Quality of the diaries in the

Finnish and Swedish

Time Use Surveys -

Part 2: The Swedish Light TUS 2010

Nordisk Statistikermöte, Bergen,

15-17 augusti 2013

Background

• Two time use surveys in 2010

• Commissioned by the Government

• Several objectives

• The non-response

• The cost

• Comparison of results

• Calibrate the results

Light survey vs. main survey

TA2010 LTA2010

Reference period 1 April 2010 – 31 March 2011 1 October 2010 – 30 September

2011

Data collection mode CATI and diary CATI and diary

Sample 7 400 1 000

Type of diary Open with fixed intervals. The

respondent describe with own

words.

Pre-coded activity categories and

fixed intervals

Coding Manually coding Pre-coded

Number of activity codes 247 30

Length of interview Appr. 30 min (mean) Appr. 5 min (mean)

Incentives Yes, lottery tickets (value 100

SEK) when fulfilling at least one

diary

Yes, lottery tickets (value 100

SEK) when fulfilling at least one

diary

Response rate 41,6% 52,2%

The field work – an overview

Telephone interview

The diaries are

scanned

Correcting errors

with the respondent

The interviewer check

the diaries for errors

Returning the diaries

The respondent fills

in the diaries

Sending out the diary

Diary information is

coded on screen

Quality control of the

coded information

Estimation and

dissemination

The sampled

individual receives

information about the

survey and is

informed that SCB

will contact them

The field work – an overview

Telephone interview

The diaries are

scanned

Returning the diaries

The respondent fills

in the diaries

Sending out the diary

Quality control of the

coded information

Estimation and

dissemination

The sampled

individual receives

information about the

survey and is

informed that SCB

will contact them

Response rates

• Light survey:

• All: 52,2 %

• Women: 55,1 %

• Men: 49,4 %

• Main survey:

• All: 41,6 %

• Women: 43,9 %

• Men: 39,4 %

• Significant differences

Non-response

• No contact:

• Main survey: 16,2 %

• Light survey: 12,2 %

• Refusal to participate:

• Main survey: 30,8 %

• Light survey: 24,3 %

• Minor differences when looking at marital status, level of education and age although some are significant: Ages 35-49 (lower share that refuse to participate)

• Does the shorter interview and/or the diarydesign affect the non-response?

Episodes

• Mean number of episodes:

• Main survey: 26,0

• Light survey: 21,2

• Number of episodes with more than one activity

registered:

• 2,4 % (of 22 010 episodes)

• Number of diaries with more then one episode

including more than one activity:

• 11,6 % (of 1 028 diaries)

Comparison of results

• The two surveys produced estimates close to each

other but there are differences:

• Particularly Free time, Travel and Employment

• Differences probably due to:

• Two different designs

• Less activities (how to aggregate the main survey

activities properly)

• How the respondent treat the activity

• Non-response

Conclusion

• Light survey:

• Pros:

• Less costly

• Higher response rates

• Relatively good quality

• Good complement to the main survey

• Cons:

• Less information