IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/qualqt/v57y2023i5d10.1007_s11135-022-01563-x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Quality principles of retrospective data collected through a life history calendar

Author

Listed:
  • Julie Chevallereau

    (Swiss Centre of Expertise in Life Course Research)

  • André Berchtold

    (Swiss Centre of Expertise in Life Course Research
    University of Lausanne)

Abstract

To assert the quality of retrospective data, most studies using tools such as life history calendars rely on comparisons with external sources. Our research aimed to integrate quality principles into a life history calendar and test their capacity to evaluate the data quality. The purpose was to avoid reliance on external data sources because of their possible unavailability. The first quality principle was the relationship between the dating accuracy of verifiable events and the data quality of the life domains of the calendar. The second was the certainty, as self-assessed by participants through color coding, that an event took place at the quarter indicated. We designed an experiment using a paper-and-pencil life history calendar that was completed by 104 university students. Our research highlighted the relevance to use the self-assessment of certainty to assert the data quality. However, we could not establish a relationship between the dating accuracy of verifiable events and the data quality of the life domains. In addition, we present a set of qualitative findings from 20 interviews conducted with study participants explaining the approaches used to complete a life calendar and the difficulties encountered.

Suggested Citation

  • Julie Chevallereau & André Berchtold, 2023. "Quality principles of retrospective data collected through a life history calendar," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 57(5), pages 4229-4254, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:qualqt:v:57:y:2023:i:5:d:10.1007_s11135-022-01563-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s11135-022-01563-x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11135-022-01563-x
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11135-022-01563-x?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tina Glasner & Wander Vaart, 2009. "Applications of calendar instruments in social surveys: a review," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 43(3), pages 333-349, May.
    2. Sutton, James E., 2010. "A review of the life-events calendar method for criminological research," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 38(5), pages 1038-1044, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. 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.
    2. Clark Gray & Richard Bilsborrow, 2013. "Environmental Influences on Human Migration in Rural Ecuador," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 50(4), pages 1217-1241, August.
    3. Lahoti, Rahul & Abraham, Rosa & Swaminathan, Hema, 2023. "The imperatives of marriage, motherhood and employment: Evidence from a Life History Calendar," SocArXiv jud9r, Center for Open Science.
    4. Colleen M. Fisher & Michael G. Lee & Mary E. Boudreau, 2014. "Using Mixed-Method Assessment to Advance Adolescent HIV Prevention," Clinical Nursing Research, , vol. 23(5), pages 490-513, October.
    5. Sutton, James E., 2010. "A review of the life-events calendar method for criminological research," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 38(5), pages 1038-1044, September.
    6. Michael Anastario & Olivia Ceavers & Paula Firemoon & Nezahualcoyotl Xiuhtecutli & Ana Maria Rodriguez, 2022. "Retrospective Assessment of Human–Chemical Interactions in Health-Disparity Populations: A Process Evaluation of Life History Calendars," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, September.
    7. Rachael A. Spencer & Emily D. Lemon & Kelli A. Komro & Melvin D. Livingston & Briana Woods-Jaeger, 2022. "Women’s Lived Experiences with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): How TANF Can Better Support Women’s Wellbeing and Reduce Intimate Partner Violence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-27, January.
    8. Meyer, Tobias & Thomsen, Stephan L., 2012. "How Important is Secondary School Duration for Post-school Education Decisions? Evidence from a Natural Experiment," Hannover Economic Papers (HEP) dp-509, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät.
    9. Sara A. Quandt & Dana C. Mora & Theresa L. Seering & Haiying Chen & Thomas A. Arcury & Paul J. Laurienti, 2020. "Using Life History Calendars to Estimate in Utero and Early Life Pesticide Exposure of Latinx Children in Farmworker Families," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-11, May.
    10. Müggenburg, Hannah, 2021. "Beyond the limits of memory? The reliability of retrospective data in travel research," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 302-318.
    11. Nicolas Vignier & Annabel Desgrées du Loû & Julie Pannetier & Andrainolo Ravalihasy & Anne Gosselin & France Lert & Nathalie Lydié & Olivier Bouchaud & Rosemary Dray Spira & the PARCOURS Study Group, 2018. "Access to health insurance coverage among sub-Saharan African migrants living in France: Results of the ANRS-PARCOURS study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(2), pages 1-18, February.
    12. Kerry MacQuarrie & Jeffrey Edmeades, 2015. "Whose Fertility Preferences Matter? Women, Husbands, In-laws, and Abortion in Madhya Pradesh, India," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 34(4), pages 615-639, August.
    13. Frans Poppel & Niels Schenk & Ruben Gaalen, 2013. "Demographic Transitions and Changes in the Living Arrangements of Children: The Netherlands 1850–2010," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 32(2), pages 243-260, April.
    14. Michael Anastario & Paula Firemoon & Ana Maria Rodriguez & Carrie Wade & Christopher Prokosch & Elizabeth Rink & Eric Wagner, 2022. "A Pilot Study of Polysubstance Use Sequences across the Lifespan among Assiniboine and Sioux People Who Use Injection Drugs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-16, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:qualqt:v:57:y:2023:i:5:d:10.1007_s11135-022-01563-x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.