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Visualizing Sequences in the Social Sciences: Relative Frequency Sequence Plots

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  • Fasang, Anette Eva
  • Liao, Tim Futing

Abstract

Visualization is a potentially powerful tool for exploration and complexity reduction of categorical sequence data. This article discusses currently available sequence visualization against established criteria for graphical excellence in the visual display of quantitative information. Existing sequence graphs fall into two groups: They either represent categorical sequences or summarize them. The authors propose relative frequency sequence plots as an informative way of graphing sequence data and as a bridge between data representation graphs and data summarization graphs. The efficacy of the proposed plot is assessed by the R2 and the F statistics. The applicability of the proposed graphs is demonstrated using data from the German Life History Study on women’s family formation.

Suggested Citation

  • Fasang, Anette Eva & Liao, Tim Futing, 2014. "Visualizing Sequences in the Social Sciences: Relative Frequency Sequence Plots," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 43(4), pages 643-676.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:espost:209702
    DOI: 10.1177/0049124113506563
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    5. Jalovaara, Marika & Fasang, Anette Eva, 2017. "From never partnered to serial cohabitors: union trajectories to childlessness," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 36, pages 1703-1720.
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    7. Struffolino, Emanuela & Van Winkle, Zachary, 2019. "Is there only one way out of in-work poverty? Difference by gender and race in the US," Discussion Papers, Research Group Demography and Inequality SP I 2019-601, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.
    8. Rannveig Kaldager Hart, 2019. "Union Histories of Dissolution: What Can They Say About Childlessness?," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 35(1), pages 101-131, February.
    9. Marika Jalovaara & Anette Fasang, 2017. "From never partnered to serial cohabitors: Union trajectories to childlessness," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 36(55), pages 1703-1720.
    10. Yao Lu & Julia Shu-Huah Wang & Wen-Jui Han, 2017. "Women’s Short-Term Employment Trajectories Following Birth: Patterns, Determinants, and Variations by Race/Ethnicity and Nativity," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 54(1), pages 93-118, February.
    11. Zachary Winkle, 2018. "Family Trajectories Across Time and Space: Increasing Complexity in Family Life Courses in Europe?," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 55(1), pages 135-164, February.
    12. Devillanova, Carlo & Raitano, Michele & Struffolino, Emanuela, 2019. "Longitudinal employment trajectories and health in middle life: Insights from linked administrative and survey data," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, pages 1375-1412.
    13. Struffolino, Emanuela & Bernardi, Laura & Larenza, Ornella, 2020. "Lone Mothers' Employment Trajectories: A Longitudinal Mixed-method Study," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 45, pages 265-298.
    14. Marcel Raab & Anette Fasang & Aleksi Karhula & Jani Erola, 2014. "Sibling Similarity in Family Formation," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 51(6), pages 2127-2154, December.
    15. Piccarreta, Raffaella & Bonetti, Marco, 2019. "Assessing and comparing models for sequence data by microsimulation (with Supplementary Material)," SocArXiv 3mcfp, Center for Open Science.
    16. Helen Eriksson, 2019. "Taking Turns or Halving It All: Care Trajectories of Dual-Caring Couples," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 35(1), pages 191-219, February.
    17. Nicole Kapelle & Sergi Vidal, 2022. "Heterogeneity in Family Life Course Patterns and Intra-Cohort Wealth Disparities in Late Working Age," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 38(1), pages 59-92, March.
    18. Zagel, Hannah & Van Winkle, Zachary, 2022. "Women’s Family and Employment Life Courses Across Twentieth-Century Europe: The Role of Policies and Norms," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 29(2), pages 446-476.
    19. Rob Gruijters & Zachary van Winkle & Anette Fasang, 2023. "Life Course Trajectories and Wealth Accumulation in the United States: Comparing Late Baby Boomers and Early Millennials," Post-Print hal-04278042, HAL.
    20. Van Winkle, Zachary, 2018. "Family Trajectories Across Time and Space: Increasing Complexity in Family Life Courses in Europe?," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 55(1), pages 135-164.
    21. Dries Lens & Ive Marx & Jarmila Oslejová & Ninke Mussche, 2021. "Can we steer clear of precariousness in domestic service work? Exploring labour market pathways of Belgian Service Voucher workers," Working Papers 2106, Herman Deleeck Centre for Social Policy, University of Antwerp.
    22. Liao, Tim F. & Bolano, Danilo & Brzinsky-Fay, Christian & Cornwell, Benjamin & Fasang, Anette Eva & Helske, Satu & Piccarreta, Raffaella & Raab, Marcel & Ritschard, Gilbert & Struffolino, Emanuela & S, 2022. "Sequence analysis: Its past, present, and future," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 107, pages 1-1.

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