Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Survey name(s) in the national language(s): Ajankäyttö
Year(s) of (data collection) of the survey: 2020-2021
Link to the survey website: provided under 1.2
National questionnaire (Provided in the Annex)
Time use surveys (TUS) measure the amount of time people spend doing various activities, such as paid work, household and family care, personal care, voluntary work, social life, travel, and leisure activities. The survey consists of a household interview, a personal interview, a weekday diary and a weekend diary. The Time Use Survey is a sample survey, the participants of which keep a detailed record of their time use for two days. In addition to the time spent on various activities, the survey investigates the daily and weekly rhythms of time use and time spent together with others. The survey looks at working hours, the time spent on domestic work, sleeping and meals, various leisure pursuits and the time spent together with others and the location of activities. The rhythms of time use are also examined according to a 24-hour period, the day of the week and the season.
The main classification system used in the Harmonised European time use surveys (HETUS) is the "Activity coding list" (ACL). The ACL assigns a code to the activities (primary and secondary) that the person is doing during the day. For that purpose the 24 hours of the day are split in 144 slots of 10-minutes and ACL codes are given to each of the 10-minutes slots. The activities described by the respondents themselves are coded according to the 116 category classification of activities that are reduced to approximately 50 categories in the harmonisation processes of the database.
Other classifications used are the "Location" where the time is spent (including the modes of transport) and "With whom" the time is spent. Please note that the tables currently shown in this domain do not contain information on these variables.
3.2.1. Versions and breakdowns (level) of the classifications used for the data collection
Acronym
Version
Level
NACE
Rev. 2
ISCO
ISCO-08
3 digits
ISCED
NUTS
2-digit level
Other: Activity Coding List (ACL)
2018 (2020 edition)
3.2.2. Deviations from ESS or international standards
None.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Living conditions, time use, working time, travel, leisure, social statistics; all economic sectors are covered.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Activity
An action recorded in the time-use diary, which has afterwards been coded into a certain activity.
Category of activity
A name and the corresponding code given to each activity.
Household
A household is formed of all those persons who live together and have meals together or otherwise use their income together. The concept of household is only used in interview surveys.
Excluded from the household population are those living permanently abroad and the institutional population (such as long-term residents of old-age homes, care institutions, prisons or hospitals).
The corresponding register-based information is household-dwelling unit. A household-dwelling unit is formed of persons living permanently in the same dwelling or address. More than one household may belong to the same household-dwelling unit. The concept of household-dwelling unit is used in register-based statistics in place of the household concept.
Household's reference person
The household reference person is usually the member of the household with the highest income. If more than one member of a household have the same income, or no member of the household has income, the oldest member of the household has been selected as the reference person.
Main activity
The main activity recorded by a respondent in a time-use diary.
Secondary activity
The secondary activity recorded by a respondent in a time-use diary. E.g. preparing breakfast may be a principal activity, and listening to the radio a secondary activity.
3.5. Statistical unit
Persons, households and time; More specifically, in household, 10 year old or older individuals, and in diary 10 minutes time slot.
3.6. Statistical population
The Time Use Survey uses a household sample, in which the survey units are households and individuals, who are aged 10 and over at the time of the survey. The sampling design is a one-stage cluster sampling. The sample of 2020 to 2021 was drawn from Statistics Finland’s statistical register pertaining to the population which had been adapted from the Central Population Centre.
3.6.1. Main characteristics of the survey population
The register does not contain data on households, due to which household-dwelling units, instead of households, are used in the sampling. A household-dwelling unit was formed of individuals with an identical address code in the register. In most cases, one household-dwelling unit is equal to a single household, due to which the household-dwelling unit sample was used to target the data collection at households. The survey’s statistical population is the household population, meaning that individuals living in institutions and conscripts were removed from the sample as falling under the scope of the register’s over-coverage.
3.7. Reference area
The data covers the entire country. The area-level classifications are: statistical municipality grouping, major region and region.
