This is the program for the 2010 Joint Statistical Meetings in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Abstract Details

Activity Number: 140
Type: Contributed
Date/Time: Monday, August 2, 2010 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
Sponsor: Section on Survey Research Methods
Abstract - #308704
Title: Measuring Time Use in Surveys: A Novel Validation of Survey Questions Through Experience Sampling
Author(s): Bettina Sonnenberg*+ and Michaela Riediger and Cornelia Wrzus and Gert G. Wagner
Companies: German Institute for Economic Research and Max Planck Institute for Human Development and Max Planck Institute for Human Development and German Institute for Economic Research
Address: Mohrenstr. 58, Berlin, 10117, Germany
Keywords: time use ; data quality ; validity ; experience sampling ; survey questions ; SOEP
Abstract:

According to the literature, it is still not clear to what extent stated time allocation in questionnaires reflects the actual behavior of people. Using experience sampling data, we analyze the congruence of stated time use and reported behavior elicited through a novel experience sampling method. Our comparisons indicate that rather long-lasting and outstanding activities like market work seem to be accurately measured by common survey questions. In contrast, for more short-term activities or those around which people do not tend to structure their time-such as errands- only small correlations can be revealed. We conclude that activities with a long duration can be measured in a satisfactory manner by short survey questions whereas it is an open methodological question if experience sampling method or survey questions deliver more reliable and valid measures for short-term activities


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