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An Overview of Research using the Time-budget Methodology to study Age-related Behaviour*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 November 2008

Virginia C. Little
Virginia C. Little
Affiliation:
Professor, University of Connecticut School of Social Work, Greater Hartford Campus, West Hartford 06117, CT, USA.
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Abstract

This article reviews the growing usage of time-budget methodology, until recently seldom applied to older people. Initial studies have demonstrated that it can be employed both for the young-old and the old-old. Wider utilisation seems to have been impeded by difficulty in operationalising the definitions of such key concepts as ‘time’ and ‘leisure’, ‘discretionary’ and ‘obligatory’ activities. Advances in modern computer technology have facilitated the handling of masses of data of the kind produced by studies such as the 12-nation project led by Szalai (N = 30,000). A recent study of four Philadelphia subgroups by Lawton and Moss (N = 535) was successful in introducing a qualitative dimension of ‘liking’, which opens the door to utilising this approach for arriving at more sophisticated measures of psychological wellbeing.

Type
Research Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 4 , Issue 1 , March 1984 , pp. 3 - 20
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1984

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References

NOTES

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