3.8. Coverage - Time
September 2020 to September 2021.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
The diaries provide data describing the duration, timing and sequence of the activities.
The durations of activities are usually indicated as averages (hours and minutes per a 24-hour period) and timing as percentages pertaining to different times of the day or as graphic tempograms.
The durations of activities can be calculated as averages pertaining to an entire population group, in which case the calculations include all respondents, regardless of whether they participate in the activities in question. The share of individuals within a population group who engaged in a particular activity during the survey day (‘participation rate’) can also be calculated. Finally, an average can also be calculated for those participating in an activity (‘participation time’).
September 2020 to September 2021, 365 consecutive days. Each respondent should have filled-in the diary for two days, one weekday (Monday to Friday) and one weekend day (Saturday, Sunday) but only one day filled diaries were also accepted.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
The data were collected on the basis of a gentlemen's agreement between participating countries and Eurostat.
6.1.1. At European level
The current round of the harmonised European time use survey (HETUS) data collection has been carried out in the spirit of multi-national and multi-agency cooperation across Europe, in the form of an informal ’gentlemen's agreement’.
6.1.2. At National level
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
The HETUS 2000, 2010 and 2020 data are available on the HETUS database.
Universities and certified research centres can apply for access to TUS microdata for scientific purposes.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
HETUS microdata as received by Eurostat do not contain any administrative information such as names or addresses that would allow direct identification. Access to the microdata is nevertheless strictly controlled and limited to specified Eurostat staff. After data treatment, records are aggregated for all further use.
8.1. Release calendar
No release calendar.
8.2. Release calendar access
Not applicable.
8.3. Release policy - user access
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice, Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website (see item 10 - 'Accessibility and clarity') respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent way all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users.
New HETUS round data are released approximately once a decade. The material concerning a single year is published in several releases covering different areas of content.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Not available.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Not available.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
See HETUS database.
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not requested.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Microdata are available through the Eurostat microdata access service: Harmonised European time use surveys - Eurostat (europa.eu)
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Not available.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Not requested.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
HETUS 2000: Guidelines on harmonised European Time Use surveys (2004 edition)
HETUS 2010: Harmonised European time use Surveys - 2008 Guidelines (2009 edition)
HETUS 2020: Harmonised European Time Use Surveys (HETUS) — 2018 guidelines — Re-edition
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Not requested.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Data are accompanied with quality reports analysing the accuracy, coherence and comparability of the data.
11.1. Quality assurance
HETUS 2018 guidelines were taken into account and data were carefully validated at national level. Quality management requires comprehensive guidance of activities. The quality management framework in the field of statistics is the European Statistics Code of Practice (CoP). The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are also compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Time use statistics have overall good quality. The quality of the Time Use statistics is assessed at several different stages of the statistical process. National Time Use Surveys are considered as reliable sources applying high standards with regard to the methodology. However, the TUS, like any survey, is based upon a sample of the population. The results are therefore subject to the usual types of errors associated with random sampling. To avoid publication of figures that are unreliable, all estimations based on a sample size lower than 25 observations should be substituted by the flag ":u".
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Time use data are used by policy makers and by researchers, e.g. to answer questions on the following topics: how much time is spent in paid work compared to unpaid work, and how is this different for women and men? Is housework fairly distributed between women and men? How much time do people spend to travel to and from work? How much time do people spend on care activities? How much time do people spend on volunteering? What activities do people carry out in their leisure time?
Time use data also provide the basic data to produce household satellite accounts.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
User satisfaction was not measured.
12.3. Completeness
Every time use diary was assessed individually. General rule was that at least half of the diary day must have activities reported.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Not requested.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
The Time Use Survey contains four different types of non-response: 1) household non-response, 2) individual non-response, 3) diary non-response, in which either both or one of the diaries is missing, and 4) item non-response, in which the response to some questions is missing, or a diary is only partially completed.
