The Ups and Downs of Daily Diary Research

Abstract

We detail the ups and downs of our experiences in collecting daily diary data using a paper and pencil protocol as well as an online protocol in two separate projects. We are engaged in studies focused on the dynamic interplay of individual differences and contextual changes associated with health and well-being on a daily basis. By obtaining information about individuals’ actual events and behaviors over short-term intervals, daily diaries offer a window into life as it naturally unfolds in individuals’ everyday lives. The first project we will describe used a paper and pencil methodology and in-person recruitment. The second project used Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (mTurk) to recruit participants and then collect data online via Qualtrics.

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