Time Use Survey - Web Help

Need help in understanding and navigating the Web app? We have a wide range of detailed help topics to guide you in your research participation. Get information on how to fill out your time diary, set your notification preferences, add group members, and more.

If you like to switch between the Mobile Help and the Web Help just toggle between the icons and get the answers you need from this comprehensive guide.

Installing the Mobile app and Signing in

  • You can access the web app via a browser. Click this link or type in https://app.motusresearch.io on your browser address bar.

    The web app works with Google Chrome, Firebox, Safari, Edge, or Opera. It is not compatible with Internet Explorer.

  • If you received an invitation letter, email or postcard, you can scan the QR code with your phone.
  • If you received an invitation letter, email or postcard, you can also find the web address to the web app there.
  • You can also use the mobile app by downloading the MOTUS app in the App Store or Google Play Store. Just type ‘MOTUS’ in the search bar and click the same icon.

    You can also download it here for:

    Click here for Apple users

    Click here for Android users

  • Enter the username and password assigned to you, which you can find in your invitation letter or email.
  • Depending on the research, the app may ask you to activate and/or change your password after signing in.
  • Through the web browser or email app, open your confirmation email and click on the activation link. Afterwards, you can go back to the mobile app.
  • You can now log in to MOTUS using your assigned username and your new password.
  • Tip: If you received a postcard, you can write down your login details on the little card provided or on your own piece of paper and store this in a safe place.

Yes, you can use the mobile and web app interchangeably. Your data are always synced and accessible when you log on to your account on either the mobile app or the web app. An important note: To use the mobile application, your Android device must be updated with version 7.0 or higher. For Apple devices, you must have an iOS version of 12.0 or higher.

Getting started

  • The first time you log in to the web app, you’ll be directed to the My Researches overview. Here, you’ll find all the information about the studies you’re partaking in, as well as the tasks you need to accomplish.
  • You can read more information about the study by clicking or tapping About this study. Here you will find everything about the privacy policy, and explanations via frequently asked questions and help.
  • Tap or click the hamburger icon at the top left to open the main menu. Here, you can manage your settings, edit your profile, log out, and much more. Go to ‘6. Managing your settings’ on this help page if you’d like to learn more.
  • A study consists of different phases. Each ongoing phase is marked ‘Current’ while future or previous phases are greyed out. A phase can be a task or information you need to read.

  • A study may ask you to go through various phases: complete a survey, fill in a time diary, compose your group , read information, or simply pause the research.

    These phases can differ for each study in type and order.

  • Group Composition: Depending on the study, a group can be a household, a team of employees or even a group of friends. The reference person is asked to define this group and answer a few questions.

    These group members may be asked to participate in the study as well.

  • Survey Questionnaire: A research phase may consist of a survey. Fill this in completely to proceed to the next phase.
  • Time Diary: In a time diary, you register what you do. Whenever you do an activity, you register this activity in the time diary. Often, additional short questions are asked for each activity.
  • Communication: This phase asks you to read important information or guidelines that will help you during the research tasks.

  • First, you read the information about the survey.
  • The reference person is then asked to add members to My Group. In the case of the Belgian time use survey, these are all members of the household who live under the same roof. After adding the household members, the reference person answers questions about these household members.
  • The next task for the reference person is to fill in a short questionnaire about the household.
  • All members of the group of 10 years and older will receive an email invitation to participate in the survey, including their username and password. Each household member - including the reference person - individually fills in a questionnaire with questions about their education, work and time use.
  • After that, all household members complete their respective time diaries for 7 days. The start and end dates of each time diary are the same for everyone.
  • At the end of the 7-day period, all household members individually answer a short questionnaire about their participation in the time diary and about their general well-being.

  • A reference person is the first member of the group (e.g. household, a group of colleagues) to be invited to the research. He/she has a certain degree of responsibility throughout the course of the study.
  • As a reference person, you’ll be asked to compose your group, after which group members will receive an invitation to join the study. Depending on the research, not all members will be invited to participate, such as young children in a household survey.
  • You will also be asked to monitor that each group member is actively participating in the survey.
  • If a group member does not complete their tasks satisfactorily, you can choose to exclude this group member from participating in the group or to exclude the results at the end of the study.