The volume of elementary unit non-response is measured by indicating the share of elementary units remaining non-responsive as percentages. If all members of a household participate in activities, and time is spent together, there is intraclass correlation in the research variables in relation to the household. Individuals may have habits which are identical from one day to the next.
The design coefficients calculated for the variables allow for estimating the clustering of the variables in the household sample.
Weights are calculated at several stages which account for the survey and sampling design, and the correction of the non-response impact. The weights are also standardised with a calibration technique to correspond to data obtained from population statistics and registers. The weighting gives days of the week and months the same ‘representativeness’ in the sense that the sums of the weights calculated from a unit level are the same.
A household weight was calculated for a household and all members of a household were given the same weight, in accordance with the sampling design. This weight was used when calculating the shares of respondents and the distributions of non-response.
The calibration vector was formed according to age and gender groups, the area, municipality type, education and taxable income. The standardisation of a month and the day of the week, as well as inclusion in the register of unemployed job seekers during the survey month, were linked to same calibration.
Not all members of a household kept a diary or kept it only for one day, so the weight based on the inclusion probability is expanded to apply to the survey’s statistical population, i.e. household population aged 10 and over.
The basic weight of the diaries was 5/7 for weekdays and 2/7 for days of the weekend. The number of diaries received varied depending on the survey week and day of the week. If an individual was not reached before a day drawn by lot, the interviewer had the possibility to postpone the keeping of the diary for no further than the next three weeks and the same days of the week. Due to such postponements, not all members of a household have the same diary weights. If all members of a household kept their diaries on the same days, the members of the household have the same diary weights. Day weights were calibrated in a manner equivalent to individual weights.
13.2. Sampling error
Information is provided in the following sub-concepts 13.2.1-13.2.3.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
See below.
13.2.2. Sampling error - proportion and confidence interval
Parameter of interest (p̂)
Number of respondents - n
Standard error for p̂
95% confidence interval for p̂: Lower
95% confidence interval for p̂: Upper
Percentage of population aged 15 and over spending daily on average more than 10 % of time working in paid work
(weighted)
Number of individuals completed at least 1 diary day
(unweighted)
0.3
4204
0.007
0.286
0.314
Calculation of (p̂)
Calculate for all individuals the sum of time spent working (ACL activity 1 employment) considering both diary days. (i.e 48 hours or 2*1440 minutes)
NUMERATOR: Count of the individuals whose cumulative time spent in ACL 2018 activity 1 in both diary days was equal or higher than 10% i.e. 4.8 hours in total. If only one diary was completed then 10% = 2.4 hours
DENOMINATOR: Total number of individuals that completed at least 1 diary day.
To obtain (p̂) calculate the proportion: Numerator/ Denominator
13.2.3. Sampling error - method used for the variance (SE) estimation
Not available.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Non-sampling error consists of three elements: Coverage error, measurement error and non-response error.
13.3.1. Coverage error
Under-coverage consists of those aged 10 or over who have moved to Finland since the last update of the register, and over-coverage consists of those aged 10 or over who have died or moved abroad since the register was updated. Over-coverage was identified in the data collection and dropped from the sample.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
2,1 per cent of the households.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not applicable.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Not available.
13.3.2.1. Questionnaire design and testing
Testing a web diary:
FUT (in house) April 2019
September 2019
Adults January–February 2020
Youth January– February 2020
13.3.2.2. Interviewer training
Training of the interviewers was done according to HETUS 2018 Guidelines.
13.3.2.3. Proxy interview rates
Not available.
13.3.3. Non response error
Four different types of non-response error occur in the household sample of the TUS. First, cluster non-response, where all persons are missing in a household; second, unit non-response, where some persons in a household are missing but the household is, nevertheless, included in the survey. The third type of non-response is missing diaries, where one or both diaries are missing. The fourth type is item non-response, where answers to one or more variables are missing at the household or individual levels, or a diary is only partially filled in. Unit non-response is measured by its ratio to the final sample.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
77 per cent of the time use diaries not returned or were not accepted. Returned diary days 9 782, approved diary days 8 186. Rejected days 16 per cent.
