ESRA 2027 sessions by theme
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Advances in Life History Data Collection: Calendar-Based Methods and Beyond |
| Coordinator 1 | Dr Sebastian Lang (Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories (LIfBi)) |
| Coordinator 2 | Professor Tarek Al Baghal (University of Essex) |
| Coordinator 3 | Dr Paulo Serodio (University of Essex) |
| Coordinator 4 | Dr Sierra Mesplie-Escott (National Centre for Social Research (NatCen)) |
Session Details
Collecting accurate information on complex and increasingly individualized life courses remains a central challenge in survey methodology, particularly in the context of a growing reliance on self-administered, web-based data collection. Capturing the timing, sequencing, and duration of events across multiple life domains requires substantial cognitive effort, increasing the risk of recall errors, inconsistencies, item nonresponse, and breakoffs. Therefore, a key challenge is balancing rich life history information with respondent burden, survey engagement, and panel participation.
Life and event history calendars support recall and improve data quality by leveraging autobiographical memory processes and are established tools in interviewer-administered surveys. While these calendar-based methods remain among the most prominent approaches for collecting retrospective life histories, dynamic questionnaire designs, event-triggered instruments, adaptive routing procedures, and new approaches to integrating survey, administrative, and other external data sources are also promising. Moving these approaches to self-administered survey modes creates new opportunities but also raises important methodological and design challenges, including usability constraints, the absence of interviewer support, and the risk of increased respondent burden.
Recent developments in longitudinal surveys and methodological research illustrate a renewed and growing interest in collecting life history data and calendar-based methods in self-administered modes. These efforts highlight both the potential and the need for further methodological innovation and evaluation.
This session invites contributions on advances and challenges in collecting life history data, calendar-based survey methods, and innovations in respondent interaction, visualization, or the integration of auxiliary data sources, particularly in self-administered survey settings, although not exclusively. Relevant topics include the design, testing, and evaluation of calendar-based instruments, the integration of dynamic or adaptive survey designs, strategies for improving recall and data consistency, and the assessment of data quality, measurement error, and respondent burden.
