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What do we mean by multitasking? – Exploring the need for methodological clarification in time use research

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  • Susan Kenyon

    (Centre for Health Services Studies - University of Kent)

Abstract

We can learn a lot about society by knowing how people spend their time during the typical day. However, in-consistency in the recording of time use, specifically, in how we record details of people’s participation in more than one activity at a time (“multitasking”), may be preventing full understanding of how people use their time in their everyday lives. It is not clear what “we” – as academics, survey designers and participants – mean by “mul-titasking”. This may be affecting the reliability and validity of recorded multitasking. In consequence, we may not know what we think we know about time use, with implications for “knowledge” in a wide range of aca-demic disciplines and policy areas. This paper begins by presenting examples of popular use of the term “multi-tasking”, taken from a national (GB) survey, illustrating a diversity of understanding of the term amongst par-ticipants. Next, analysis of selected time use diaries highlights the impacts of this diversity in meaning for inter-participant and inter-survey consistency and therefore for reliability and validity. Finally, the paper raises a num-ber of questions regarding the meaning of multitasking, with reference to its conceptualisation in selected aca-demic papers. The paper identifies an important gap in the research literature, illustrating a need for methodo-logical investigation in time use research, to enhance our understanding of the meaning of multitasking and therefore to enhance the comparability, reliability and validity of time use studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Susan Kenyon, 2010. "What do we mean by multitasking? – Exploring the need for methodological clarification in time use research," electronic International Journal of Time Use Research, Research Institute on Professions (Forschungsinstitut Freie Berufe (FFB)) and The International Association for Time Use Research (IATUR), vol. 7(1), pages 42-60, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:leu:journl:2010:vol7:issue1:p42-60
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    File URL: http://www2.leuphana.de/ffb/eijtur/pdf/volumes/eIJTUR-7-1-3_Kenyon.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Folbre, Nancy, 2010. "Valuing Children: Rethinking the Economics of the Family," Economics Books, Harvard University Press, number 9780674047273, Spring.
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    Cited by:

    1. Palma, David & Calastri, Chiara & Pawlak, Jacek, 2023. "The role of time budgets in models of multi-tasking while travelling: A comparison between the MDCEV and eMDC approach," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    2. Imre Keseru & Cathy Macharis, 2018. "Travel-based multitasking: review of the empirical evidence," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(2), pages 162-183, March.
    3. Dimas Bayu Endrayana Dharmowijoyo & Yusak Octavius Susilo & Tri Basuki Joewono, 2021. "Residential Locations and Health Effects on Multitasking Behaviours and Day Experiences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-21, October.
    4. Dharmowijoyo, Dimas B.E. & Susilo, Yusak O. & Karlström, Anders & Adiredja, Lili Somantri, 2015. "Collecting a multi-dimensional three-weeks household time-use and activity diary in the Bandung Metropolitan Area, Indonesia," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 231-246.
    5. Mujahid Ali & Afonso R. G. de Azevedo & Markssuel T. Marvila & Muhammad Imran Khan & Abdul Muhaimin Memon & Faisal Masood & Najib Mohammed Yahya Almahbashi & Muhammad Kashif Shad & Mudassir Ali Khan &, 2021. "The Influence of COVID-19-Induced Daily Activities on Health Parameters—A Case Study in Malaysia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-22, July.
    6. Pawlak, Jacek & Polak, John W. & Sivakumar, Aruna, 2015. "Towards a microeconomic framework for modelling the joint choice of activity–travel behaviour and ICT use," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 92-112.
    7. Choi, Sungtaek & Mokhtarian, Patricia L., 2020. "How attractive is it to use the internet while commuting? A work-attitude-based segmentation of Northern California commuters," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 37-50.
    8. Dimas B. E. Dharmowijoyo & Yusak O. Susilo & Anders Karlström, 2018. "On complexity and variability of individuals’ discretionary activities," Transportation, Springer, vol. 45(1), pages 177-204, January.
    9. Lyons, Glenn & Jain , Juliet & Susilo , Yusak O. & Atkins, Steve, 2013. "Comparing rail passengers’ travel time use in Great Britain between 2004 and 2010," Working papers in Transport Economics 2013:17, CTS - Centre for Transport Studies Stockholm (KTH and VTI).
    10. Kumar B, Dr Pradeep Kumar B & Abraham, Dr M P Abraham, 2021. "How do Indians split their time for different activities? A Gender wise Analysis of Rural-Urban Differences using Time Use Surveys," MPRA Paper 108758, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Erin Lentz & Rachel Bezner Kerr & Raj Patel & Laifolo Dakishoni & Esther Lupafya, 2019. "The Invisible Hand that Rocks the Cradle: On the Limits of Time Use Surveys," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 50(2), pages 301-328, March.
    12. Panagiotis Vaitsis & Socrates Basbas & Andreas Nikiforiadis, 2019. "How Eudaimonic Aspect of Subjective Well-Being Affect Transport Mode Choice? The Case of Thessaloniki, Greece," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-19, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Marriage; time use; Bangladesh; gender; leisure; work introduction;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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