A survey method for characterizing daily life experience: the day reconstruction method

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Behavioral Science
• Well-being Research

Background:

• Understanding subjective experiences and time allocation is crucial for well-being research.
• Existing methods for measuring daily activities and experiences have limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and validate the Day Reconstruction Method (DRM) for assessing time use and subjective experiences.
• To demonstrate the DRM's utility in well-being research and its potential for analyzing concepts like the hedonic treadmill.

Main Methods:

• The Day Reconstruction Method (DRM) combines time-budget measurement with experience sampling.
• Participants systematically recall and report on their activities and experiences from the preceding day.
• Procedures are implemented to minimize recall biases in participant reporting.

Main Results:

• The DRM reports from 909 employed women showed strong correlations with established experience sampling results.
• The method proved effective in capturing detailed information about daily activities and associated feelings.
• Analysis using the DRM indicated its suitability for exploring the hedonic treadmill phenomenon.

Conclusions:

• The Day Reconstruction Method (DRM) is a validated and effective tool for studying how people spend their time and experience their lives.
• The DRM offers significant potential for advancing well-being research, particularly in understanding subjective happiness and adaptation.
• This method provides a robust framework for future investigations into the determinants of psychological well-being.