This document provides an overview of diary studies as a research method. Diary studies involve having participants record details of their daily activities and experiences over a period of time. They allow researchers to gain insights into context, rare events, and validate findings through ecological data collected remotely over time. The document discusses collecting both structured and unstructured diary entries, tips for conducting diary studies, and alternatives like experience sampling methods.

1. Diary Studies
A primer
Boon Yew Chew
The Research Thing
SapientNitro
25 May 2011
@boonych

2. View from 30,000 feet"
"
Intro"
Examples"
Some Practical Tips

3. A diary study involves participants reporting their
activities over a specific period of time, usually
apart from the researcher and in their normal daily
lives.

4. Diary Studies in HCI"
"
John Rieman"
1993

5. Benefits
Understanding context and environment
Understanding rare / infrequent events
Ecological validity
Remote
Sampling over a duration
Bridges qualitative and quantitative studies
Flexibility

6. Participants keep a record of
“When” data
“What” data
Date & time
Activity / task
Duration
Feelings / mood
Activity / task
Environment / setting

7. Recorded in various ways
Etc…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/p8/3779990787
http://www.flickr.com/photos/shahid/53829445
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegarfield/616793140
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dannysullivan/266951932
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yurukov/3482865747

8. …at various times
1. Randomly
2. At specific intervals
3. Based on activity

9. Structured or unstructured data
Structured
Yes/no
Select a category
Date & time
Multiple choice
Unstructured
Open-ended
Opinions / thoughts / feelings
Notes / comments
http://www.flickr.com/photos/benhutchison/5678812629
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessabertozzi/877910821

10. Ways to gather data
Feedback (now)
Elicitation (later)
Record everything in situ
Record aspects or triggers
No follow up
Follow up with interview
“What” data
To elicit “why” and “how”
Mostly structured
Mostly unstructured
Can be burdensome
Participants may forget

11. “Hygiene” aspects
At the beginning
Introduction / get-to-know-you
Demographics
Instructions / Setting expectations
At the end
Follow-up
Thanks / token gift
Reflection

12. Thanking your participants
One off vouchers
Spread incentives across longer durations
“Keep the Flip camera” incentive

13. Pitfalls
Belief bias
Behaviour adjustment
Ramp-up time
Failure to recall

14. Alternatives / forms of diary studies
Experience Sampling Method
(feelings, mood)
Cultural Probe (photo, video,
sketches)
Technology Probe (prototypes,
experimental artifacts)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/natalia_buckley/5410819726

15. My NordiCHI ‘10 paper

16. What motivates image use on the
internet?
• Goal - understand motivations of image use
• 9 participants (5F / 4M, age 24 – 59)
• Short note of activity involving an image, photo
or visual
• Periodic interviews (about once every two days)
• About 20 activities per person

17. Interview fieldnotes in spreadsheet

18. Grounded theory – coding the data
• Coded each activity
• Example codes: instructional,
informational, learning, fun,
communication, social, etc.
• Kept a count of activities and
codes

19. Group themes from affinity map
http://www.flickr.com/photos/benhutchison/5678812629

20. Ethnographic “memos”

21. Modeling, creating a framework

22. Keeping it real – stories & examples
http://www.flickr.com/photos/benhutchison/5678812629

23. Findings
1. Observed patterns of image use
2. Lots of interesting stories
3. Data can be used to explain, extend or
simulate more research both qualitatively or
quantitatively

24. What I’d do better
1. Plan better (recording setup, coding
shorthand, etc.)
2. Record coding and affinity maps
3. Compare against participants’ browser
histories?

25. thanks
Boon Yew Chew
@boonych
www.gluethink.com
http://pinboard.in/u:jaremfan/t:diarystudy/