Thesis advisor: Heather Rowan-Kenyon / Much of the research about college student engagement is based upon self-reported surveys, but little is known about how students formulate responses to these instruments. The purpose of this study was to specifically address this dearth of knowledge by deepening our understanding of how students’ perceptions of their environments and demographic characteristics influenced their response patterns on self-reported surveys. Bronfenbrenner’s (2005) human ecology model of development, Bourdieu and Passeron’s (1990) theory of social reproduction, and Tourangeau, Rips, and Rasinski’s (2000) four phase survey response process were used, as the theoretical framework to better understand this phenomenon. This was an explanatory sequential mixed methods study, and the participants were first-year undergraduate students at a four-year, private institution in New England. Students completed the College Student Report (CSR) as well as a series of time-use diaries, and the results of the instruments were compared using descriptive and multivariate analyses. Finally, semi-structured individual interviews were conducted, which included aspects of retrospective cognitive interviewing, with twenty-seven (27) students to understand how their experiences and response processes were shaped by their individual campus experiences and identities. Findings from this study suggest the construct validity of self-reported survey data measuring behavioral frequency patterns is questionable, as students statistically significantly under reported time spent preparing for class, engaging in co-curricular activities, commuting to campus, and relaxing and socializing. Furthermore, student characteristics such as racial/ethnic identity and satisfaction with college choice statistically significantly explained some of the variance in the reporting behaviors of students after controlling for other factors. This information coupled with the data gleaned from the semi-structured individual interviews indicate factors related to how students differentially experience the campus environment based upon their unique ecological niches affects how they respond on self-reported surveys, which means the data provided by such instrumentation is likely providing substantively different information than how it is most commonly interpreted and applied. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2016. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Educational Leadership and Higher Education.

Based on a time-use model with a sound theoretical basis and carefully collected data for Austria, the value of leisure (VoL) for different population segments has been estimated. Through the combination of these results with mode-specific values of travel time savings from a related study based on the same data, the first mode-specific values of time assigned to travel (VTAT) were calculated. Data was collected using a Mobility-Activity-Expenditure Diary, a novel survey format which gathers all activities, expenditures, and travel decisions from the same individuals for 1 week in a diary-based format. The average VoL is 8.17 Euro/h, which is below the mean wage of 12.14 Euro/h, indicating that the value of work is, on average, negative. Regarding the reliability of the VoL, we show its sensitivity to the variance of working time in a sample, something that has been ignored in previous studies and could be used to avoid inadequate segmentation. We controlled this effect in the analysis of the heterogeneity of the VoL across the population by estimating the parameters from the total (unsegmented) dataset with single interaction terms. We find that the VTAT is strictly negative for walking, predominantly negative for cycling and car, and predominantly positive for public transport with 0.27 Euro/h on average. The positive VTAT for public transport is a strong indication for the importance of travel conditions, in turn suggesting that improvements in travel conditions of public transport might be as important as investing in shorter travel times.

<p>This master thesis in economics discusses the time use of today as well as the observed trends in time use over the last 20 years in Sweden. This is done by analysing time-use and consumption data at the microeconomic level, i.e. by explaining individual behaviour given the economic assumption of a rational behaviour. We reach the conclusion that the value of time is an important explanatory variable concerning the rationality in that time is used differently by different individuals and in the changed use of time. Furthermore, other variables such as social norms and the process benefit of a certain activity, i.e. the satisfaction obtained from performing this activity, are also crucial determinants. In addition we discuss whether an increased value of time results in an increased level of stress, and we reach the conclusion that stress above all is attached to certain socioeconomic groups. However, we are of the opinion that the increased value of time can explain a perceived general increase in the speed of time. Finally, the thesis ends with a discussion in which time is linked to happiness and welfare, and we pose the question whether the indiviual uses his/her time in such a way that happiness is maximised. We conclude that it is difficult to use one’s time in this way, since it is impossible to know one’s total supply of time.</p>