Non-response rates:
Household interview 53 per cent
Individual interview 63 per cent
Time use diary 77 per cent
13.3.3.1.1. Reasons for non-response
Main reason: no known cause. Other quite typical reasons: target refused, specific reason not known, target refused to take a time use diary, target refused due to time pressure, target permanently ill at home and unable to keep a diary, someone else forbids filling in the diary.
13.3.3.1.2. Number of households in the gross sample according to the final results of the survey
2 786
13.3.3.1.3. Characteristics of non-respondents
Not available.
13.3.3.1.4. Efforts to reduce non-response
By using interviewers in giving intsructions and in motivating. By making good communication materials, motivational and instructional videos.
13.3.3.1.5. Adjustment of weights in order to reduce non-response
Weights were calculated at several stages which account for the survey and sampling design, and the correction of the non-response impact. The weights were also standardised with a calibration technique to correspond to data obtained from population statistics and registers.
The weighting gives days of the week and months the same ‘representativeness’ in the sense that the sums of the weights calculated from a unit level are the same. The basic weight of the diaries was 5/7 for weekdays and 2/7 for days of the weekend.
A household weight was calculated for a household and all members of a household were given the same weight, in accordance with the sampling design. This weight was used when calculating the shares of respondents and the distributions of non-response.
The calibration vector was formed according to age and gender groups, the area, municipality type, education and taxable income. The standardisation of a month and the day of the week, as well as inclusion in the register of unemployed job seekers during the survey month, were linked to same calibration.
If an individual was not reached before a day drawn by lot, the interviewer had the possibility to postpone the keeping of the diary for no further than the next three weeks and the same days of the week. Due to such postponements, not all members of a household have the same diary weights. If all members of a household kept their diaries on the same days, the members of the household have the same diary weights. Day weights were calibrated in a manner equivalent to individual weights.
13.3.3.1.6. Other comments regarding non-response errors
No comments.
13.3.3.1.7. Replacement of non-responding households (substitution)
Substitution rate
Rate
i.e. Number of substitute households successfully interviewed/Achieved sample size
No substitutes were used.
13.3.3.1.8. Description of the substitution
No substitutes were used.
13.3.3.1.9. Qualitative assessment of the bias associated with unit non-response
Not available.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Not available.
13.3.3.2.1. Variables most subject to item non-response
Not available.
13.3.4. Processing error
Not identified.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not available.
14.1. Timeliness
Data are transmitted to Eurostat on the basis of an agreement. At the national level the publication of the results of the Finnish TUS conducted from 2020 to 2021 began in June 2022.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Eight months.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Not applicable.
14.2. Punctuality
At the national level the new data have been released on schedule, in accordance with the release plan.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Not requested.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Content-wise, the data concerning Finland in the statistics are geographically comparable. Comparisons can be done within the framework set by the scope of the data. The Time Use Survey conducted from 2020 to 2021 was EU-harmonised, as it was the case with the surveys conducted from 1999 to 2000 and from 2009 to 2010.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Cross-time comparability is ensured by keeping as much survey elements as possible comparable over time. So, in general, the HETUS rounds should be comparable.
However, the Finnish TUS 2020-2021 data were collected in the middle of the COVID crisis, which has affected some of the survey results.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Not requested.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
In terms of gainful employment, time use can be compared to the quarterly and annual results of Statistics Finland’s Labour Force Survey. The times are not precisely overlapping, however.
