Time-use diary: what it is and what it means

The time-use diary is the time-use survey methodology adopted by official statistical agencies such as ISTAT (Italy's national statistics office) and Eurostat for their national surveys. It consists of the systematic recording of the activities carried out at set time intervals, with primary activity, secondary activity and social context. It is the source of empirical truth on how populations distribute their time, and it serves as a comparative benchmark for individual time audits.

Distinctive: adopted by official statistical agencies
Distinctive: survey methodology
Essential: systematic recording of the activities carried out
Essential: set time intervals
Constant: primary activity
Constant: social context

Glossary

Time-use diary

A time-use survey methodology adopted by statistical agencies such as ISTAT (Italy) and Eurostat, based on systematically recording activities at set intervals.