What is a Diary Study?

A Diary Study is a longitudinal research method that captures participants' behaviors, thoughts, and motivations in their natural context over an extended period. It involves participants documenting their daily experiences, providing valuable insights into their routines and decision-making processes.

When to use Diary Study?

Diary Studies are particularly useful in user research when understanding long-term behaviors, patterns, and changes in motivations. They are effective for exploring experiences over time, especially in contexts where daily interactions with a product or service are crucial.

When not to use Diary Study?

Diary Studies may not be suitable for all research scenarios, especially when immediate feedback is required or in cases where participants may struggle to consistently document their experiences. They can also be resource-intensive, requiring significant time and commitment from participants.

What is the anatomy of a Diary Study?

The anatomy of a Diary Study includes defining the objectives, selecting participants, creating a diary format (which could be digital or paper-based), and determining the study duration. It involves regular check-ins to encourage participation and collecting data that can be analyzed to extract meaningful insights.