MOTUS has been dedicated to becoming the most reliable software platform for conducting scientific studies on human behaviour. Being fully digital, MOTUS is able to capture insights of daily life through user-friendly survey methods.
What is MOTUS?
MOTUS is a research software platform that hosts scientific studies about daily life. This was first used to conduct a large-scale time-use survey amongst the Flemish population in 2013.
At present, MOTUS is conveniently accessed by its users via the mobile app or website, and is continuously evolving so that it will integrate seamlessly with other devices such as wearables.
Who is behind Motus?
MOTUS was shaped in 2012 by experts from the Research Group TOR within the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB): Joeri Minnen, Ignace Glorieux and Theun Pieter van Tienoven. These researchers combined their strengths and formed hbits, a spin-off company and a partner of both TOR and VUB. Since then, hbits has acquired the unique license to use MOTUS in conducting studies of time-use in the context of daily life and other scientific researches on human behaviour. Visit the hbits website to learn more about previous and current researches being done through MOTUS.
Why should I participate?
Studies done through MOTUS try to understand daily life - from the habits you form down to the choices you make. Daily life is all about you and in studies like these, you let us peek into what goes on in everyday existence and tell us what daily life looks like.
By participating, you contribute to a richer understanding of human behaviour - both good and bad in daily life.
How does it work?
Seamlessly switch between devices
Whether you’re on your phone, tablet or computer, the MOTUS Research Platform allows for a seamless transition between devices. This way, you can easily start your research on your computer, continue on your phone while you’re out and about and end it on a tablet. Your progress through the research is synced on all devices.
Need help?
Need instructions on how to go about participating in the study? We have a video divided into chapters and text tutorials to take you through the process.
Frequently asked questions
There are numerous reasons why you could’ve been invited to participate in a study.
There are studies where invitations are sent to a random sample drawn from the National Register, while others select a random or stratified sample from an existing database of which you’re part of. You may have been included in such databases for reasons such as being a registered student or employee, being an association member, being a newsletter subscriber, becoming a discount card registrant, or simply because you signed up for a service.
You can participate by logging in on the MOTUS web or mobile application. Use the username and password provided in the invitation letter or the email you received. Once you log in, you will see the tasks within the study. Tap or click on a task and get started.
If you want to use the web application, click the Log in button in the upper right corner to get started.
Questions about your current research?
First, make sure to check the Help page and FAQ page where we address common concerns. If you didn’t find the answer you’re looking for, please contact the organisation conducting the study directly through one of the links below:
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Website: Belgian Time Use Survey - Motivation movie: YouTube
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Website: German Time Use Survey - Zeitverwendungserhebung 2022 - Motivation movie: YouTube
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Website: VUB Phd Survey
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Website: 30-hour workweek
Your privacy
We are committed to respect, guarantee and secure your privacy and anonymity at all times. As such, we ensure that any MOTUS research is in compliance with the privacy regulations of the country in which this is executed.
Data protection
All data collected within the frame of a study conducted through MOTUS will only be used for the purposes stated in the research description. You can consult this description at any time on the research overview page, which is accessible after logging in.
Privacy and anonymity
Your data are confidential and will be stored anonymously. At no time during the study will your research data be linked to your personal information without your permission. Your contact information is only accessible during the study period and only to the researchers that are responsible for the progress and follow-up of the study that you participate in using the MOTUS research platform.
Fully GDPR compatible
We guarantee that our methods of data collection are in full compliance with the rules of GDPR. The protection of your data and your trust in using MOTUS are of utmost importance to us.