The Use of Diaries To Measure Discretionary Behavior

Ric Irving and Martin C.J. Elton
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Ric Irving: York University, Toronto, Canada
Martin C.J. Elton: New York University

Evaluation Review, 1986, vol. 10, issue 1, 95-113

Abstract: This article presents a study of the use of diaries to measure discretionary behavior. These are behaviors such as viewing television where personal choice plays a predominant role. Diary data collected upon two occasions five months apart were compared with automatically recorded data. The results show that use of diaries apparently caused an increase in thefrequency of viewing broadcast teletext on the part of those who normally used it infrequently. The data indicate that diaries are likely to be inaccurate in measuring the durations of behavioral events. It is concluded that diaries should not be used to estimate the population frequencies for discretionary behaviors.

Date: 1986
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:evarev:v:10:y:1986:i:1:p:95-113

DOI: 10.1177/0193841X8601000106

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