Suchergebnisse

What are the relationships between time use and the feeling of time pressure? This research question goes into the relationship between objective and subjective definitions of time pressure. The workload, which is often used as an objective indicator of time pressure, correlates - as expected - positively with the feeling of time pressure. Nevertheless, apart form the workload; indicators for time allocation and co-ordination problems are also important in explaining the feeling of time pressure. Time use patterns characterised by activities in different life spheres, irregular working hours and a high level of time sovereignty cause severe feelings of time pressure. For dual earner families and those in the busy age the workload en the co-ordination between life spheres are the main mechanisms explaining feelings of time pressure. Among the higher educated, time pressure is a consequence of high levels of time sovereignty at the workplace.

Surveys published by magazines, newspapers, internet, ... collect the opinions of people that respond spontaneously (Spontaneous Response Research). Because this way a large number of people can be reached, it is easily assumed that the gathered image from these surveys is reliable and representative. Being a cheap and easy method – especially through internet surveys – Spontaneous Response Research has been applied and quoted more and more by journalists and policy-makers. In this contribution we examine the value of Spontaneous Response Research. We analyze and compare the answers given to identical questions from two studies on 'Mobility' – one based on spontaneous response, the other on a sample taken at random – and analyze the difference in composition of respondents. Our analyses indicate that it is incorrect to consider the answers of Spontaneous Response Research as representative and to generalize them. At the end of this contribution we show how research based on spontaneous response, given that it is used and interpreted correctly, can still be valuable as a policy instrument.