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.
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
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
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
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
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/