Word: Diary studies

Definition: A form of qualitative research that is used to capture self-reported data from participants over a set amount of time, providing key information about how people use products in context.

Reference: Diary studies are not unique to user experience and were first utilized in a variety of other fields such as anthropology and psychology. They also a key research technique in the medical field during clinical trials or disease treatment.

Thoughts: While there are many different forms of diary studies and even more ways to conduct them, UserTesting.com defines the typical method as, "Users self-report their activities at regular intervals to create a log of their activities, thoughts, and frustrations."

Diary studies provide rich temporal and contextual insights that can help establish behavior patterns and demonstrate strong user habits and opinions.