A Diary Study is a qualitative research method used to understand how people experience a product, service, or process over time, rather than in a single moment.
Instead of capturing one interaction, diary studies collect a series of sessions from the same participants as they go about their daily lives - in their natural context.
In Lookback, diary studies are designed to remain evidence-based, observable, and analyzable as the study unfolds, not only at the end.
Why use a diary study?
Some research questions cannot be answered in a single session.
Diary studies are especially useful when you want to understand:
habits and routines
how behavior changes over time
long-term adoption or abandonment
learning curves and workarounds
context that only appears in real life
They are particularly valuable for products that are:
used repeatedly
used in different environments
experienced differently day to day
Diary studies are made of sessions
In Lookback, a diary study is not a special object.
It is a series of sessions, usually unmoderated, contributed by the same participant over time.
Each diary entry:
is one session
produces its own recording and evidence
can be analyzed independently and in relation to others
This makes longitudinal change visible without collapsing entries into summaries.
Analysis starts during the study - not after
A key advantage of running diary studies in Lookback is that sessions stream live as they happen.
This allows researchers and stakeholders to:
begin analysis on the first entry
spot misunderstandings or friction early
adjust prompts or emphasis between entries
capture findings as patterns emerge
Diary studies in Lookback are designed for ongoing sense-making, not delayed review.
Unmoderated and AI-moderated diary studies
Diary studies are typically run as unmoderated sessions using SelfTest or Tasks.
To preserve qualitative depth:
participants are encouraged to speak aloud
prompts focus on reflection, not reporting
AI moderation can be used to ask follow-up questions or prompt elaboration
This helps ensure that entries capture reasoning and context, not just activity logs.
Structuring diary studies conceptually
Diary studies can be structured in different ways depending on intent:
repeated entries focused on the same questions
entries that evolve over time
prompts that react to earlier behavior
Regardless of structure:
each entry remains a first-class session
findings accumulate at the Project level
patterns emerge through comparison over time
The goal is not consistency for its own sake, but learning through contrast and repetition.
When diary studies work best
Diary studies are particularly effective when combined with:
moderated sessions (to explore early signals in depth)
follow-up interviews (to reflect on accumulated experience)
stakeholder observation (to build shared understanding over time)
Because all evidence lives in the same Project, insights remain connected across methods.
What diary studies are not
To avoid confusion:
Diary studies are not surveys
They are not daily checklists
They are not summaries written after the fact
They are ongoing qualitative evidence, grounded in what participants actually experience and say.
Key takeaway
Diary studies in Lookback turn time into a research dimension.
By capturing repeated sessions as evidence - and encouraging analysis as the study unfolds - Lookback helps teams understand not just what happens, but how and why experience changes over time.
Where this fits
This article explains the method.
For step-by-step setup, participant communication, and scheduling guidance, see:
Setting Up & Running Studies
Templates & Assets