Introduction: The major symptoms of fibromyalgia have been shown to severely impact everyday activities. As a consequence, many women have problems remaining in a work role. Not being able to fulfil valued roles influences quality of life. Moreover, consequences in terms of high costs in compensation for reduced work ability are also of importance for society. Today, the number of young women diagnosed with fibromyalgia is increasing. Objectives: The general aim of this thesis was to increase and deepen knowledge of the life situation of women with fibromyalgia; to examine how to manage a work role when in constant pain, and especially the situation for newly-diagnosed women. Subjects and Methods: 278 women with longstanding pain were included. The thesis includes five different studies, two of them with a focus on the work situation, two with focus on young, newly-diagnosed women’s life situation, and one investigating time-use and activity patterns in working and non-working women with fibromyalgia. Methods used are a postal questionnaire, instruments commonly used in fibromyalgia, a diary, and interviews. Results: Despite limitations in physical capacity, 48% of the women are working, full-time or part-time. However, most job loss is associated with the fibromyalgia symptoms, and the women report that the symptoms influence their daily activities during most of their waking time. There is a rapid increase in sickness absence in the newly-diagnosed women, and the young women in particular do not return to the labour market during the first year after receiving their diagnosis. The non-working women have a more demanding family situation, and are also less satisfied with their present situation than working women. Conclusion: When individual adjustments of the work situation are made and the women participate to a level that matches their ability, they are able to continue in a work role. In evaluating the women’s work capacity, the total life situation of the women should be considered. / On the day of the public defence of the doctoral thesis, the status of article III and IV was Submitted.

This master thesis in economics discusses the time use of today as well as the observed trends in time use over the last 20 years in Sweden. This is done by analysing time-use and consumption data at the microeconomic level, i.e. by explaining individual behaviour given the economic assumption of a rational behaviour. We reach the conclusion that the value of time is an important explanatory variable concerning the rationality in that time is used differently by different individuals and in the changed use of time. Furthermore, other variables such as social norms and the process benefit of a certain activity, i.e. the satisfaction obtained from performing this activity, are also crucial determinants. In addition we discuss whether an increased value of time results in an increased level of stress, and we reach the conclusion that stress above all is attached to certain socioeconomic groups. However, we are of the opinion that the increased value of time can explain a perceived general increase in the speed of time. Finally, the thesis ends with a discussion in which time is linked to happiness and welfare, and we pose the question whether the indiviual uses his/her time in such a way that happiness is maximised. We conclude that it is difficult to use one’s time in this way, since it is impossible to know one’s total supply of time.

Spatial transferability of travel forecasting models, or the ability to transfer models from one geographical region to another, can potentially help in significant cost and time savings for regions that cannot invest in extensive data-collection and model-development procedures. This issue is particularly important in the context of tour-based/activity-based models whose development typically involves significant data inputs, skilled staff, and long production times. However, most literature on model transferability has been in the context of traditionally used trip-based models, particularly for linear regression-based trip generation and logit-based mode choice models, with little evidence on the transferability of activity-based models and that of emerging model structures. The overarching goal of this dissertation is to assess the spatial transferability of activity-based travel demand models. To this end, the specific objectives are to: 1. Survey the literature to synthesize: (a) the approaches used to transfer models, (b) the metrics used to assess model transferability, (c) the available evidence on spatial transferability of travel models, and (d) notable gaps in literature; 2. Lay out a framework for assessing the spatial transferability of activity-based travel forecasting model systems, and evaluate alternative methods/metrics used for assessing the transferability of specific model components and their parameters; 3. Conduct empirical assessments of spatial transferability of the following two model components used in today's activity-based model systems: (a) daily activity participation and time-use models, and (b) tour-based time-of-day choice models. Data from the 2009 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) and the 2000 San Francisco Bay Area Travel Survey (BATS) were used for these empirical assessments; 4. Conduct empirical assessments of model transferability using emerging model structures that have begun to be used in activity-based model systems - specifically the multiple discrete-continuous extreme value (MDCEV) model; 5. Investigate alternate ways of enhancing model transferability; specifically: (a) pooling data from different geographical regions, and (b) improvements to the model structure. The dissertation provides a framework for assessing the transferability of activity-based models systems, along with empirical evidence on the pros and cons of alternative methods and metrics of transferability assessment. The results suggest the need to consider model sensitivity to changes in explanatory variables as opposed to relying solely on the ability to predict aggregate distributions. Updating the constants of a transferred model using local data (a widely used method to transfer models) was found to help in increasing the model's ability to predict aggregate patterns but not necessarily in enhancing its sensitivity to changes in explanatory variables. Also, transferability assessments ought to consider sampling variance in parameter estimates as opposed to only the point estimates. Empirical analysis with the daily activity participation and time-use model shed new light on the prediction properties of the MDCEV model structure that have implications for model transferability. This led to the development of a new model structure called the multiple discrete continuous heteroscedastic extreme value (MDCHEV) model that incorporates heteroscedasticity in the model's stochastic distributions and helps in enhancing model transferability. Transferability assessment of the time-of-day choice models show encouraging evidence of transferability of a large proportion of the model coefficients, albeit except important parameters such as the travel time coefficients. Collectively, there is evidence that pooling data from multiple regions may help in building better transferable models than those transferred from a single region.

The overall goal of the dissertation is to contribute to the growing literature on multiple discrete-continuous (MDC) choice models. In MDC choice situations, consumers often encounter two inter-related decisions at a choice instance – which alternative(s) to choose for consumption from a set of available alternatives, and the amount to consume of the chosen alternatives. In the recent literature, there is increasing attention on modeling MDC situations based on a rigorous underlying micro-economic utility maximization framework. Among these models, the multiple-discrete continuous extreme value MDCEV model (Bhat, 2005, 2008) provides a number of advantages over other models. The primary objective of this dissertation is to extend the MDCEV framework to accommodate more realistic decision-making processes from a behavioral standpoint. The dissertation has two secondary objectives. The first is to advance the current operationalization and the econometric modeling of MDC choice situations. The second is to contribute to the transportation literature by estimating MDC models that provide new insights on individuals’ travel decision processes. The proposed extensions of the MDCEV model include: (1) To formulate and estimate a latent choice set generation model within the MDCEV framework, (2) To develop a random utility-based model formulation that extends the MDCEV model to include multiple linear constraints, and (3) To extend the MDCEV model to relax the assumption of an additively separable utility function. The methodologies developed in this dissertation allow the specification and estimation of complex MDC choice models, and may be viewed as a major advance with the potential to lead to significant breakthroughs in the way MDC choices are structured and implemented. These methodologies provide a more realistic representation of the choice process. The proposed extensions are applied to different empirical contexts within the transportation field, including participation in and travel mileage allocated to non-work activities during various time periods of the day for workers, participation in recreational activities and time allocation for workers, and household expenditures in disaggregate transportation categories. The results from these exercises clearly underline the importance of relaxing some of the assumptions made, not only in the MDCEV model, but in MDC models in general. / text

Couples make dynamic joint decisions, including how much each spouse works at home and in the market throughout life. By building a dynamic model of taxation, I quantify the welfare gains of moving to a gender-based tax. Further, I explore the implications of a gender-based income tax for labor market and time-use choices within a couple, taking into account changing labor market attachment through life. The key finding is that while gender-based taxation always improves household and social welfare, the model-specific household time allocations and government policy implications depend on underlying assumptions about gender differences. I model the inefficiency of income tax due to pooling old individuals and young individuals who differ in their skill distribution and use of time. Because age is correlated with ability and time investments in education, allowing tax rules to vary with age shrinks labor distortions. I use an overlapping generations model to study the effect of an age-based income tax on efficiency. I analytically show the efficiency gains and I numerically estimate a welfare gain equivalent to 5% of aggregate consumption when age-based taxes are implemented. Adult women generally, and married women in particular, spend more time than men doing housework and childcare activities. While gender differences in time-use patterns among adults at home are readily accepted and well documented, the onset and development of gender time-use differences over the adolescent years and into early adulthood are not well understood. In this research, I describe the development of time-use gender differences over the teenage years and into the early adult years using American Time Use Survey (ATUS) data, with a focus on activities relating to family duties and child care activities. I find gender divergence in home duties prior to the teenage years, which sharply stratifies upon high school graduation. Further, I find that time-use outcomes disproportionately impact women from disadvantaged socio-economic and family backgrounds. / text

