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Introduction to time diary data

11 Jun 2026 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Online
Training
Data
Workshop

This free online short course introduces participants to time diary data analysis, a multidisciplinary field that has made a sustained contribution to the social sciences for over 50 years. The course combines an introduction to the basic concepts of time use analysis with hands-on practical sessions using R. Exercises will draw on data from the Multinational Time Use Study (MTUS) and the UK Time Use Study. Participants will also have opportunities to discuss their own research ideas and applications.

Event Format 

The course consists of two sessions. This is the second session in the series, the first session is on 4 June. Attendance at both is not mandatory but is strongly encouraged if you are new to time diaries. Each afternoon includes two to three online sessions, combining presentations, live coding demonstrations and Q&A. Participants are encouraged to follow and reproduce the code on their own computers during the sessions.

Prerequisites 

Participants should have:

  • Basic to intermediate knowledge of statistics.
  • Some experience with programming/using syntax (Stata, R, Python).
  • Familiarity with R is desirable but not essential.

Topics covered 

  • A brief history of time use research.
  • Activity classifications, survey designs, and the structure of time diary datasets.
  • Estimating duration of and participation in activities.
  • Multivariate analysis of aggregated time diary data.
  • Weekly work schedules and working time patterns.
  • Weighting procedures and accounting for clustering in time diary data.

Target audience: The course is aimed at academics, doctoral and post-doctoral researchers, and analysts who are interested in studying how people spend their time.

Presenter: Pierre Walthéry, UK Data Service. Pierre is part of the Training and User Support team at the UK Data Service and is the organiser of this course. He holds a PhD in Social Statistics, and his work focuses on skills at the intersection of traditional and emerging data analysis techniques.

Participants will receive copies of slides and R syntax files after the course.

Recordings of UK Data Service events are made available on our YouTube channel and, together with the slides, on our past events pages soon after the event has taken place.