Both the Time Use Survey and the Leisure Survey produce data on participation in cultural events. Comparable data are available as of 1981. The differences in data collection must be accounted for when comparing the data of the Time Use Survey to those of the Leisure Survey. The questions pertaining to participation in cultural events in the Time Use Survey were phrased in a manner consistent with the questions of the Leisure Survey. The results of the Time Use Survey and the Leisure Survey are fairly coherent in general. Given that the Time Use and Leisure Surveys are conducted at alternating time intervals, comparable time series can be formed.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Time use statistics are not directly linked to national accounts. The value of household production statistics is a complement to the core system of national accounts, describing the economic significance of this non-accounting household production (the value of household production). The time used to produce services produced by households for their own use is calculated based on the data from the time use survey.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Time use diaries are well suited for studying daily activities. These include sleeping, eating, bathing and many other activities related to personal needs, as well as many household activities such as cooking and childcare. Interviews are a suitable method to supplement information on less common activities. For example, different methods yield different figures for participation in organizations. The definitions and reference points on which the results are based usually differ.
The response burden of time use surveys are rather high. Household and individual interviews to put together are rather long. In addition, two days diary increase response burden.
16.1. Costs of the survey
No detailed information available.
16.2. Average time used for answering the survey questionnaires (in minutes)
CATI household and individual interview altogether: 56 min (average), 50 min (median).
16.3. Average time used to fill in the diary (in minutes)
Not applicable/no paradata available.
16.4. Measures taken to reduce the cost and burden of the survey
Using register data, web diaries and telephone interviews. Testing diaries and making good commucation materials.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Time use survey data is usually not revised. Revisions – i.e. improvements in the accuracy of statistical data already published – are a normal feature of statistical production and result in improved quality of statistics. The principle is that statistical data are based on the best available data and information concerning the statistical phenomenon. On the other hand, the revisions are communicated as transparently as possible in advance. Advance communication ensures that the users can prepare for the data revisions.
The reason why data in statistical releases become revised is often caused by the data becoming supplemented. Then the new, revised statistical figure is based on a wider information basis and describes the phenomenon more accurately than before.
Revisions of statistical data may also be caused by the calculation method used, such as annual benchmarking or updating of weight structures. Changes of base years and used classifications may also cause revisions to data.
All reported errors (once validated) result in corrections of the disseminated data. Reported errors are corrected in the disseminated data as soon as the correct data have been validated. Data may be published even if they are missing for certain countries, or flagged as provisional or of low reliability for certain countries. They are replaced with final data once transmitted and validated. Whenever new data are provided and validated, the already disseminated data are updated. There is no specific updating schedule for incorporating ‘spontaneously’ provided new data.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not applicable.
18.1. Source data
Information on sampling design, sampling frame and size is available under the full metadata concepts 18.1.1-18.1.3.
18.1.1. Sampling frame
Type of data source
Name of data source used for building the sampling frame
Population census
Not applicable
Population register
The sampling frame consists of total data based on the Population Information System of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency and Statistics Finland's population and dwelling data resource.
Household register
Not applicable
Dwelling register
Not applicable
List of phone numbers
Not applicable
Postcode address file
Not applicable
Another survey sample
Not applicable
Other
Not applicable
The Time Use Survey uses a household sample, in which the survey units are households, and individuals who are aged 10 and over at the time of the survey.
18.1.2. Sampling design of the survey
See below.
18.1.2.1. Sampling design(s)
Type of Sampling Design
Description of Sampling Design
Simple random sampling
Not applicable
Systematic sampling
Not applicable
Stratified sampling
Not applicable
Cluster sampling
One stage cluster sampling
Other
Not applicable
The sampling design is a one-stage cluster sampling. The sample was drawn from Statistics Finland’s statistical register pertaining to the population which had been adapted from the Central Population Centre. The register does not contain data on households, due to which household-dwelling units, instead of households, are used in the sampling. A household-dwelling unit was formed of individuals with an identical address code in the register. In most cases, one household-dwelling unit is equal to a single household, due to which the household-dwelling unit sample was used to target the data collection at households.
18.1.2.2. Ultimate sampling unit(s)
Households
18.1.2.3. Oversampling of specific populations
None.
18.1.2.4. Assumptions used for determining the sample size
Large sample size due the decreasing survey response rates.
