DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS STATISTICS DIVISION	ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR WESTERN ASIA STATISTICS DIVISION
UNITED NATIONS
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Time Use Statistics Workshop in the Arab region

Amman, Jordan, 25-28 April 2011

Coding and processing time use data

Developing a coding index for activity classification

Rachid Bouhia

bouhia@un.org

What is a coding index?

As we saw for the presentations, the coding index is the key instrument to match the verbatim description of activities from the diary to the activity classification. The index can take different forms: loose-leaf binders, computer printouts or a database accessible through queries. The pairing can be carried out manually (by a coder), automatically (by a computer) or via a combination of both ways.

A coding index is different from the list of groups specified in the classification. Only a few of the titles chosen to describe the group contents will effectively correspond to the terms used by individuals to depict their daily activities.

Since it must be set before the coding operations start, the coding index has to be put together in anticipation of the most likely forms of verbatim descriptions of activities. In that sense, the index needs to be based on responses in actual diary entries that may be obtained in pre-test and pilot surveys.

At the start of the survey operations, the coding indexes must be assumed to be incomplete and provisions must be made to update them during the whole period of the coding operations. The best approach is to issue new versions of the coding indexes as frequently as they may be needed. To release a complete new version of a coding index is better than to issue additions to the index because the new entries will belong in different places in the index and the coders will have to transfer the information from the note on additions into the main coding index, with the danger that they will be making mistakes.

Using the coding index

Coding can be seen as a process where the task of the coder is to “translate” the verbatim descriptions of activities into the most appropriate code in the relevant classification structure. The main tools for this translation are the coding index and the coding instructions, including instructions on when a response should be treated by expert coders. The instructions should specify:

How this translation process should be carried out

What items to look for in the relevant response and in what order, what type of ancillary information to use from other responses

When the use of such ancillary information is permissible and how to use it.

Ideally the coding index should have been constructed to reflect and support the use of these instructions. However, some responses simply cannot be coded to a detailed activity group because either they are too vague or they may be precise but may use descriptions that do not correspond to any of the index entries. The simple solution to address that issue may be to specify that the response should be coded to a “default” group. Still, for quality and consistency reasons, this use should be restricted.

The fully specified responses that are not adequately covered by the classification and the coding index should always be handled by expert coders. Their configuration should be recorded carefully to both ensure consistent treatment of equal cases and participate in updating the coding index as well as the classification itself.

Exercise: Coding activities for developing a coding index

Please briefly present in your oral intervention what a coding index is and how to use it.

After conducting a Time Use pilot survey, you have ended up with a set of most recurrent verbatim descriptions to code into the classification. This matching will represent a basis for the development of a coding index. After a pre-selection, the activities below are supposed to be classified into the division 15 of the International Classification of Activities for Time-Use Statistics (ICATUS): “Personal care and maintenance”. Please classify them into the five-digit level of the classification. A general description of the classification for “personal care and maintenance” activities as well as a more detailed one are available in the appendixes. Please briefly explain why you selected those specific codes.

Personal care and maintenance activities

Code	Verbatim description of activity
In bed in the hospital
Resting in my sofa
I'm at the hairdresser
I'm thirsty, drinking a coca cola
Insomnia
Chest X-ray
My daughter is washing me
Visiting graves
Putting henna on my hair
Waiting at the hairdresser
Praying el fajr in my bedroom
Tossing and turning
Washing my teeth
In bed
Teatime : tea, bread, butter and honey
Falling asleep during Noor
Taking vitamins
Counting sheep
Putting on pajamas
Seeing family doctor
Fever sleeping
Smoking hookah (narghile)
Mac Donald
Thinking about my life
Sick in bed
Attending to my son's communion
Diner watching TV
Having a coffee outside
Taaraweeh
Dreaming I can fly
Testing my blood sugar
Good night!
I am waiting in my bed
Studying the Holy Book
Going to hammam (collective baths) with my mother
Trying on clothes before getting out
Giving a bath to my baby
My husband's helping me get dressed
Using the bathroom
Watching the streets through the window
Talking to the doctor
Eating

