Diary Study

Using the tool of dairy, researchers can understand the subject’s thought and reflection on everyday things. The self-report method enables researches get more detailed and in-depth information.

01 Definition

Diaries or journals are guiding artifacts that allow people to conveniently and expressively convey personal details about their daily life and events to design teams.

---- Universal Methods of Design

Diary Studies is a longitudinal technique used in User Experience Research primarily to capture data from participants as they live through certain experiences.There are two types of Diary Studies:
1) Elicitation Studies where participants capture media that are then used as prompts for discussion in interviews. The method is a way to trigger the participant’s memory.
2) Feedback Studies where participants answer predefined questions about events. This is a way of getting immediate answers from the participants.

---- Wikipedia

02 Natures

Notes

Focus on users' perspectives, feelings and culture appropriate.
Some variation: time diaries, incident diaries, experience diaries, cameral journal, ESM.
Researchers could design the form of notebook to indicate what/when/how they are expected to record.
Subject has most power during the session, since the method is based on self-obsevation, introspection and self reporting.
Diary studies are useful tools in exploratory research, preparing the design for furthe research.

Suited Context

It is useful in generative research and design. Diaries and jourals can be issued to sensitize participants to research topics and participatory design.

03 Procedures

Define problem space and clarify the purpose of the diary.
Recruit suitable subject who has time and responsibility to do the record.
Choose appropriate diary types according to scenarios and subjects.
Design the diary book for her/him with brief instrution, prompt or question.
Check the progress of subjects to make sure she/he is keeping up with the entries without any questions or concerns.
Collect and study the diary, in order to figure out any patterns or interesting points.
Conduct follow-up interviews. Let the subject elaborate and explain their feelings and reflections.
Write up findings including user profile such as lifestyle, value, belief, and habits.

04 Reflection

Strengths

Based on context, which helps understanding users.
Very focused, researchers could dig deep with relevant inquiries.
Subjects have more power within the session, they would feel more comfortable to share their experience and express their viewpoints.

Limitation

Contextual inquiry could reflect user's problem they met, but it does not provide a whole picture of user group. Quantative research is still necessary to be conducted.

05 Case Document

06 Supplement Reading

Gengsu Tu |

Interaction Design Methods Notebook by Gengsu
Feburary - May, 2014
Timeframe: 4 months