Major Event Calendar: This measure asks participants to recount salient events which occurred in the recall period (e.g. birthdays, deaths). This information remains visible to the participant as an anchor point for the timing of events in each of several life calendar domains. This approach thus creates an integrated view of activities in all of the domains examined, has firm roots in the science of how people remember events and life situations (Bradburn, Rips, and Shevell, 1987; Belli, 1998), and capitalizes on these processes to generate accounts of past events.
Living Situation Calendar: Data regarding the participant’s living situation is captured using a monthly life-calendar approach (Belli, 1998; Caspi, Moffitt, Thornton, & Freedman, 1996), where the research participant is provided with a visual calendar that contextualizes the recall of research data by anchoring information to salient events.
Living Stability: Data regarding the participant’s living stability is captured using a monthly life-calendar approach, where the research participant is provided with a visual calendar that contextualizes the recall of research data by anchoring information to salient events.
Education and School Calendar: Data regarding educational experiences is captured using a monthly life-calendar approach, where the research participant is provided with a visual calendar that contextualizes the recall of research data by anchoring information to salient events.
Work Experience and Job Calendar: Data regarding participants’ work experiences is captured using a monthly life-calendar approach, where the research participant is provided with a visual calendar that contextualizes the recall of research data by anchoring information to salient events. This measure assesses participants’ work experience, including types of jobs, hours worked, wages earned, and number of jobs held.