This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Ross, M. M. Articles by Carson, M. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ross, M. M. Articles by Carson, M. M. Pubmed/NCBI databases Medline Plus Health Information Caregivers Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

The Use of the Diary as a Data Collection Technique

Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada, University of Ottawa; School of Nursing, Ottawa, Ontario

Elizabeth M. Rideout

McMaster University, School of Nursing, Hamilton, Ontario

Mary M. Carson

Geriatrics & Psychiatric Services, Queensway-Carleton Hospital, Nepean, Ontario.

The initiation of a research project requires many decisions, not the least of which is the selection of a method for data collection. This decision is, in large measure, guided by the nature of the research question which generally prescribes the selection of a strategy for data collection from among an array of possible alternatives. This article addresses the use of a diary for data collection. Although diaries have traditionally been used in social science and health research, their use in nursing research is more recent. The article begins with a brief discussion of the rationale for using the diary to gather data in a study of personal and professional care giving. A brief review of the use of diaries in previous studies follows, along with a description of the use of a diary in the caregiving study and a discussion of the possible threats to high quality data as well as measures used to ensure the collection of high quality data The article concludes with a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the diary andmakes recommendations regarding its use in nursing research.

Western Journal of Nursing Research, Vol. 16, No. 4, 414-425 (1994)
DOI: 10.1177/019394599401600406


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Pottie, S. Haydt, B. Farrell, L. Dolovich, C. Sellors, and W. Hogg Narrative Reports to Monitor and Evaluate the Integration of Pharmacists Into Family Practice Settings Ann. Fam. Med, March 1, 2008; 6(2): 161 - 165. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. J. Aroian and J. S. Vander Wal Measuring Elders' Symptoms With Daily Diaries and Retrospective Reports West J Nurs Res, April 1, 2007; 29(3): 322 - 337. [Abstract] [PDF]

				Z. C. R.N. To the Editor: Knowledge Qual Health Res, March 1, 2003; 13(3): 301 - 301. [PDF]

				H. M. Keleher and G. K. Verrinder Health Diaries in a Rural Australian Study Qual Health Res, March 1, 2003; 13(3): 435 - 443. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. A. Sloan, C. L. Loprinzi, P. J. Novotny, D. L. Barton, B. I. Lavasseur, and H. Windschitl Methodologic Lessons Learned From Hot Flash Studies J. Clin. Oncol., December 1, 2001; 19(23): 4280 - 4290. [Abstract] [Full Text]