The Survey was designed to achieve a representative sample of the population of households and individuals in the UK. The survey comprised only private households and the household members living in those households. The fieldwork year was divided into periods each covering a nationally representative sample.
The primary sampling unit consisted of postcode sectors divided into five Government Office Region combinations. Within these postcode sectors account was taken of the population density and the social-economic group of the head of the household. For cost-effectiveness reasons the sample was allocated using a cluster design.
Selected household heads or their partners completed a household questionnaire. All individuals aged 8 or over were asked to complete individual questionnaires, two one-day diaries and a one week work and education time sheet.
An equal distribution of week and weekend days was required for the diaries so household members were given a randomly selected combination of days which minimised the gap between the two diary days.
The household and individual questionnaires were mainly used to gather background information and demographics. The diaries record primary and secondary activities as well as information on the respondent's location, and who they were with at the time. The one week worksheet recording time spent in work and full time education over the week the diaries were completed in.
The project was managed by the Office for National Statistics on behalf of the consortium. The fieldwork was carried out under contract by IPSOS-RSL between June 2000 and September 2001, an extension of three months over the planned project. This was deemed necessary to help boost the response rate by way of a telephone and mail re-issue procedure which began in May 2001.
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