Free Essay About Reflective Journal

Subsequent to completing the research report, I was not only able to sharpen my skills in research but also improve my knowledge on matters regarding information security measures. Considering that the research report in question was prepared step by step, this reflective journal will insightfully present how the research was conducted while presenting ideas employed during the entire process. In addition to the above, this reflective journal will present a personal point of view regarding my experience with the research and what I learnt subsequently to completing the research.
At the onset of the report in question, I was required to choose at least three IT related research areas. This step was of particular importance to me because it offered me an opportunity to relate more with Week 1 lecture. Apparently I was able to reflect and scrutinize the readings of Wek 1 lecture more comprehensively. Having chosen the three IT related areas, the next step entailed choosing one area by engaging with friends in groups. Engaging more with my friends in groups prior to choosing the topic of the research provided a framework where I brainstormed ideas related to my topic of choice. It was much easier for me owing the fact that some of the topics chosen by my friends and their subsequent sub-topics related well to my topic. Engaging with friends prior to choosing my topic was informational and interactive, I was able to learn from my friends and trade my ideas to them as well.
Apart from engaging with friends in groups, informational and essential videos provided enabled me learn more on matters related to narrowing or rather being specific in one’s research. Though the topic I choose was broad, watching the videos enabled me establish and define my motivation for the research topic and explicate my problem statement more insightfully. To make my problem statement more clear and pertinent to the research topic, I employed the use of guidelines drafted by Evans & Gruba (2002). To ascertain that my problem statement was appropriate and relevant enough relative to the guidelines, I made some alterations to improve the clarity and precision of the problem statement. In essence, the guidelines above were of much essence and imperative to my research owing the fact:
I identified and defined what I was to study in the research report

Established relevant and significant research questions and factors imperative to the research, major concepts, and the related ideas

Comprehensively define the limits of the research,
Alienate all the unnecessary ideas and concepts
Establish the applicability of the research
Establish the significance, benefits, and justify the same.
Subsequent to defining and writing my problem statement, the next step entailed barnstorming ideas. Though I had no criteria in mind, the fifth question that provided an example of a concept map developed by business commerce students in Australia expounded my knowledge and gave me lots of ideas. By employing the use of the concept map, I wrote down the main topic “Effectiveness of Data Securing Techniques” and subsequently went ahead to write down concepts and ideas related to the topic in question. The ideas and concepts related to the topic above were essentially established by answering the questions why? How? When? Where? What? And who? The questions above in relation to the topic made it much easier for me to write down concepts and ideas in regards to the research topic. The concept map formed subsequently was imperative to my entire research owing the fact that it enabled me write down the sub-topics of the research and ideas related to the same. Subsequent to drafting the concept map, I was able to learn more regarding the topic in question since I had to peruse through readings and the internet to answer the forecasted questions.
Having drafted my concept map, the next step was to look for relevant sources and reading materials that contained significant information to the research topic in question. Considering that not all sources that contained the required information are accredited, I searched for sources in accredited databases and the school library. As part of my literature review, I choose journals majority them being the ones related to contemporary research. The chosen sources were then analyzed and subjected to scrutiny. Each source was independently analyzed by essentially establishing the relevance of the source to the research. The explicit information contained in each source subsequently used in the research was mentioned. The annotated bibliography I conducted expounded my knowledge about each source a fact that made me establish the specific area of the research that each source could be used.
Considering that a mainstream of the ideas incorporated into my research was borrowed from sources outlined in the annotated bibliography, all ideas borrowed were cited appropriately using the APA format. Quotes were cited to avoid plagiarism and ascertain that the research ideas are given adequate support.
After completing the literature review, the next step I executed was to write down the outline of the research. The outline was of the essence to me because it gave me a framework where I organized my ideas in a more progressive and logical manner. Having defined the problem statement, choose the sources and subsequently analyze them, the next big thing followed: the actual research. Writing the research was much easier for me since at the onset of the research I had all the required materials and knowledge acquired in the preceding steps. The research report was written with strong adherence to objectives of the research. Noting down the objectives of the research was imperative to the research owing the fact that I was able to relate to the objectives throughout to avoid inconsistency.
In a nutshell, doing this research not only value-added my skills in research but also improved my knowledge in regard to data securing techniques. I was able to learn a lot regarding the subject matter and also relate the same with the class readings. By conducting the research step by step, I was able to learn a lot at each level. In essence, I acquainted myself with concept mapping, ways of conducting a literature review insightfully by assimilate ideas from sources and finally learnt how to logically present ideas. The ten questions were of a considerable benefit and significance to me owing the fact that it gave me a guide while writing the research report. Arguably, following and relating to the required steps defined by the ten questions was of the essence to me because it gave me a platform of executing my research as it was required of me. I also learnt a lot regarding the subject matter of the research subsequently.