Introduction to Digital Notebooks and Electronic Laboratory Notebooks
The majority of researchers capture notes about their processes and observations as they carry out their research. Historically these notes have been captured in paper notebooks but increasingly researchers are turning to digital tools for this purpose. A digital notebook can be considered any digital tool that is used to record notes from a word processor document to a journaling tool on a tablet, to a fully functional electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) designed for the purpose. Digital notebooks can provide many benefits, especially when working with data already in a digital format, but there are also a variety of barriers that can make some researchers reluctant to transition from paper to digital notes. Find out more about digital notebooks and ELNs, how they can help your research, how to overcome the barriers to moving from paper to digital, and how to choose an ELN for your needs using the guidance provided.
What to do next
- Learn about different types of digital notebook
- Discover the benefits of digital notebooks
- Understand the barriers to adoption and how to overcome them
- Get insights into what you should consider when choosing an ELN
Related links:
- Creator: Cerys Willoughby, Samantha Pearman-Kanza
- Last modified date: 2025-05-02
- Citation: Please cite: Cerys Willoughby and Samantha Pearman-Kanza, Introduction to Digital Notebooks and Electronic Laboratory Notebooks, https://guidance.psdi.ac.uk/docusaurus-pages/docs/guidance/notebooks/, PSDI (modified 2025-05-02)
- License: CC-BY-4.0
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