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Diary studies All definitions
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The term "diary studies" is an excellent example in which British and American English may lead to different assumptions about the meaning of terms used in social research.
In American culture, a diary is a personal, private narrative that an individual keeps for his or her own use. Thus, from that point of reference only, diary studies might be assumed to be a kind of qualitative analysis of textual content that seeks to reveal underlying themes as a form of qualitative analysis. But that is not what they are. In fact, they are actually quantitative, which means that they measure variables rather than try to discover meaning. In the U.K., the term "diary" is used much as "daytimer" or "calendar" are used in the U.S. One's "diary" is simply one's recorded schedule, a notation of what has happened or is intended to happen at a particular point in time. Thus, "diary" studies are "quantitative diary studies," in which repeated measures are taken at planned intervals. Diary studies are a longitudinal methodology, which "can look at short-term fluctuations and also within-persons processes" (Briner, 2008, p. 157) over longer periods of time. Related terms References Briner, R. (2008). Work and well-being subject guide. London: Birkbeck University of London. "It is often said that traditional research methods in the field of work and well-being have limited our understanding. Evaluate this position with reference to theory and research." Exam essay practice answer |
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