Diary Study Template: Free Guide + Example

Diary studies capture real-world behavior over time. This template helps you keep prompts consistent, schedule entries, and simplify analysis.

What you'll get:

A copy/paste diary study template
Entry schedule options (event, interval, signal)
A simple analysis checklist and mini example

Use the sections below as building blocks; keep what you need and delete the rest.

Before recruiting, use the user research screener template.

References for this guide are listed at the end.

What is a diary study?

Nielsen Norman Group defines diary studies as a qualitative method for collecting user behaviors, activities, and experiences over time and in context. User Interviews adds that participants keep a log of experiences over time in many formats, often as a remote alternative to field studies.

When to use a diary study

Diary studies are useful for long-term or repeated behaviors, changes in perception over time, and end-to-end journeys. Nielsen Norman Group lists habits, motivations, behavior changes, and customer journeys as common research areas.

How diary entries are captured

Nielsen Norman Group describes three common diary entry methods:

Event-based: participants log an entry when a specific event happens
Interval-based: participants log at regular times
Signal-based: participants log when prompted by a reminder or signal

Typical diary study timeline

User Interviews notes that diary studies can run from a few days to a few months, and recommends keeping the study as short as possible while still answering the research question. They also recommend a short interview at the start and end, plus regular check-ins to keep participants engaged.

Diary study template (copy/paste)

1. Research goal and scope

What behavior or journey are you studying?
What decisions will this inform?
What is in and out of scope?

2. Study structure

Dscout frames diary templates as a warm-up, a middle of moments or feedback, and a wrap-up. Use that structure to shape your study.

Warm-up: baseline questions about current behavior
Moments: repeated entries over time
Wrap-up: reflection and summary

3. Entry schedule

Choose event-based, interval-based, or signal-based logging
Define entry frequency and required minimums
Add reminders or prompts if needed

4. Participant plan

Target users:
Sample size:
Recruiting method:

Nielsen Norman Group suggests sample sizes vary by scope, with roughly 5 to 12 for smaller discovery studies and 12 to 30 for larger discovery work.

5. Tools and logistics

Nielsen Norman Group recommends selecting tools based on the type of data you need, and notes options from general survey tools to specialized diary study platforms. Miro positions diary templates as a structured way to document experiences over time with reflection.

6. Incentives and expectations

Nielsen Norman Group recommends being clear about minimum response requirements and aligning incentives to the time commitment.

7. Communication plan

User Interviews recommends regular check-ins throughout the study to keep participants engaged and clarify questions.

Diary entry form (copy/paste)

Looppanel describes diary study templates as prompts and open-ended questions that capture in-the-moment experiences. Use the fields below as a starting point.

Field	Prompt
Participant ID
Date and time
Context	Where are you? What are you doing?
Activity	What task or goal were you trying to complete?
Device or channel	Web, mobile, in person, other
What happened	Describe the experience in detail
Feelings	How did this make you feel?
Issues or frictions	What went wrong, if anything?
Workarounds	How did you handle it?
Evidence	Screenshot, photo, or link (optional)
Follow-up	Anything else to add?

Optional daily recap prompts from Miro-style journaling:

What went well today?
What was frustrating today?
What is one thing you would change?

Warm-up questions (optional)

Use these to set context before the diary period begins.

How often do you do this activity today?
What tools or services do you use now?
What is the hardest part of the process?
What does success look like?

Wrap-up interview prompts

Use a short interview to summarize themes and resolve unclear entries.

What patterns did you notice in your own behavior?
Which moments were most frustrating or surprising?
If you could change one part of the experience, what would it be?

Analysis checklist

[ ] Review entries by timeline and participant
[ ] Tag recurring behaviors or pain points
[ ] Identify context patterns (time, device, location)
[ ] Summarize key moments and quotes
[ ] Map insights to product opportunities

Mini example (filled in)

Goal: Understand how users track workouts over 2 weeks
Method: Signal-based prompts twice per day
Entries: Short logs with screenshots of workouts
Insight: Users skip logging when reminders arrive during commute hours

FAQ

How long should a diary study run?

User Interviews notes diary studies can run from a few days to a few months, and recommends keeping them as short as possible while still answering the research question.

What diary entry method should I choose?

Nielsen Norman Group outlines event-based, interval-based, and signal-based logging. Choose the method that best fits how frequently the behavior occurs.

Are diary studies a replacement for field studies?

User Interviews notes diary studies can be a remote alternative to field or ethnographic studies when in-person observation is not practical.

References

Related resources

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