Related Experiment Videos
Using diaries to collect data in resource-poor settings: questions on design and implementation
V Wiseman1, L Conteh, F Matovu
1London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 50 Bedford Square, London WCIB 3DP, UK. virginia.wiseman@lshtm.ac.uk
Health Policy and Planning
|September 27, 2005
Summary
Pictorial diaries offer a viable data collection method in resource-poor settings. This study shares practical lessons on designing and implementing diaries for household consumption and expenditure surveys.
Area of Science:
- Social Sciences
- Economics
- Public Health
Background:
- Diaries are established data collection tools, but their utility in resource-poor settings with illiterate and mobile populations remains unclear.
- Existing research offers limited guidance on diary use in challenging environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To share practical lessons learned from developing and applying a pictorial diary for household consumption and expenditure data collection.
- To address key questions regarding diary design, duration, entry timing, and keeper selection for future research in resource-poor settings.
Main Methods:
- A pictorial diary was designed and implemented for data collection on household consumption and expenditure.
- A random sample of 361 participants in The Gambia and 308 in Tanzania maintained diaries for 12 months.
Main Results:
- The study generated practical insights into the development and application of pictorial diaries in diverse, resource-poor contexts.
- Lessons learned address critical aspects of diary methodology, including design, maintenance, and participant engagement.
Conclusions:
- Pictorial diaries are a feasible instrument for collecting household consumption and expenditure data in resource-poor settings.
- This research provides valuable guidance for researchers planning to utilize diaries in similar challenging environments.