What it is for: A diary study is a research method in which a small group of participants record each occurrence of a recurring activity over one to four weeks. You end with a dated record of real occurrences, aligned by what triggered them, and a short list of patterns that repeat across people and time.
Who it helps: Research and service teams studying an activity that repeats over days or weeks, at home, on the move or at hours nobody can observe.
When to use it
When the activity happens repeatedly over days or weeks, not in one sitting.
When you suspect the experience changes with timing, such as month-end, weekends or peak season.
When you cannot be there to observe, because the activity happens at home, on the move or at odd hours.
How to use it
Name one recurring activity in words participants will recognise.
Design a four-field entry: date, trigger, activity and outcome, and test it yourself first.
Recruit 6 to 12 people from more than one team or place and brief each for about 30 minutes.
Ask for an entry each time it happens, with a friendly daily reminder and a midpoint check-in.
Line up all entries by trigger, look for repeats, and check your reading in a short debrief.
Tip: Use the channel people already have open all day. A short form or a message is more likely to be filled in than a separate notebook.
Credits and sources: Original Tiremesù worksheet and wording. Further reading: LUMA Institute https://www.luma-institute.com/about-luma/luma-system-explore-methods/
Full guide and film:https://www.tiremesu.com/guides/diary-study
