Authours: Mary Myers & Karen Maxwell
Edited by Christine Keene
Problem
Exploring possibilities and uncovering specific user requirements can be challenging.
Solution
A mobile diary is a way of gathering specific user/participant information. It is typically used with a group of one to 10 identified individuals, capturing their reflections of their daily routines from their perspective ‘in situ’. Researchers would not be able to access this type of personal and private data through interviews or observations.
Self‐reporting was traditionally recorded through writing, but with the digital explosion, mobile diaries have become ubiquitous. Free apps and blog tools that are user-friendly can easily integrate into the study participants’ lives.
Use For
Capturing data and insights from an individual or group to assess actions, activities, timing of events, habits, behaviours and emotions
Use When
This method is typically used at the beginning of the research process.
Process
There are two common approaches
1) Domain – Set the theme, focus area, goals and objectives.
2) Parameters – Create the profile of participants (age, gender, technology use), and determine the length of the study (typically 1–3 weeks) and number of participants (1–10). Determine the types of entries to solicit from participants, such as text (i.e., thoughts, questions and quotes), photographs, sketches, voice recordings, video, quotes, etc. Determine the curation destination—for example, an individual blog.
3) Activity – Each participant, through the use of his or her device (iPhone, Android, BlackBerry) will post to a private and individual blog. They can post text, imagery, video or audio. The researcher will interact with the participants through questions, comments, reminders etc. Sometimes, researchers may want to dig deeper into particular posts and may redirect the participant for further exploration. The system loop is the participant posting via the schedule, with the researcher prompting via comments on the blog or SMS. Tumblr is an excellent blogging tool for the participant because it creates a unique email address for each participant. It enables participants to upload their thoughts in text and imagery via SMS or email—or, if they prefer, the easy-to-use app interface also allows for easy upload.
Mobile Diaries: Blogs provided insight into the lives of two working mothers
3) Materials – Create a diary pack for data collection, including information about the project, activities and the schedule for the duration of the diary posting. Mobile devices will be required (e.g., iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, camera, video camera, voice recorder, location‐based services, notebook).
Examples:
http://motherslittlehelper1.tumblr.com/
http://motherslittlehelper2.tumblr.com/
Variations:
Murmurtoronto.ca: http://murmurtoronto.ca/
Irody Patient Diaries: http://www.irody.com/web4/index.php
REFERENCES
Csikszentmihalyi, M., & Larson, R. (1984). Being adolescent: Conflict and growth in the teenage years. New York, NY: Basic Books.
Cundari. (n.d.). Cundari ‐ It’s the thought that counts. Retrieved from http://cundari.com/client.aspx
Graham, P. (2011). Using Smartphones, Mobile Diaries to Deepen Consumer Understanding. Retrieved from http://www.knowledgenetworks.com/accuracy/spring2011/smartphones‐ spring2011.html
Hagen, P., & Rowland, N. (2010, July 13). Mobile Diaries: discovering daily life | Johnny Holland. Retrieved from http://johnnyholland.org/2010/07/mobile‐diaries‐discovering‐daily‐life/
Irody. (n.d.). Mobile Diary [App]. Retrieved from http://www.irody.com/web4/clientsoftware.php?m=1
Punchcut. (2011, May 17). Uncovering Context With Mobile Diary Studies. Retrieved from http://punchcut.com/perspectives/uncovering‐context‐mobile‐diary‐studies
Sick Kids Hospital. (2012, May 7). New iPhone app helps kids with cancer fight pain. Retrieved from http://www.sickkids.ca/aboutsickkids/newsroom/past-news/2012/iphone-app-helps-with-cancer-pain.html
Wei, C. (2007). Capturing Mobile Phone Usage: Research Methods for Mobile Studies. Retrieved from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu