Measuring children’s time use: Insights from mixed-methods research in northern Uganda

Abstract

Time-use data can provide important insights into children’s lives, but measuring children’s time use can be challenging. Building on mixed-methods data collection in northern Uganda, this paper discusses and proposes ways to address the following issues: (1) whether to interview parents or children; (2) capturing simultaneous and interconnected activities; (3) addressing issues of unequal power relations and inhibition; and (4) unpacking longitudinal dimensions. This paper calls for more research to address these and other challenges involved in measuring children’s time use.