1. Time-use data collection by means of smartphones
Henk Fernee, Nathalie Sonck1 & Annette Scherpenzeel2
1 The Netherlands Institute for Social Research (SCP)
2 Centerdata, Tilburg University
16-19 July 2013
ESRA, Ljubljana

2. Overview Time use surveys and app Pilots and results
Fieldwork in LISS panel
16-19 July 2013
ESRA, Ljubljana

3. Example Diary 2011 (Statistics Netherlands, CBS)
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4. Present approach Disadvantages Burdensome activity
Risks of recall problems
Relatively low response rate
Quality improvement
Increased frequency of reporting
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5. TUR-app for smartphone
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6. NL: High internet penetration & mobile access
Source: CBS Statline (2013)

7. App for the phone
Smartphone users have (almost) permanently access to this device
Use their phone at multiple times per day
Enable collection of auxiliary data
Chances for survey research
App developed for time use research (by Centerdata, Tilburg University)
Stable Lay-out
Different devices (Android, iPhone)
Paper diary ‘similar’ to app
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8. Demo: Diary app
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9. Pop-up questions, ESM Pop-up questions (7 random moments per day)
50% experience sampling
50% social media use
Happy
Rushed
Tired

10. Reality mining GPS information (for every ten minutes or 10 meters)
Android phone owners: information on call text message behaviour

11. Pilots
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12. Pilots
4 pilots
Technical abilities time-use app and additional functionalities
Usability for respondents
Persons without own phone able to participate
Quality of data
Evaluation respondents (questionnaire, in-depth interviews)
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13. Sample From an online panel (TNS NIPO): 50 Android smartphone users
50 respondents without a smartphone: Loaned a Samsung Gio (prepaid)
Later 50 iPhone users
Groups comparable with regard to age, gender, education, urbanization, household composition
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14. Results
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15. Higher episodes for borrowed smartphones
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16. High frequency of diary updates (Wednesday)
Mean=11 times a day (10 experienced; 12,5 inexperienced)
On average every 3,5 hour updated
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17. Pattern of sleeping
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18. …and of eating
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19. ESM questions
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20. Results experiments
The TUR-app is a useful instrument for measuring time use
Gives opportunities to collect additional data
Both smartphone users and non users can use it
Technical stability of app is important (loading data, battery use)
Help in using app is needed (video instructions, paper activities list)
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21. Fieldwork in LISS panel
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22. LISS panel Online panel from Centerdata
Consists of 5000 households, with a total of 8000 people
Representative panel
National (random) sample of addresses
No self-selection
People without their own computer with internet connection, get computer on loan
Data freely available for researchers
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23. Fieldwork Start September 2012 One calendar year
176 sample units per month
People without a phone get one on loan
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24. First results Overview of the response Month 09-2012 10-2012 11-2012
Number of invited 44
176
Non-response: 25 38 50
Response: 19
138
132
126
Complete: 17
118
110
100
Incomplete: 2 20 22 26
Response Rate:
38.6%
67.0%
62.5%
56.8%
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25. Future Data collection will finish in september 2013
More in-depth analysis
compare experienced and inexperienced users
compare smartphone TUR data with regular TUR data Netherlands
combine different sources of data (TUR, pop-up questions, GPS, usage of phone, questionnaires)
Can smartphones replace regular time use research?
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26. Report on pilots will be available on 22 July 2013 from: www. scp
Report on pilots will be available on 22 July 2013 from: More information: Henk Fernee
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