Diary Study

A diary study is a longitudinal research method where participants document their experiences, behaviors, and perceptions related to a product or service over an extended period. It provides researchers with rich contextual insights into how people interact with products in their natural environments and how these interactions evolve over time.

Why Diary Studies Matter

Diary studies fill a critical gap in UX research by capturing authentic user experiences that might be missed in controlled lab environments. They're especially valuable because:

• They reveal how product usage changes over time, helping you identify patterns that point-in-time studies miss
• They capture contextual details about where, when, and how people use your product in real-world situations
• They provide insights into emotional responses and attitudes that develop through repeated interactions
• They help researchers understand user behavior without the artificial constraints of observation

When you need to understand how users interact with your product in their everyday lives—especially for products used intermittently or in private settings—diary studies offer uniquely valuable data.

How Diary Studies Work

A typical diary study follows these key phases:

1. Planning and Setup

• Define clear objectives and research questions
• Determine study length (typically 1-4 weeks)
• Select appropriate participants (usually 10-20)
• Create diary entry format and submission process
• Develop a compensation plan that rewards consistent participation

2. Participant Instructions and Onboarding

• Provide clear guidelines on what to document and how
• Explain the submission schedule (daily, triggered by events, etc.)
• Train participants on any tools they'll use
• Set expectations about level of detail and format

3. Data Collection Methods

Diary studies typically use one or more of these collection methods:

• Traditional diaries: Paper or digital text entries
• Media capture: Photos, videos, or audio recordings
• Experience sampling: Brief questionnaires triggered at specific moments
• Mobile apps: Specialized research apps for structured data collection
• Voice memos: Audio recordings made in the moment

4. Analysis and Synthesis

• Organize entries chronologically and by participant
• Code data for themes, patterns, and anomalies
• Create journey maps or experience timelines
• Identify evolving behaviors or attitudes
• Compare experiences across different user segments

Best Practices for Diary Studies

✅ Start with a kick-off session to properly onboard participants and answer questions

✅ Send regular reminders to maintain consistent participation throughout the study

✅ Use structured templates that make it easy for participants to know what information to provide

✅ Incorporate prompts that encourage reflection beyond simple descriptions

✅ Conduct mid-study check-ins to clarify confusing entries and encourage detailed responses

✅ Include a closing interview to gain deeper insights into patterns observed during the study

✅ Combine methods for richer data (e.g., photos alongside text descriptions)

Common Diary Study Mistakes

❌ Making the reporting process too complex, leading to participant fatigue and drop-off

❌ Running the study too long without adequate compensation or engagement strategies

❌ Failing to properly screen participants for their ability to articulate experiences

❌ Not sending reminders, resulting in inconsistent data collection

❌ Collecting too much unstructured data that becomes overwhelming to analyze

❌ Providing vague instructions that leave participants confused about what to document

Connection to Card Sorting

While diary studies and card sorting serve different research purposes, they can complement each other in your UX research strategy:

• Use card sorting early in the design process to organize your information architecture
• Follow with a diary study to understand how users navigate and interact with that structure in real-world contexts
• Insights from diary studies might reveal navigation problems that can be addressed with a follow-up card sort

For example, if diary study entries frequently mention difficulty finding certain features, you might conduct an open card sort to understand how users would naturally categorize those problematic items.

When to Use Diary Studies

Diary studies are particularly effective for:

• Understanding product usage that happens infrequently or unpredictably
• Researching sensitive topics where observation would be intrusive
• Tracking how user behavior changes over time
• Capturing contextual details about the environment of use
• Identifying pain points that emerge only after extended use
• Understanding how products integrate into daily routines

Ready to gain deeper insights into your users' experiences? Consider how a diary study might reveal the evolving story of how people interact with your product in their everyday lives.