Diary Methods
- John B Nezlek - College of William and Mary, USA, College of William & Mary, VA, College of William & Mary, USA
The author, John B. Nezlek, has used these methods in his own scholarly work for over 30 years and has written this book to provide an introduction to these methods for those who are not familiar with them.
This book will be perfect for advanced students and researchers in social and personality psychology and related disciplines who use and want to use diary methods in their research.
The SAGE Library of Methods in Social and Personality Psychology is a new series of books launching in early 2011 to provide students and researchers with an understanding of the methods and techniques essential to conducting cutting-edge research.
Each volume explains a specific topic and has been written by an active scholar (or scholars) with expertise in that particular methodological domain. Assuming no prior knowledge of the topic, the volumes are clear and accessible for all readers. In each volume, a topic is introduced, applications are discussed, and readers are led step by step through worked examples. In addition, advice about how to interpret and prepare results for publication are presented.
The Library should be particularly valuable for advanced students and academics who want to know more about how to use research methods in social and personality psychology.
The book begins by explaining why and when to use the diary method. Next followins a thorough narration about how to apply the method in your own research. Finally, the author ends with guiding you in the analysis and interpretation of the results.
The book is very readable, also for researcher unfamiliar with the method because the author did not assume any prior knowledge on the topic.
As the diary method is only one of many methods students could apply to their project in my course, it is only possible for me to recommend it to those students who will consider the diary method. An I would definitely recommend it to any other researcher who is about to apply the method.
This book provides researchers with a really useful alternative methodolgy for recording thoughts and feelings. It provides a refreshing alternative to the more usual methods of collecting qualitative data. Because it is written in a clear, acessible style, it will be useful accross the board from Levels 4-6.
This is only one aspect of the course - hence it can only be recommended - however its focus is unique and therefore very useful.