Using the My Group function

  • This function is for the reference person only. Tap or click the Household composition button in the My Researches overview to get started.
  • On this screen, you’ll see that you’re in the group by default because you were invited to this study, and you are thus the reference person. Add new members to your group by tapping or clicking Add a member. If the study requires you to add household members, you need to add every person in your household.
  • After tapping or clicking the Add Member button, you’ll be asked to fill out a questionnaire about the person. There will be 3 steps to take at most.

    Note - You can only add one member at a time.

  • Step 1: Add the new member’s demographics and contact details.
  • Step 2: Define your relationship with the member.
  • Step 3 (if any): Answer additional questions about this new member.
  • After you’ve added all group members and their details, tap or click confirm at the bottom right corner of the Create Group Screen.
  • Depending on the demographics of the members, they may receive an invitation to participate. So it could be that group members younger than 10 years old are automatically excluded from research participation.

No, this is not yet possible.

Using the Time Diary

  • This is the overview of the time diary functions.
  • This is the Add button. This allows you to add a new entry to your time diary.
  • This is the Assistant button. If you need in-app guidance, this gives you the intuitive help you need while using the app.
  • This is the Search button. Use this to search for an entry in you time diary that you’ve added earlier.
  • This is the Calendar. It shows the date of the time diary. Browse a specific date by using the forward and backward arrows. You can only navigate through the registration period of your participation.
  • This is an EntrY in the time diary. If you tap or click on it, a field appears below with buttons that allow you to edit, delete, insert, split, or copy the entry.
  • This is the Hamburger menu (3 stacked lines) button. Tapping or clicking it opens the main menu where you can access your studies, profile, notifications, settings, a help page, the privacy statements, and where you can log out.

  • Yes, there are two options. The first option is an in-app guide called The Assistant. It appears when you start your time diary or when you activate The Assistant by clicking on it.
  • The Assistant guides you when you go to a new screen or try a new function in your time diary. You can turn the assistant on or off at any time.
  • The second option is the Help section in the main menu. You can find the help by tapping or clicking the hamburger icon in the top left corner. Under Help you will find more information about using the app.

  • Tap or click the Add button at the bottom of the screen. A new screen will open where you can enter the details of your activity.
  • Tap or click What time did your activity take place. Enter the start time and end time by tapping or clicking the arrows or by typing in the time. To enter an activity that is still in progress, enable the slider. This activity can be ended at a later time in the overview of your time diary.
  • Now tap or click Select your primary activity. Your primary activity is the most important activity you did. If you were doing something else, for example listening to the radio while you cook, you can enter the second activity under Choose your secondary activity. If you did nothing else, you can leave this field empty.
  • There are three ways to select an activity. Start typing the activity in the search bar. Use keywords to find your activity. Tap or click the activity in the list to select the activity.
  • You can also search for the activity by browsing the categories. Select a main category, a subcategory, and then the detail activity from the list. Tap or click the activity in the list to select the activity.
  • Will you be doing a particular activity more often this week? Then you can add the activity to your favorites by tapping or clicking the star. The next time you do this activity, you can find it under favorites. Tap or click the activity in the list to select the activity.
  • After confirming the activity, you will be asked to answer a few more short questions. Tap or click the question to answer it.
  • All questions answered? Tap then click on save. The activity will now appear in the timeline of your time diary.

  • Yes, that’s possible. Click on the add button and then on What time did your activity take place?. Tap or click the slider behind This is an ongoing activity to enable it. The end time field now disappears. Click on confirm.
  • Select your primary activity and your secondary activity if applicable. Answer the questions about your activity, then tap or click save.
  • Your activity will now appear in an orange block in your timeline. You can stop the activity by tapping or clicking complete task.

  • Yes. Tap or click the activity in your time diary timeline. A number of options will now appear. If you tap or click the pencil, you can edit the activity. If you tap or click on the bin, you can delete the activity.
  • If you tap or click on the pencil, you will see all the details of your activity. Tap or click a question to change the answer. After editing an answer, tap click on confirm. Finished? Then tap or click on submit. Your activity has been edited. Still don’t have to change anything? Then tap or click close.
  • If you tap or click the bin, a pop-up window will appear asking if you are sure you want to delete the activity. Click ok to confirm or cancel to abort the deletion. Note: deleting an activity cannot be undone.

