Page 290 - Special Topic Session (STS) - Volume 2

STS493 Sofie d.B. et al.
is mostly useful for purchases that involve many products/services
simultaneously and that are burdensome to insert into a diary/questionnaire.
The HBS might make use of scanner data from shops, as well as bank
transaction data and loyalty card data. Scanner data would be limited to large
chains and can be matched to a respondent via time-stamp and purchase
amount. Bank transaction data can cover purchases independent of shops but
have varying coverage depending on the penetration of electronic payments
in the target country. Requesting bank transaction data is of course more
intrusive to the respondent’s privacy. In project @HBS, financed by Eurostat,
the utility of these data sources is explored.
The ICT Survey collects survey data on the frequencies, durations and
purposes of use of all forms of contemporary ICT (TV, internet, social media,
mobile devices). The survey is not burdensome and a survey type instrument
is well-suited due to the lack of complex latent constructs. However, ICT use,
especially frequency and duration, and details about the respondent ICT
facilities are non-central. As mobile devices are ICT by themselves and connect
to other ICT, they can provide sensor data about the use of the mobile devices
and connected devices. Obviously, the type of device and operating system
(OS) may be derived. Furthermore, the measurements may consist of the
frequency and type of use of the mobile device, such as social media, online
browsing, SMS texting, gaming, video streaming, taking pictures and phone
calls. Apart from the presence of apps on the device that are used for these
purposes, one may also consider the frequency and amount of use. However,
access to app (meta)data is, of course, limited for privacy reasons and the
potential amount and detail varies between apps, even when respondents
would consent. The mobile device may also provide insight into other ICT
through its Wi-Fi connection(s) and through Bluetooth connections. The
mobile device can, for example, measure the type, speed and strength of the
Wi-Fi at home or provide a list of Bluetooth connected devices. Although it is
not the purpose of the ICT, the mobile use data also present a view on the
general ICT profile of a person. The ICT surveys could benefit from social media
data or mobile phone provider data or internet provider data. Social media
data would be provided by global companies like Facebook, Twitter or
Instagram. Data access could be requested from the respondent for public
data by providing user names or handles, or from the companies for private
data. Mobile phone provider data would be contributed by a mobile phone
provider local to the country of the respondents. Possible data include phone
call, SMS and internet usage as well as time-location data with a coarse
resolution in space and time. The respondent’s internet provider could supply
data covering the internet use.

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