Quality of the diaries in the

Finnish and Swedish Time Use

Surveys

Mikael Fredberg Statistics Sweden

Hannu Pääkkönen Statistics Finland

Nordiskt Statistikermöte, Bergen 15.–17.

augusti 2013

Survey modes in the Finnish Time Use Survey

2009–2010

Face-to-face interviews (CAPI) Full-scale survey

Telephone interviews (CATI) Full-scale survey

Mail questionnaire Light diary survey

+ Self-completion paper diary in the full-scale survey

Background

In order to save costs, the sample of Statistics Finland's

Time Use Survey for 2009 to 2010 was randomly divided

into two for face-to-face interviews and telephone

interviews.

In Statistics Finland's earlier Time Use Surveys face-to-

face interviews have been used.

The impact of the interview mode has been researched at

Statistics Finland both quantitatively (Väisänen 2011, 2012)

and qualitatively (Okkonen 2012).

Non-response

The response rates of household interviews were higher in

telephone interviews (62%) than in face-to-face interviews

(58%).

More diaries were collected from households through face-

to-face interviews (76%) than through telephone interviews

(74%).

However, the total non-response was higher in face-to-face

interviews than in telephone interviews.

Quality of the diaries

The average of episodes in diaries explained during face-

to-face interviews was 26.9 and 26.8 in diaries explained

during telephone interviews.

No differences in the number of episodes based on the

interview method.

The average duration of secondary activities in diaries

explained during face-to-face interviews was 155 minutes

and 175 minutes in diaries explained during telephone

interviews.

Qualitative examination

80 diaries were selected for qualitative examination, one-

half of which had been explained during face-to-face

interviews and one-half over the telephone.

The quality of the diaries was examined based on six

criteria.

No quality differences were found based on the interview

method.

However, there were differences in how the diaries had

been filled in by women and men.

The Finnish light diary pilot survey 2010

The light diary was tested with a sample of 1,000 persons

in connection with the Finnish time use survey in 2010.

The data collection took place by mail and the respondents

filled in the diary with 35 pre-coded activities.

The persons kept the diary for one day.

The age of the target persons was limited to between 25

and 64.

There were two data collection periods in March, each

lasting one week.

Non-response

The response rate was low, 17.4 per cent.

Something could be retrieved by using the available

auxiliary information.

Post-stratification according to age group and gender

combined with calibration estimators were used.

Number of activities

The respondents were asked to record only one activity for

each time slot.

If the respondents were doing two things simultaneously,

they were to select only the one they themselves regarded

as the main activity.

At least two activities per episode were recorded in 79 per

cent of the diaries.

Thirty-one per cent of the respondents recorded three

activities per episode.

Comparison of results

The diaries produced estimates that were close to each

other at the main time use category level with the exception

of domestic work.

There are differences particularly in the classes Home

maintenance and Child care.

The high non-response rate may, however, have an impact

on these differences.

Conclusion

Assistance from interviewers would be needed to reach a

satisfactory response rate and to guarantee the quality of

the filled in diaries.

In future, the use of a web questionnaire could be tested as

an alternative to a light paper diary.

This could also improve the quality of the diaries.