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Title:
British Household Panel Survey Calibrated Time Use Data, 1994-2004

Subject Categories:
British Household Panel Survey - Major studies
Time use - Society and culture

Depositor(s):
Kan, M.Y., University of Essex. Institute for Social and Economic Research

Principal Investigator(s):
Kan, M.Y., University of Essex. Institute for Social and Economic Research
Gershuny, J.I., University of Essex. Institute for Social and Economic Research

Original Producer(s):
University of Essex. Institute for Social and Economic Research

Sponsor(s):
Economic and Social Research Council

Grant Number:
RES-518-28-5001 and RES-225-25-2001

Abstract:
For this project, a set of time use variables were calibrated for the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) (held at the UK Data Archive (UKDA) under GN 33196), using evidence derived from a smaller-scale panel survey that collected time use information by both the survey and diary methods, the Home OnLine, 1998-2001 study (HoL) (held at the UKDA under SN 4607). Past research has suggested that the time diary method produces more accurate and reliable measures of time use than the survey approach. The diary approach, however, usually has a low response rate and is not practicable for a large-scale panel study like the BHPS. However, direct questioning in survey interviews is a relatively flexible approach to collecting time use data. The project therefore developed a method to combine the strengths of the survey approach and the diary method. The survey part of HoL shared the same questionnaire-derived time use predictor variables with the BHPS. Regression of the predictors on the time diary data in the HoL study was used to calibrate time use in the BHPS by multiplying the resulting regression coefficients with the same BHPS predictor variables. This produced a calibrated index of time use patterns based on BHPS questionnaire items. The calibrated time use variables cover all major categories of daily activities and are available in Wave 4 (1994) to Wave 14 (2004) of the BHPS.

Main Topics:
The variables in the dataset cover time spent on employment, educational courses and associated travel, consumption and leisure, housework and other domestic concerns, sleep and personal care.

Coverage:
Dates of Fieldwork: 1991-2004
Country: United Kingdom
Spatial Units: No spatial units are included in this derived dataset. For original case spatial units, see BHPS documentation.
Observation Units: Individuals
Kind of Data: Numeric data; Individual (micro) level

Universe Sampled:
Location of Units of Observation:National
Population:Respondents to the BHPS Waves 4-13, between 1994 and 2004

Methodology:
Time Dimensions: Longitudinal/panel/cohort
Data are taken from the longitudinal BHPS series.
Sampling Procedures: Multi-stage stratified random sample
Method of Data Collection: Compilation or synthesis of existing material; variables taken from BHPS
Weighting: Weighting used for main BHPS. See BHPS documentation for details

Language(s) of Written Materials:
Study Description: English
Study Documentation: English

Access:
Access Conditions: The depositor has specified that registration is required. Available to all registered users. The depositor may be informed about usage.
Availability: ESDS Longitudinal, UK Data Archive
Contact: Help desk: longitudinal@esds.ac.uk

Date of Release:
First Edition: 2 June 2006

Copyright:
Copyright M. Y. Kan and J. Gershuny. Copyright of the original BHPS data rests with the Institute for Social and Economic Research

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