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Improving retrospective life course data by combining modularized self-reports and event history calendars: experiences from a large scale survey

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  • Katrin Drasch
  • Britta Matthes

Abstract

Event history calendars (EHC) have proven to be a powerful tool for collecting retrospective autobiographical life course data. One problem is that they are only standardized to a limited extent. This restricts their applicability in large-scale surveys. However, in such surveys, a modularized retrospective CATI design can be combined with an EHC. This data revision module is directly integrated into the interview and used as a data revision module, allowing insights from cognitive psychology to be applied. The data revision module stimulates the respondent’s memory retrieval by detecting both temporal inconsistencies, such as gaps, and overlapping or parallel events. This approach was implemented in the IAB-ALWA study (Working and Learning in a Changing World), a large-scale representative telephone survey involving 10,000 respondents. By comparing the uncorrected data with the final data after revision, we can investigate to what extent the application of this data revision module improves data quality or, more precisely, time consistency and dating accuracy of individual reports. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Katrin Drasch & Britta Matthes, 2013. "Improving retrospective life course data by combining modularized self-reports and event history calendars: experiences from a large scale survey," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 47(2), pages 817-838, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:qualqt:v:47:y:2013:i:2:p:817-838
    DOI: 10.1007/s11135-011-9568-0
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    7. H. Elizabeth Peters, 1988. "Retrospective Versus Panel Data in Analyzing Lifecycle Events," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 23(4), pages 488-513.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Áine MacNamara & Dave Collins, 2015. "Second Chances: Investigating Athletes’ Experiences of Talent Transfer," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(11), pages 1-13, November.
    3. repec:iab:iabfme:201501(en is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Elsner, Benjamin & Wozny, Florian, 2018. "The Human Capital Cost of Radiation: Long-Run Evidence from Exposure Outside the Womb," IZA Discussion Papers 11408, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Eckman, Stephanie & Kreuter, Frauke, 2015. "Misreporting to looping questions in surveys : recall, motivation and burden," IAB-Discussion Paper 201529, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
    6. Carstensen Johann & Lang Sebastian & Cordua Fine, 2022. "The Effects of Response Burden – Collecting Life History Data in a Self-Administered Mixed-Device Survey," Journal of Official Statistics, Sciendo, vol. 38(4), pages 1069-1095, December.
    7. Vicari, Basha, 2018. "Der Einfluss strukturierender Eigenschaften von Berufen auf horizontale und vertikale berufliche Mobilität im Kohortenvergleich," IAB-Discussion Paper 201825, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
    8. Struffolino, Emanuela & Studer, Matthias & Fasang, Anette Eva, 2016. "Gender, education, and family life courses in East and West Germany: Insights from new sequence analysis techniques," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 29, pages 66-79.
    9. Reichelt, Malte, 2014. "Using longitudinal wage information in linked data sets : the example of ALWA-ADIAB," FDZ Methodenreport 201501_en, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].

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