Thinking Out Loud: How Audio Journaling Enhances Educational Criticism and Connoisseurship

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 5
  In Roundtable Session: New Visions for Qualitative Educational Research

Abstract

Audio journaling is a data collection method wherein participants narrate their experiences into an audio recorder. It has emerged as an extension of written journals and begun to be utilized in qualitative studies. The method provides an opportunity to enhance the educational criticism and connoisseurship methodology. After an evaluation of its use in my study of the social and emotional well-being of first-year teachers, I drew three conclusions. First, the utilization of audio journaling broadens the definition of connoisseur to include the researcher’s knowledge and understanding of their participants. Second, the researcher’s ability to discern nuance is enhanced. Finally, audio journaling provides a means to access participants’ knowledge that cannot be gained through other methods.

Author

• Patrick Daniel Riordan, Pacific University