Diary-interview studies: longitudinal, flexible qualitative research design

Abstract

Diary-interview studies are a longitudinal qualitative approach that allows both participants and researchers to explore participants' experiences and sense-making in relation to life situations. The purpose of this Methods Brief is to introduce readers to the diary-interview method and highlight methodological decisions researchers need to make when using this type of qualitative approach to generating data. We will introduce each of these decisions in turn, then detail the methodological options. To further exemplify, we describe our 2020-2021 diary-interview study of Canadian primary care clinicians navigating the first year of the pandemic.