One method of note-taking is where you identify the main issues/ themes and allocate separate pages to each one. By using this method you are classifying the information as you take the notes, thus preparing your evidence for the final writing stage.
For example:
When analysing a case study, you may consider that the manager is exhibiting
signs of 'tunnel vision'. In this case you will need to explore 'tunnel-vision'
in detail to ensure you are correct. When taking notes, keep the question
that you are asking in mind.
The figure below illustrates one way of classifying your notes according to each theme:
Figure 1: Classifying your notes
| This column is for the text reference. If it is a journal article remember to include the page numbers. | This column
is for your notes, either direct or indirect quotations, statistics,
etc. Be sure to always include the page number after each piece of information. |
This column is for your comments, cross-references, questions, reminders, and interpretations. This is your thinking. |
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| THEME 1: tunnel vision | ||
| Reference | Notes | Comments |
| Fulop, L., Frith, F. and Hayward, H. Management for Australian Business: A Critical Text, Macmillan, 1992 | "tunnel vision describes a distorted
or preferred way of thinking and acting...it creates or reinforces
certain beliefs and attitudes among managers, and these become so
entrenched that new ideas, practices and attitudes cannot flourish
in an organisation". p.13 " one symptom is selective focusing" p.13 |
This basically means that managers
can get so 'caught up' in their own belief systems that they are unable
to see alternative perspectives. This is obvious in the case study where the manager cannot see the issue from the women's perspective. Selective focusing a good term to use |
| next reference | notes... | comments ... Does it relate to the information above? |
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