Quality of the diaries in the Finnish and Swedish Time Use Surveys, The Swedish Light TUS 2010

1. 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

2. Background
• Two time use surveys in 2010
• Commissioned by the Government
• Several objectives
• The non-response
• The cost
• Comparison of results
• Calibrate the results

3. 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%

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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?

8. 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)

9. 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

10. Conclusion
• Light survey:
• Pros:
• Less costly
• Higher response rates
• Relatively good quality
• Good complement to the main survey
• Cons:
• Less information