Converting to MTUS Format

The MTUS covers national sample time use data. Some users may wish to compare findings from smaller scale studies with the MTUS data.

Some research teams also may have access to original national sample time use studies which have not yet been included in the MTUS. Such teams may wish to convert these studies into MTUS format for analysis alongside those studies already included in the MTUS.

To aid both groups, we have developed an MTUS Coding Procedures document available for download along with a schema file containing all variable and value labels. Examples of the SPSS syntax and STATA do converting original files into MTUS format can be found in the appendix of the MTUS documentation.

Dedicated time use researchers have maintained the Multinational Time Use Study over a period of decades between years of intermittent funding to make this database available for research. We strongly encourage any team that converts a new dataset into MTUS format to continue this spirit of co-operation and to consider depositing their converted data with the MTUS team, so that these data sets might be available for future time use researchers.

Should you or your agency wish to convert your data into MTUS format, please download our MTUS Coding Procedures document along with a schema file containing all variable and value labels. Examples of the SPSS syntax and STATA do converting original files into MTUS format can be found in the appendix of the MTUS documentation.