ABSTRACT
Sociological studies of cultural participation often rely on cross-sectional survey data or interview data. While these methods have helped disclose social inequalities, they are less suitable for capturing everyday cultural activities and their social contexts or perceived outcomes. This chapter examines how researchers can use Experience Sampling Methodology (ESM) as a novel method to study cultural participation differently and more precisely than in most current studies. ESM is a type of diary survey that allows researchers to examine what people do, feel, and think during their daily lives. In this exploratory study, over 300 respondents received a short survey on their smartphones four times daily for a week. Each survey inquired about their cultural participation in the hours before they received the survey – yielding more accurate and detailed measures of cultural participation and perceived outcomes than conventional surveys. The chapter first reviews (a) where, (b) when, (c) with whom, and (d) what specific activities were reported across social groups (age, gender, education). It then analyses how respondents experienced various activities. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the benefits and drawbacks of ESM for measuring cultural participation.
