Note taking: A lesson for Novice Qualitative Researchers.

Although the information can be used in other circumstances, the intention of this manuscript is to assist students and other people who are beginning to get involved in qualitative research on how to take notes. It clearly shows that note taking in not composition writing or a word to word transcription of what is said by someone as may be common with students in many lectures. It shows that note taking is the strategic selection of information that can be used to remember the scenario existing at the time in question. Information was collected through document analysis of well known authors on research such as Denzin and Lincoln; Best and Kahn; Gall, Borg, and Gall and others, as well as from observation and experience of the authors. The paper discusses taking down written notes, tape recording and videotaping as forms of note taking. The advantages and constraints posed by each form and against the other are highlighted. The conclusion made is that resources and expertise permitting, videotaping becomes the best mode of note taking.