18.1.3. Sample size
Sample size
Number of households (HHs)
Gross sample size
Formula: initial sample size= responding units + non-responding units (these two groups make up the group of eligible units) + units with unknown eligibility (e.g. because they are not able to be reached/ contacted), + ineligible units.
8840
Number of eligible units
Formula: net sample size= Gross sample size - units with unknown eligibility – ineligible units
8655
Achieved sample size = Total number of households which were successfully surveyed (interviews+diary)
2786
The households drawn for the sample of the Time Use Survey conducted from 2020 to 2021 numbered 8,840. These included 21,278 individuals, of whom 19,268 was aged 10 and over. The household sample was drawn as an individual sample in such a way that individuals aged 15 or over, for whom individuals living in the same dwelling unit were simultaneously included, were drawn from the register by systematic sampling. The likelihood of a household being drawn is dependent on the number of the household’s individuals falling under the scope of the sampling frame, i.e. in this case, the number of individuals aged 15 or over. The survey’s statistical population is the household population, meaning that individuals living in institutions and conscripts were removed from the sample as falling under the scope of the register’s over-coverage. The households belonging to over-coverage numbered 185 (2.1 per cent). Following their removal, the sample included 8,655 households.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Approximately every 10 years.
18.3. Data collection
Data are acquired by interviewing the sampled individuals directly and letting them fill in the diary.
18.3.1. Data collection method used
Mixed mode
18.3.2. Mode(s) and instruments for data collection: household and individual questionnaire
Interview
Specify Yes or No if used
% of completed household interviews
Paper assisted personal interview (PAPI)
No
Computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI)
No
Computer assisted telephone interview (CATI)
Yes
47%
Computer assisted web-interview (CAWI)
No
Smart mode (e.g. smartphone app)
No
Other (e.g. administrative data).
No
Household and individual questionnaire and time use diary (web and paper).
18.3.3. Mode(s) and instruments for data collection: time use diary
Diary
Specify Yes or No if used
% of completed diaries
Paper diary
Yes
21%
Computer based non online diary
No
Online web diary
Yes
79%
Mobile based diaries (Smartphone apps, etc.)
No
XML based web diary and coding appilication (XCola) and traditional paper diary for those who were not able to use web application.
18.3.4. Variables completed from an external source
The following information was combined to the collected data: registered gender, age, education and occupation data, household-dwelling unit, place of residence and income data.
18.4. Data validation
Prior to the dissemination of the national data, the data quality and consistency were checked.
18.5. Data compilation
Data compilation includes information related to the imputation rate, methods applied to correct for item non-response, if applicable, and information on the calculation of weighting factors and weight adjustments. For more information, see concepts 18.5.1 - 18.5.3 in the Full metadata.
Individual replies are aggregated in order to show results for different population groups (by age, by sex, by highest level of education attained, by professional status, etc.).
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Not available.
18.5.2. Method applied to correct for 'item non-response'
Methods
Specify Yes or No if used
Simple imputation (deterministic) method
Yes
Simple imputation (stochastic) method
No
Multiple imputation approach
No
Other
No
In some diaries, an activity at some point during a day has not been entered.
If the diary had been kept for most of a day, the diary was accepted in the data, and the missing data were given the code 999 as a value for the activity category. For some of the 999 codes, the time spent on sleeping could be predicted with the help of a model. If the keeping of the diary had started in the morning with morning routines, the time from 4.00 until the morning routines was marked as sleeping. Sleeping that took place in the evening was modelled with a regression model in which the dependent variable was the duration of the evening sleeping and the independent variables were sleeping in the morning, sex, five-year age groups, the day of the week, working day and day off.
