Diary Study

A longitudinal research method where participants log their activities, thoughts, or frustrations over days or weeks, revealing behavior that unfolds over time.

Why it matters

Some truths only show up over time — habits, workarounds, the slow decay of enthusiasm after day three. A session shows you behaviour; a diary shows you a relationship.

The numbers

1-4 weeks — the usual span
Prompted entries — a daily nudge keeps the diary alive

Related terms

Research
Card Sorting
Think-Aloud Protocol
Design Sprint
Interviews

Go deeper in Learn UX

Plan a usability study Usability Testing & Iteration
Build a UX case study Handoff & Case Studies
Choosing the right Research method UX Research

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