This dissertation consists of three essays. The first one brings together the areas of public and labor economics by developing a hypothesis that relates optimal taxation and time use. Using Mexican data on household time use and consumption, we find significant substitution between goods and time in home production and different elasticities of substitution for different house-hold commodities. Adding these findings to the optimal tax problem, we show it is optimal to impose higher taxes on market goods used in the production of commodities with a lower elasticity of substitution between goods and time. This is an analog of the classical Corlett and Hague (1953) result, differing in that we allow for the possibility of substitution between goods and time in the production of commodities. The second chapter is about international migration, in the area of labor economics. On one hand, surveillance of the border between Mexico and the United States by the U.S. government has increased dramatically over the last two decades. On the other hand, undocumented Mexican migrants often make multiple trips between the two countries. Thus, my hypothesis is that these migrants respond to heightened surveillance by increasing the length of stay of the current trip. I estimate a semi-parametric hazard model following Meyer (1990). Using data from the Mexican Migration Project I find no evidence that border enforcement affects the hazard of leaving the U.S. by undocumented Mexican Immigrants. The last essay is about mother's time and children related expenditures. Using data from the Mexican Time Use Survey and the National Household Survey of Income and Expenditure from 2002, I examine the time Mexican mothers dedicate to taking care of their children and the amount of money spent by the household in raising children. The main contribution of this paper is that it analyzes child care time use and child care expenditures simultaneously. The age of the youngest child is the most important determinant of both child care time and money expenditures. It is the case that more educated mothers spend more money on their children. With respect to child care time use, more educated mothers spend more or less time with their children depending on whether they are working or non-working mothers. At all levels of non-mother's income, working mothers spend significantly more money relative to time in child care than non-working mothers. For both groups the ratio of money over time increases at a decreasing rate; however, for non-working mothers the income expansion path is much flatter. / text

Tyrimo dalykas: miško ūkio vadovaujančių darbuotojų darbo laiko naudojimas. Tyrimo tikslas: atlikti miškų urėdijų vadovaujančių darbuotojų darbo laiko naudojimo analizę ir santykinį jų darbo laiko naudojimo palyginimą. Tyrimo objektas: trys iš šiuo metu Generalinės miškų urėdijos organizuotų devynių koordinacinių regionų. Tyrimo metodai: darbe buvo taikyti šie bendrieji metodai: loginės analizės, anketinės apklausos, lyginamosios analizės ir matematinės statistikos metodai. Tyrimo rezultatai: Pateikiami miškų urėdų, urėdų pavaduotojų bei girininkų apklausos metu gautų rezultatų analizė. Rezultatai analizuojami pagal išskirtas klausimų grupes: 1) darbo planavimas; 2) darbo laiko naudojimo struktūra; 3) darbo laikas pagrindinėms valdymo procedūroms; 4) laisvo laiko naudojimas; 5) pasiūlymai dėl vadovų laiko naudojimo gerinimo. Nagrinėjant miškų urėdijų vadovaujančių darbuotojų darbo laiko naudojimą, pastebimos tokios tendencijos: 1. Miškų urėdijos vadovaujantys darbuotojai dirba dalinai reglamentuotą darbo laiką. 2. Darbuotojų darbo laiko naudojimo struktūra pagal pareigybes skiriasi. 3. Daugiausia laiko pagal veikiančius reikalavimus naudojama dokumentų tvarkymo bei nenumatytiems darbams atlikti. 4. Galima didinti darbo laiko naudojimo racionalumą. / The subject of research: work time use of managing employees in forestry. The aim of this study is to exercise state forest enterprise managing personnel on work time use analysis of forest state director, vice directors and forestry officers and to compare their relative work time use. The object of this study: for research have been chosen three Lithuanian State Forests regions abstracted from provided nine Directorate General of State Forests The following methods of analyses were used in the study: logical analyses, questionnaire, comparative analyses and mathematical statistics methods. The result of the study: there are listed the results of forest state director, vice directors and forestry officers obtained during questionnaire. To have more representative results are divided to the groups of the questions: the structure of work time, work planning, work time for the main managing procedures, leisure time use, offers for the better time use of managers. The study reveals the following trends: 1. The managing personnel of forest enterprise are working partly regalemented work time. 2. Work time use structure differs by employees function. 3. The most time looses are on administrating documents and on work time for unexpected jobs. 4. Possible to increase the rationality of time use.