The model predicted the duration of the evening sleeping, which was rounded to the nearest 10 minutes. If the final episode was coded as missing, it was imputed with the evening sleeping calculated with the model. If the final missing episode was shorter than the sleeping predicted by the model, the entire missing amount of time was imputed to sleeping. If, on the other hand, the duration of the final episode was greater than the sleeping predicted by the model, the duration calculated with the model was imputed as the duration. The difference between the durations of the model and the missing data remained as a missing activity. The time at which the sleeping started was calculated retroactively as of 4.00.
18.5.3. Calculation of weighting factors and weight adjustments
Weights are calculated at several stages which account for the survey and sampling design and the correction of the non-response impact. The weights are also standardised with a calibration technique to correspond to data obtained from population statistics and registers. The weighting gives days of the week and months the same ‘representativeness’ in the sense that the sums of the weights calculated from a unit level are the same.
A household weight was calculated for a household, and all members of a household were given the same weight, in accordance with the sampling design. This weight was used when calculating the shares of respondents and the distributions of non-response.
The calibration vector was formed according to age and gender groups, the area, municipality type, education and taxable income. The standardisation of a month and the day of the week, as well as inclusion in the register of unemployed job seekers during the survey month, were linked to the same calibration.
Not all members of a household kept a diary, or kept it only for one day, so the weight based on the inclusion probability is expanded to apply to the survey’s statistical population, i.e. household population aged 10 and over.
The basic weight of the diaries was 5/7 for weekdays and 2/7 for days of the weekend. The number of diaries received varied depending on the survey week and day of the week. If an individual was not reached before a day drawn by lot, the interviewer had the possibility to postpone the keeping of the diary for no further than the next three weeks and the same days of the week. Due to such postponements, not all members of a household have the same diary weights. If all members of a household kept their diaries on the same days, the members of the household have the same diary weights. Day weights were calibrated in a manner equivalent to individual weights.
Survey name(s) in the national language(s): Ajankäyttö
Year(s) of (data collection) of the survey: 2020-2021
Link to the survey website: provided under 1.2
National questionnaire (Provided in the Annex)
Time use surveys (TUS) measure the amount of time people spend doing various activities, such as paid work, household and family care, personal care, voluntary work, social life, travel, and leisure activities. The survey consists of a household interview, a personal interview, a weekday diary and a weekend diary. The Time Use Survey is a sample survey, the participants of which keep a detailed record of their time use for two days. In addition to the time spent on various activities, the survey investigates the daily and weekly rhythms of time use and time spent together with others. The survey looks at working hours, the time spent on domestic work, sleeping and meals, various leisure pursuits and the time spent together with others and the location of activities. The rhythms of time use are also examined according to a 24-hour period, the day of the week and the season.
An action recorded in the time-use diary, which has afterwards been coded into a certain activity.
Category of activity
A name and the corresponding code given to each activity.
Household
A household is formed of all those persons who live together and have meals together or otherwise use their income together. The concept of household is only used in interview surveys.
Excluded from the household population are those living permanently abroad and the institutional population (such as long-term residents of old-age homes, care institutions, prisons or hospitals).
The corresponding register-based information is household-dwelling unit. A household-dwelling unit is formed of persons living permanently in the same dwelling or address. More than one household may belong to the same household-dwelling unit. The concept of household-dwelling unit is used in register-based statistics in place of the household concept.
Household's reference person
The household reference person is usually the member of the household with the highest income. If more than one member of a household have the same income, or no member of the household has income, the oldest member of the household has been selected as the reference person.
Main activity
The main activity recorded by a respondent in a time-use diary.
Secondary activity
The secondary activity recorded by a respondent in a time-use diary. E.g. preparing breakfast may be a principal activity, and listening to the radio a secondary activity.
Persons, households and time; More specifically, in household, 10 year old or older individuals, and in diary 10 minutes time slot.
The Time Use Survey uses a household sample, in which the survey units are households and individuals, who are aged 10 and over at the time of the survey. The sampling design is a one-stage cluster sampling. The sample of 2020 to 2021 was drawn from Statistics Finland’s statistical register pertaining to the population which had been adapted from the Central Population Centre.
