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6.5 Data collection for the diary study 145

2000). In another diary study, related to the information-seeking needs of mo-
bile device users, the participants were asked to send in a short text message,
identifying when they had an information need. These short text messages were
not the main diary entry but they were used to remind the participants of what
had occurred and, at the end of each day, the participants were requested to go
to the project website and answer a series of questions (including “where were
you?”, “what were you doing?”, and “what was your information need?”) about
that specific occurrence (Sohn et al., 2008). This is a great example of the elici-
tation approach to diaries.

6.4.3 HYBRID FEEDBACK AND ELICITATION DIARY

Like any other type of research method, the approaches used are modified to meet
the needs of a specific research study. For instance, in one study, examining how stu-
dents use transportation, aspects of both feedback and elicitation diaries were used
(Carter and Mankoff, 2005). For a 2-week period, the users were asked to use their
cell phones to call a specific phone number every time they made a transit decision.
At that phone number, they were asked a series of questions about their choice. These
aspects were similar to a feedback diary. At the same time, the location of the user
at the time of each diary recording was noted, using the built-in GPS features of the
phone. At a later time, during an interview, the users were presented with the record-
ings that they made via cell phone and the GPS information of their location and
were prompted to expand their thoughts on that specific decision. These aspects were
clearly similar to an elicitation diary.

6.5 DATA COLLECTION FOR THE DIARY STUDY
It is important for researchers to decide how the diaries will be recorded. Will the
diaries be recorded on paper, in electronic format, text, voice, video, or pictures?
Historically, diaries have been recorded on paper and, if that is the case, enough
paper must be provided and appropriate columns and fields should be designated in
a structured format. Within the field of HCI, it seems more natural to use technol-
ogy as a tool to record diary entries (Ceaparu et al., 2004). Increasingly, portable
electronic devices are being used for diary entries. This makes diary recording easy
and natural, especially for younger users who may be very comfortable using tablets,
smartphones, and other portable devices. In addition, when a smartphone or other
portable device is used, it does not appear to others that a user is taking part in a study
but, rather, that they are just doing a daily activity. This removes any potential stigma
of taking part in a research study. This is similar to how many applications for people
with cognitive impairments are implemented using standard mobile devices, because
when a user with a cognitive impairment uses such a device, they look like any other
individual, not “odd” or out of place in any way (Lazar, 2007). Also, digital devices
can be utilized by participants for signifying when an event occurs for which a diary