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Spell Sequences, State Proximities, and Distance Metrics

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  • Cees H. Elzinga
  • Matthias Studer

Abstract

Because optimal matching (OM) distance is not very sensitive to differences in the order of states, we introduce a subsequence-based distance measure that can be adapted to subsequence length, to subsequence duration, and to soft-matching of states. Using a simulation technique developed by Studer, we investigate the sensitivity, relative to OM, of several variants of this metric to variations in order, timing, and duration of states. The results show that the behavior of the metric is as intended. Furthermore, we use family formation data from the Swiss Household Panel to compare a few variants of the new metric to OM. The new metrics have been implemented in the freely available TraMineR-package.

Suggested Citation

  • Cees H. Elzinga & Matthias Studer, 2015. "Spell Sequences, State Proximities, and Distance Metrics," Sociological Methods & Research, , vol. 44(1), pages 3-47, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:somere:v:44:y:2015:i:1:p:3-47
    DOI: 10.1177/0049124114540707
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gary Pollock, 2007. "Holistic trajectories: a study of combined employment, housing and family careers by using multiple‐sequence analysis," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 170(1), pages 167-183, January.
    2. Christian Brzinsky-Fay & Ulrich Kohler & Magdalena Luniak, 2006. "Sequence analysis with Stata," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 6(4), pages 435-460, December.
    3. Marco Bonetti & Raffaella Piccarreta & Gaia Salford, 2013. "Parametric and Nonparametric Analysis of Life Courses: An Application to Family Formation Patterns," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 50(3), pages 881-902, June.
    4. Cees H. Elzinga & Aart C. Liefbroer, 2007. "De-standardization of Family-Life Trajectories of Young Adults: A Cross-National Comparison Using Sequence Analysis," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 23(3), pages 225-250, October.
    5. Reto Bürgin & Gilbert Ritschard, 2014. "A Decorated Parallel Coordinate Plot for Categorical Longitudinal Data," The American Statistician, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 68(2), pages 98-103, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mitrofanova, Ekaterina S. & Artamonova, Alyona V., 2016. "Studying Family Formation Trajectories’ Deinstitutionalization in Russia Using Sequence Analysis," MPRA Paper 82877, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Okka Zimmermann & Nicole Hameister, 2019. "Stable cohabitational unions increase quality of life: Retrospective analysis of partnership histories also reveals gender differences," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 40(24), pages 657-692.

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