The aim of the Research Diary is to provide guidance to the Co-Researchers on how to write microstories related to their experience in mental health social support networks. In that case, Co-Researchers are people with personal experience with mental health problems and their relatives, acting as experts-in-the-field. Generally speaking, this method could be applied to a variety of other research subjects requiring introspection. It also relates to other social sciences practices such as autoethnography.
The Co-Researchers were invited to write personal stories about their lived experiences of social support, accompanied by a professional writer and a professional graphic artist who illustrated most of the stories. The Research Diary was meant to be used as physical supporting material after, during, and between the online sessions. In this way, it has encouraged and guided the Co-Researchers’ offline work, as an individual and self-reflective process, thus making it possible to maintain a more continuous relationship with the project. The experience was then shared in online meetings and the texts themselves were shared with the research team.
The process of writing microstories is not a straightforward task, especially when these stories deal with mental health issues. For this reason, a warm and personalised style fostered closeness and appropriation. The Research Diary was designed as a standalone, accessible document. Therefore, all aspects of the project were carefully explained, and plain language guidelines were followed. The document also clarified the terms of the collaboration, defining what the Co-Researchers would have to do, when they would have to do it and on which terms, including how their personal data would be handled. The Research Diary includes contents that were collaboratively produced with the Co-Researchers during previous sessions, thus enhancing work recognition and traceability.
Inside the Research Diary, three types of microstories are carefully described: “sharing experiences”, “finding solutions together”, and “discovering roles”. For each type of microstories, the Co-Researchers can write their experiences inside a very precise template which also gives tips and recommendations. The format of the microstories, in terms of length (maximum 300 characters) and writing style, is specially adapted to the digital world, as the microstories are sent to the Citizen Scientists through a Telegram chatbot (see Chatbot tool).
The Research Diary involves Co-Researchers, willing to describe their personal lived experiences in relation to a shared social concern and in the frame of a citizen social science research project. These Co-Researchers, given their self experience in relation to this concern, are acting as experts-in-the-field. Writing down these experiences in the form of microstories is not only a process that enhances scientific knowledge but also a way to further open the research to society at large. Indeed, these microstories are further shared to a large audience through a Telegram chatbot (see Chatbot tool). The participants of this chatbot, namely citizen scientists, consciously participate in scientific research and answer a series of questions in relation to these microstories.
During the last step of the process, the chatbot citizen-generated data are collectively interpreted with the Co-Researchers (see Collective Data Interpretation tool).
During the CoAct for Mental Health project, the Co-Researchers made clear that the Research Diary proved to be a strong motivating factor for keeping engaged with the project. It was key to empowering them to share their unique views on both positive aspects of social support networks in mental health and the challenges encountered. The Diary allowed participants who were less vocal, who otherwise may not have been able to express their opinions, to fully participate. The Diary supported the Co-Researchers in the drafting process and gave them the opportunity to record and illustrate their lived experience.