  • Yes. Tap or click the activity in your time diary timeline. A number of options will now appear. To split an activity, tap or click the left orange icon.
  • If you have tapped or clicked on the icon to *split an activity, a new screen will open. Here you indicate the time at which you want to split the activity. Below the time indicator you can see the duration of each split activity. Finished? Then tap or click on ok.
  • The activity you have splitted is now twice in the timeline in your time diary. Tap or click one of the split activities to change the activity.

  • Yes. Tap or click the activity in your time diary timeline. A number of options will now appear. To copy an activity, tap or click the middle orange icon.
  • If you have tapped or clicked on the icon to copy an activity, you will see all the data of the activity that you wish to copy. Adjust the date and time by tapping or clicking What time did your activity take place?. Tap or click the other questions to change answers if desired. Finished? Then tap or click on submit.
  • The activity you copied (and edited) is now in the timeline in your time diary.

  • Yes. Tap or click the activity in your time diary timeline where you want to insert a new activity above. A number of options will now appear. To insert an activity, tap or click the right orange icon.
  • If you have tapped or clicked on the icon to insert an activity, you will see the screen to select all data of the activity. Adjust the end time by tapping or clicking What time did your activity take place?. Select your primary activity and your secondary activity if applicable. Also answer the other questions about your activity. Finished? Then tap or click save.
  • You will now get an overview of the change of your timeline. The top activity is the activity that will be modified. The bottom activity is the activity that will be inserted. Is everything right? Tap then click on save.
  • The activity you inserted is now in the timeline in your time diary.

  • Yes. Tap or click the magnifying glass at the bottom left of your screen. A blue search field appears. Tap click the magnifying glass again to stop the search.
  • In the search field, type the activity you are looking for. Activities that contain your search term appear at the top of your screen.
  • Tap or click the searched activity to edit, delete, split, copy, or insert an activity.

  • A red line indicates that information is missing. A red line in your timeline means that no activities have been recorded for part of your day. Click on Fill the gap to add the missing activity or activities.
  • Did you fill the entire gap? Then the red line disappears from your timeline.

  • The number of days you are asked to complete your time diary is different for each study. This will be communicated to you in advance. Have you entered your last activity? Then a new screen will open. You will be asked to submit your time diary. This ends your time diary.
  • Do you want to review or change your timeline? Then you can tap or click back to timeline. You can then adjust activities or fill in gaps in your timeline. Everything checked and filled in? Then tap or click the checkered flag and then submit to end your time diary.

Adjust settings

  • Open the main menu by tapping or clicking on the hamburger icon, which is the 3 horizontal bars in the top left corner. Then tap or click on My Profile. This gives you an overview of your account information.
  • My Profile gives you an overview of your account information. Tap or click on edit yuor profile to change this information.
  • Tap or click a field you want to change. Finished? Tap or click save. Nothing changed? Then tap or click cancel.

    Then tap or click on the hamburger icon to return to the main menu.

  • Open the main menu by tapping or clicking on the hamburger icon, which is the 3 horizontal bars in the top left corner. Then tap or click on My Profile. This gives you an overview of your account information.
  • Tap or click reset password in the password field.
  • Enter your new password twice and then tap or click save. Still not changing your password? Then tap or click close.

    Then tap or click on the hamburger icon to return to the main menu.

  • Open the main menu by tapping or clicking on the hamburger icon, which is the 3 horizontal bars in the top left corner. Then tap or click on My Settings. This gives you an overview of your messaging settings.
  • Notifications are made up of reminders that appear on your screen. Email consist of messages about your progress in a study. Use the sliders to turn notifications on or off. Tap or click the hamburger icon to return to the main menu.

    It is strongly recommended that you enable at least Notifications or Email to stay informed about the progress of the study you are participating in.

  • Open the main menu by tapping or clicking on the hamburger icon, which is the 3 horizontal bars in the top left corner. Then tap or click on My Notifications. This gives you an overview of the messages you have received.

    Note: you will only receive messages if you have enabled this under My Settings.

  • Tap ot click a message to read it. Tap or click on the bin to delete the message. Deleting messages cannot be undone.

    Then tap or click on the hamburger icon to return to the main menu.