ICATUS classification

ICATUS detailed

15	Personal care and maintenance
Includes: Activities required by the individual in relation to biological needs: sleeping, eating, resting etc. Performing own personal and health-care and maintenance or receiving this type of care Activities in relation to spiritual/religious care Doing nothing, resting, relaxing Meditating, thinking, planning Exclusions: Shopping for personal care and health-care services is classified under 06122
Participation in volunteer work for religious organizations is classified under appropriate divisions in major division 08 Participation in choir practices, social events of churches etc. is classified under appropriate divisions under major division 10 and 12
151	Core activities: time spent in personal care and maintenance
1511	Sleep and related activities
15111	Night sleep/essential sleep
151110	Night sleep/essential sleep
Includes: Time in bed before and after sleep (if able to specify) Note: Refers to longest sleep for the day; may occur at night or during daytime
15112	Incidental sleep/naps
151120	Incidental sleep/naps
15113	Sleeplessness
151130	Sleeplessness
1511x	Sleep and related activities n.f.d.
1512	Eating and drinking
15121	Eating meals/snack
151211	Eating a meal (including drinks taken with meal)
151212	Eating a snack (including drinks taken with snack)
15122	Drinking other than with meal or snack
151220	Drinking other than with meal or snack
1512x	Eating and drinking n.f.d.
1513	Personal hygiene and care
15131	Personal hygiene and care
151310	Personal hygiene and care
Includes: Personal/private activities such as "toilet activities", washing, showering, bathing, brushing teeth Personal grooming such as combing hair, dressing up/changing clothes, putting on make up, shaving, trimming nails
15132	Health/medical care to oneself
151320	Health/medical care to oneself
Includes: Monitoring blood pressure, sugar level, applying home diagnostic tests etc., administering medication, including wound treatment, insulin injections and aerosol for asthma Being sick in bed/prescribed bed rest, convalescence, rehabilitative rest
1514	Receiving personal and health/medical care from others
15141	Receiving personal care from others
151410	Receiving personal care from others
Includes: Receiving personal care from household members
Visits to saloon, beauty parlour, barber shop, for personal services for self such as haircut or hair styling, manicure, pedicure, massage etc.
15142	Receiving health/medical care from others
151420	Receiving health/medical care from others
Includes: Receiving health/medical care from members of the household Visits to doctor, dentist, alternative care practicioner, therapist etc.
1515	Religious activities
15151	Private prayer, meditation and other informal spiritual activities
151510	Private prayer, meditation and other informal spiritual activities
Includes: Prayer and meditation at home Visiting church, synagogue, temple, shrine for prayer, meditation, offerings Consulting with religious/spiritual adviser Consultations with spiritualists/spiritists, psychics, astrologers, fortune-tellers etc.
15152	Participating in religious activities (formal practice of religion)
151520	Participating in religious activities (formal practice of religion)
Includes: Religious practice and services Religious practice carried out in a small informal group Participating in religious ceremonies, weddings, baptism, confirmation, first communion, funerals etc.
1516	Activities associated with resting, relaxing
15161	Doing nothing; resting, relaxing
151610	Doing nothing; resting, relaxing
15162	Smoking
151620	Smoking
15163	Reflecting/meditating, thinking, planning
151630	Reflecting/meditating, thinking, planning
152	Travel related to personal care and maintenance activities
1520	Travel related to personal care and maintenance activities
15200	Travel related to personal care and maintenance activities
152000	Travel related to personal care and maintenance activities
Includes: Travel to and from places, including waiting time Driving oneself to places
159	Personal care and maintenance activities n.e.c.
1590	Personal care and maintenance activities n.e.c.
15900	Personal care and maintenance activities n.e.c.
159000	Personal care and maintenance activities n.e.c.