Date/Time
Date(s) - 19/06/2025 10:30 am - 4:30 pm
Audience:
NARTI ONLINE TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
Qualitative Diary Methods
With Drs Laura Radcliffe and Leighann Spencer
Thursday 19th June 2025 (10.30-16.30 BST)
Online via Zoom
Summary:
Qualitative diary methods (QDMs) are a versatile range of multi-modal data collection methods that involve participants recording events and experiences, and emotions and reflections, close to their occurrence, on multiple occasions and over a particular time period. QDMs are increasingly recognised as a vital tool in social science research. They address persistent concerns about an over-reliance on cross-sectional studies, a neglect of temporality, and the need to document evolving processes and the everyday dynamics of experiences. QDMs offer a diverse range of innovative techniques and tools that enable researchers to capture real-time experiences and trace their evolution over time. Despite their promise, these methods often remain underutilised in postgraduate research training.
This workshop introduces a suite of QDM techniques to expand participants’ methodological toolkits and provides practical guidance on overcoming associated challenges, including insights into longitudinal analysis of diary data. Laura and Leighann will also use and refer to their new Qualitative Diary Methods book published by SAGE.
The workshop covers:
- An overview of Qualitative Diary Methods (QDMs)
- Guidance on when and why to employ various QDM approaches
- Strategies to address challenges inherent in QDMs
- Discussion of ethical considerations in the use of QDMs
- Designing traditional pen-and-paper diaries
- Developing audio and video diary methods
- Implementing photo-elicitation diaries
- Creating qualitative diary ‘App’ formats
- Techniques for analysing QDM data beyond simple thematic analysis
By the end of the workshop participants will:
- Understand the advantages and limitations of QDMs and how to navigate some of the challenges they present
- Evaluate and choose the most suitable QDM approaches for different research contexts
- Design robust QDM research projects tailored to specific research questions
- Demonstrate a critical awareness of the ethical issues related to QDM use
- Apply advanced analytical techniques appropriate for data derived from QDMs
Programme Outline
- The event begins at 10:30 am with welcome and introductions.
- Session 1 (10:45–12:45) provides an introduction to QDMS, covering when and why various qualitative diary approaches are used. Participants will explore practical challenges in collecting diary data, including ethical considerations and the role of participant reflexivity, and examine different sampling approaches as well as the use of pre- and post-diary interviews. This session also features an interactive Q&A followed by a task where attendees design a diary for their own research project, justifying their design choices in relation to sample characteristics, data requirements, and research questions.
- A lunch break from 12:45 to 1:45 also offers an opportunity for informal discussions and networking.
- Session 2 (2:00–4:30) shifts the focus to diary design and analysis. This session provides practical tips and examples for designing pen-and-paper diaries, audio and video diaries, photo-elicitation diaries, and qualitative ‘App’ diaries. The discussion then moves on to analysing data from longitudinal (or ‘shortitudinal’) diary projects, specifically exploring techniques beyond traditional thematic analysis, including Thematic Trajectory Analysis (TTA). The session concludes with another Q&A and a group task that encourages discussions around proposed diary projects and analytical approaches, with feedback provided by both participants and presenters.
- The day will be brought to a close by 4:30 pm.
Speaker Bios:
Laura Radcliffe is a Reader in Organisational Behavior at the University of Liverpool, an organisational psychologist and qualitative researcher with over 15 years of experience exploring the intersection of work, life, and inclusion. She specialises in theoretically driven research that combines psychological and sociological perspectives to examine how individuals navigate work and nonwork responsibilities, why they make particular choices, and the impact on their lives and employment. She does so by using innovative qualitative methodologies that enable nuanced insights into daily practices and processes. Her research has been published in leading academic journals and practitioner outlets, informing organisational policies and practices across the UK. Laura is the Director of the North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership (NWSSDTP) supporting cutting-edge research training for PGRs across the Northwest, and the incoming Co-Chair of NARTI. She also co-leads the Future Families Work network, championing inclusive, flexible, and future-ready workplaces.
Leighann Spencer is an Associate Professor of Organisational Behavior at the University of Liverpool Management School. Her research interests span the dark side of organisations and organisational life, as well as the entanglements of theory and practice. She has a keen interest in qualitative methodologies, notably questions of transparency in qualitative research and the use of qualitative diaries to conduct creative and processual research. Her research has been published in internationally leading journals in organizational behaviour and management.
If you would like to join the workshop, please register using the link at the top of this email. Please only register if you are able to fully participate in the workshop. Zoom joining details will be sent a few days before the event.