Topic:Exploring diary method in social sciences research and in research on ‘busy’ professionals
Abstract: Solicited diary method, where participants complete a diary which has been designed for a research study, is a relatively neglected method in qualitative research, in comparison with for instance interviews and observation. At the same time, diary method experienced a surge of interest during the pandemic due to its versatility and usefulness for conducting research at a distance. This talk firstly introduces attendees to the basics of diary method, including methodological decisions that need to be taken when selecting this method and designing diary studies. The talk then moves on to specifically focus on using diary method with ‘busy’ professionals. A subset of diary method studies across disciplines of health sciences, psychology, sociology, education studies and beyond has used diary method to research workplaces and the lives of professionals working within them. For instance, there have been studies of nurses, NGO workers, street vendors, academics. It is recognised that diary method is both a useful method to gather time-sensitive data from professionals in relation to their work practices, and at the same time that completing a diary about work can be burdensome and challenging for participants. Choosing a convenient diary design for the researcher and participants alike, so as to obtain valuable insights into the personal and professional lives of participants, is particularly important.
This talk contributes to fostering discussions around the usefulness of diary method in gaining longitudinal and micro-level details that reflect macro-level structures and power hierarchies in workplace practices. In this talk, we bring together insights from the literature and on three of our empirical studies with academics to advance the methodological discussion of using diary method with busy professionals. Finally, the paper offers useful recommendations for researchers who are interested in using the diary method.