Financial Diaries Methodology

The financial diaries methodology is a research methodology that has been used to conduct research predominantly in very poor households. The financial diaries technique involves researchers regularly observing and documenting household finances over long periods of time. The process has been instrumental in broadening conceptions of global poverty by enabling more in-depth data collection. The higher levels of trust and deeper relationships that researchers are able to develop over regular meetings and longer time frame of the research assist in uncovering more detailed and better-quality data than if a researcher were to collect data over a few visits only. The methodology is designed to capture spending and savings habits that often remain hidden in large surveys, which can then be used to develop more suitable ...