The data covers the entire country. The area-level classifications are: statistical municipality grouping, major region and region.
September 2020 to September 2021, 365 consecutive days. Each respondent should have filled-in the diary for two days, one weekday (Monday to Friday) and one weekend day (Saturday, Sunday) but only one day filled diaries were also accepted.
The Time Use Survey contains four different types of non-response: 1) household non-response, 2) individual non-response, 3) diary non-response, in which either both or one of the diaries is missing, and 4) item non-response, in which the response to some questions is missing, or a diary is only partially completed.
The volume of elementary unit non-response is measured by indicating the share of elementary units remaining non-responsive as percentages. If all members of a household participate in activities, and time is spent together, there is intraclass correlation in the research variables in relation to the household. Individuals may have habits which are identical from one day to the next.
The design coefficients calculated for the variables allow for estimating the clustering of the variables in the household sample.
Weights are calculated at several stages which account for the survey and sampling design, and the correction of the non-response impact. The weights are also standardised with a calibration technique to correspond to data obtained from population statistics and registers. The weighting gives days of the week and months the same ‘representativeness’ in the sense that the sums of the weights calculated from a unit level are the same.
A household weight was calculated for a household and all members of a household were given the same weight, in accordance with the sampling design. This weight was used when calculating the shares of respondents and the distributions of non-response.
The calibration vector was formed according to age and gender groups, the area, municipality type, education and taxable income. The standardisation of a month and the day of the week, as well as inclusion in the register of unemployed job seekers during the survey month, were linked to same calibration.
Not all members of a household kept a diary or kept it only for one day, so the weight based on the inclusion probability is expanded to apply to the survey’s statistical population, i.e. household population aged 10 and over.
The basic weight of the diaries was 5/7 for weekdays and 2/7 for days of the weekend. The number of diaries received varied depending on the survey week and day of the week. If an individual was not reached before a day drawn by lot, the interviewer had the possibility to postpone the keeping of the diary for no further than the next three weeks and the same days of the week. Due to such postponements, not all members of a household have the same diary weights. If all members of a household kept their diaries on the same days, the members of the household have the same diary weights. Day weights were calibrated in a manner equivalent to individual weights.
The diaries provide data describing the duration, timing and sequence of the activities.
The durations of activities are usually indicated as averages (hours and minutes per a 24-hour period) and timing as percentages pertaining to different times of the day or as graphic tempograms.
The durations of activities can be calculated as averages pertaining to an entire population group, in which case the calculations include all respondents, regardless of whether they participate in the activities in question. The share of individuals within a population group who engaged in a particular activity during the survey day (‘participation rate’) can also be calculated. Finally, an average can also be calculated for those participating in an activity (‘participation time’).
Data compilation includes information related to the imputation rate, methods applied to correct for item non-response, if applicable, and information on the calculation of weighting factors and weight adjustments. For more information, see concepts 18.5.1 - 18.5.3 in the Full metadata.
Individual replies are aggregated in order to show results for different population groups (by age, by sex, by highest level of education attained, by professional status, etc.).
Information on sampling design, sampling frame and size is available under the full metadata concepts 18.1.1-18.1.3.
New HETUS round data are released approximately once a decade. The material concerning a single year is published in several releases covering different areas of content.
Data are transmitted to Eurostat on the basis of an agreement. At the national level the publication of the results of the Finnish TUS conducted from 2020 to 2021 began in June 2022.
Content-wise, the data concerning Finland in the statistics are geographically comparable. Comparisons can be done within the framework set by the scope of the data. The Time Use Survey conducted from 2020 to 2021 was EU-harmonised, as it was the case with the surveys conducted from 1999 to 2000 and from 2009 to 2010.
Cross-time comparability is ensured by keeping as much survey elements as possible comparable over time. So, in general, the HETUS rounds should be comparable.
However, the Finnish TUS 2020-2021 data were collected in the middle of the COVID crisis, which has affected some of the survey results.
