correct><strong>Correct.</strong> Since your research notes are generally open for others to review, they should not include confidential (e.g. personal or otherwise protected) information. However, if your notebooks are carefully controlled through a data protection plan and are only open to approved researchers, then confidential information can be included. Indeed, the inclusion of confidential information may be essential in some fields (e.g. clinical research).</check-cross>
									</check-tick-cross>
								</check-item>
								<check-item>
									<p>References</p>
									<check-tick-cross>
										<check-tick correct><strong>Correct.</strong> While working on a research project, it is important to maintain clear records of information sources or references for later attribution. This will save significant time during the publication phase of the research process. If you are referring to a webpage that may be updated, it is advisable to save a copy (perhaps as a screenshot) of the page that you referred to.</check-tick>
										<check-cross incorrect><strong>Incorrect.</strong> It is important to maintain clear records of sources or references for later attribution. Without clear records, the researcher may misidentify a source or reconstruct resources inaccurately from memory. If you are referring to a webpage that may be updated, it is advisable to save a copy (perhaps as a screenshot) of the page that you referred to.</check-cross>
									</check-tick-cross>
								</check-item>
								<check-item>
									<p>Reflections</p>
									<check-tick-cross>
										<check-tick correct><strong>Correct.</strong> A research notebook should be a record not only of information collected, but also of reflections on that information. It is in this part of the record that originality can be demonstrated and justification for actions established.</check-tick>
										<check-cross incorrect><strong>Incorrect.</strong> A research record is more than a repository of facts and figures. It also serves as a record of the thought process that accompanies the research. This provides evidence of originality and justification for actions.</check-cross>
									</check-tick-cross>
								</check-item>
								<check-item>
									<p>Personal notes unrelated (or only partly related) to your research</p>
									<check-tick-cross>
										<check-tick incorrect><strong>Incorrect.</strong> Personal notes (e.g. notes concerning seminars, social activities, relationships with colleagues) do not belong in the research record. If personal relationships or events have a bearing on your career development, they can be kept in a separate record.</check-tick>
										<check-cross correct><strong>Correct.</strong> Personal notes (e.g. notes concerning seminars, social activities, relationships with colleagues) do not belong in the research record. If personal relationships or events have a bearing on your career development, they can be kept in a separate record.</check-cross>
									</check-tick-cross>
								</check-item>
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							<h3>Summary</h3>
							
							<p>However you keep track of what you are doing and your findings, you should record:</p>
							
							<ul>
								<li>What you did</li>
								<li>Who you did it with</li>
								<li>When you did it</li>
								<li>What you discovered.</li>
							</ul>
							
							<p>Your research record is not just a listing of data sources &ndash; it is the story of your research project, presenting evidence of your original contribution to the field. Without it, your thought process cannot be verified or reconstructed, and you cannot prove the timing of your creative contributions.</p>
							
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