Abstract

The article deals with, in a certain vindictive character, the use of a student’s diary as a technique of investigation for the understanding and/or modification of the reality of physical education. Three different parts give the text structure. In the first, we analyse the historical evolution of the personal documents as techniques of social investigation. In the second part, we treat the peculiarity of a personal diary as a technique of educative investigation. In this part, we also recognise the current usefulness of the teacher’s diary, as a means of reflection of teaching practice, and we enumerate some of the functions that student’s diaries can bring to educative investigation. Finally, in the third part of the work, we suggest some practical guidance on the use of this investigational technique. In this way, we justify the diary as an investigational technique, and not only as simple instrument for recording data, as the technical role itself and the personal relationships of the investigator are the key part to achieve true validity and fidelity in the information offered by student. In this last case, we think it wise to finish by pointing out the particular ethical questions which the investigator must take into account, during the starting and developing of this technique.