TY - JOUR
T1 - Qualitative Diary Methods in Mental Health Research
T2 - A Scoping Review and Recommendations for Research and Reporting
AU - McCombie, Catherine
AU - Esponda, Georgina Miguel
AU - Schmidt, Ulrike
AU - Lawrence, Vanessa
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s).
PY - 2023/10/1
Y1 - 2023/10/1
N2 - Qualitative diary methods (QDMs) have great potential for mental health research, as they provide rich data about experiences and phenomena as and when they happen, from the perspectives of participants themselves. They provide unique insight into behavior, cognitions, and change over time in greater depth and detail than other quantitative or qualitative methods might offer. This paper presents the results of a scoping review of QDMs in mental health research, aimed at clarifying how diary methods are used in mental health research, and outlining key decisions and considerations in planning and conducting a qualitative diary study. Forty-eight papers were reviewed, and the findings highlight different elements of QDMs. The research aims, suitability for participants, and ethical issues are first discussed, followed by elements of diary study design including diary format, administration, intervals, timeline, sample size, diary structure and guidance, and additional data collection methods. Finally, analysis approaches and the strengths and challenges of QDMs are reviewed. Discussion around the future of QDMs follows, including a checklist for conducting and reporting a qualitative diary study.
AB - Qualitative diary methods (QDMs) have great potential for mental health research, as they provide rich data about experiences and phenomena as and when they happen, from the perspectives of participants themselves. They provide unique insight into behavior, cognitions, and change over time in greater depth and detail than other quantitative or qualitative methods might offer. This paper presents the results of a scoping review of QDMs in mental health research, aimed at clarifying how diary methods are used in mental health research, and outlining key decisions and considerations in planning and conducting a qualitative diary study. Forty-eight papers were reviewed, and the findings highlight different elements of QDMs. The research aims, suitability for participants, and ethical issues are first discussed, followed by elements of diary study design including diary format, administration, intervals, timeline, sample size, diary structure and guidance, and additional data collection methods. Finally, analysis approaches and the strengths and challenges of QDMs are reviewed. Discussion around the future of QDMs follows, including a checklist for conducting and reporting a qualitative diary study.
KW - diaries
KW - experience sampling
KW - longitudinal
KW - mental health
KW - qualitative
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85184330553&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1027/1016-9040/a000511
DO - 10.1027/1016-9040/a000511
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85184330553
SN - 1016-9040
JO - EUROPEAN PSYCHOLOGIST
JF - EUROPEAN PSYCHOLOGIST
ER -