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Normalization of Distance and Similarity in Sequence Analysis

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  • Cees H. Elzinga
  • Matthias Studer

Abstract

We explore the relations between the notion of distance and a feature set–based concept of similarity and show that this concept of similarity has a spatial interpretation that is complementary to distance: it is interpreted as “direction.†Furthermore, we show how proper normalization leads to distances that can be directly interpreted as dissimilarity: Closeness in normalized space implies and is implied by similarity of the same objects, while remoteness implies and is implied by dissimilarity. Finally, we show how, in research into destandardization of the life course, properly normalizing may drastically and unequivocally change our interpretation of intercohortal distances.

Suggested Citation

  • Cees H. Elzinga & Matthias Studer, 2019. "Normalization of Distance and Similarity in Sequence Analysis," Sociological Methods & Research, , vol. 48(4), pages 877-904, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:somere:v:48:y:2019:i:4:p:877-904
    DOI: 10.1177/0049124119867849
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hilde Bras & Aart Liefbroer & Cees Elzinga, 2010. "Standardization of pathways to adulthood? an analysis of Dutch cohorts born between 1850 and 1900," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 47(4), pages 1013-1034, November.
    2. Matthias Studer & Gilbert Ritschard, 2016. "What matters in differences between life trajectories: a comparative review of sequence dissimilarity measures," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 179(2), pages 481-511, February.
    3. Cees H. Elzinga & Aart C. Liefbroer, 2007. "De-standardization of Family-Life Trajectories of Young Adults: A Cross-National Comparison Using Sequence Analysis," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 23(3), pages 225-250, October.
    4. Louis Guttman, 1968. "A general nonmetric technique for finding the smallest coordinate space for a configuration of points," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 33(4), pages 469-506, December.
    5. Duncan McVicar & Michael Anyadike‐Danes, 2002. "Predicting successful and unsuccessful transitions from school to work by using sequence methods," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 165(2), pages 317-334, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zachary Van Winkle & Fangqi Wen, 2023. "A Holistic Approach to Family Life Course Change across 1930–1978 Chinese Birth Cohorts," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 49(2), pages 279-317, June.

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