Time-Space Diaries: Merging Traditions

This paper argues that while the typical organizing principle of travel diaries was trips it is important that it be time, this would ensure that all activities are captured, and supports the view, based on existing work, that the activity approach increases the capture of daily trips.

Abstract

Activities occur in time and space. Traditionally the study of these two dimensions has been bifurcated. Time-diary researchers have focused on activities and the context of activities occupying time. They have tended to treat space generically. Travel behaviour/demand researchers have focused mainly on travel, the overcoming of space, paying little attention to activities. This paper identifies basic instruments used by each approach, and given this authors experience with activity/time/space studies, examines data captured by time-dairy studies in light of the data needs for understanding travel, emphasizing the value added by time-space diaries. It also supports the view, based on existing work, that the activity approach increases the capture of daily trips. Time-use studies date from the second decade of the last century. From the mid 1960’s to mid 1970’s some time-use researchers explored time and space but the work did not make it into the travel literature. Researchers then continued looking only at time. About 1990 a call was made for the examination and integration to time-use and travel behaviour research, and at the same time travel researchers started to explore the integration of activities in diary collection. This paper argues that while the typical organizing principle of travel diaries was trips it is important that it be time. This would ensure that all activities are captured. Additionally it is important that activities be freely recorded without broad catchall categories like “at home”. Additionally, it is observed that an attempt must be made to capture all significant dimensions of an activity. These include, minimally, what is being done, what else is being done, wheregenerically and geographically--, with whom and for whom. This information can be best captured using time-space diaries, which will show all activities at each location and all locations for each activity. TIME-SPACE DIARIES: MERGING TRADITIONS