Defining and Distributing Longitudinal Historical Data in a General Way Through an Intermediate Structure

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• Abstract

  In recent years, studies of historical populations have shifted from tracing large-scale processes to analyzing longitudinal micro data in the form of 'life histories'. This approach expands the scope of social history by integrating data on a range of life course events. The complexity of life-course analysis, however, has limited most researchers to working with one specific database. The authors discuss methodological problems raised by longitudinal historical data and the challenge of converting life histories into rectangular datasets compatible with statistical analysis systems. The logical next step is comparing life courses across local and national databases, and they propose a strategy for sharing historical longitudinal data based on an intermediate data structure (IDS) that can be adopted by all databases. They describe the benefits of the IDS approach and activities that will advance the goals of simplifying and promoting research with longitudinal historical data.

• Series Information

  Historical Social Research Vol. 34, No. 3 (2009): Special Issue: Social Bookkeeping Data: Data Quality and Data Management.

  Starting Point and Frequency: Year: 1979, Issues per volume: 4, Volumes per year: 1

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