Video diaries: a discussion of their use for researching the learner experience in higher education

This paper considers the rationale for using video diaries as a method of qualitative data gathering for research into students' experiences of Higher Education (HE). In particular the paper considers how video diaries have been employed for researching students' views and attitudes to their own learning and development. The paper examines the literature on the purpose of reflective video diary research as the method has moved beyond its initial primary development for use in medical studies and specifically into their use in HE. The particular benefits of personal video-diary compilation are considered in terms of the autonomy of the participant for choosing the location and time of recording along with the immediacy of the learner's reflections. These benefits are compared with other qualitative data gathering methods in particular the use of semi-structured interviews in the presence of an interviewer. The high volume of data gathered through video diaries and the administrative load for data management and its analysis are the main negative aspects considered. A methodology for employing video diaries as a research method for data collection is discussed within the context of three case studies with undergraduate students at a UK university and the wider recent literature. The conclusions highlight the unique value of participant-generated video diaries for researching the nature of the student learning experience in HE.