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Optimal Matching Analysis and Life-Course Data: The Importance of Duration

Author

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  • Brendan Halpin

    (Department of Sociology, University of Limerick, Ireland, brendan.halpin@ul.ie)

Abstract

The optimal matching (OM) algorithm is widely used for sequence analysis in sociology. It has a natural interpretation for discrete-time sequences but is also widely used for life-history data, which are continuous in time. Life-history data are arguably better dealt with in terms of episodes rather than as strings of time-unit observations, and in this article, the author examines whether the OM algorithm is unsuitable for such sequences. A modified version of the algorithm is proposed, weighting OM’s elementary operations inversely with episode length. In the general case, the modified algorithm produces pairwise distances much lower than the standard algorithm, the more the sequences are composed of long spells in the same state. However, where all the sequences in a data set consist of few long spells, and there is low variability in the number of spells, the modified algorithm generates an overall pattern of distances that is not very different from standard OM.

Suggested Citation

  • Brendan Halpin, 2010. "Optimal Matching Analysis and Life-Course Data: The Importance of Duration," Sociological Methods & Research, , vol. 38(3), pages 365-388, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:somere:v:38:y:2010:i:3:p:365-388
    DOI: 10.1177/0049124110363590
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Carmichael, Fiona & Ercolani, Marco G., 2016. "Unpaid caregiving and paid work over life-courses: Different pathways, diverging outcomes," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 1-11.
    4. Helske, Satu & Steele, Fiona & Kokko, Katja & Räikkönen, Eija & Eerola, Mervi, 2015. "Partnership formation and dissolution over the life course: applying sequence analysis and event history analysis in the study of recurrent events," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 62244, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    5. Anette Fasang & Marcel Raab, 2014. "Beyond Transmission: Intergenerational Patterns of Family Formation Among Middle-Class American Families," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 51(5), pages 1703-1728, October.
    6. Olivier Joseph & Séverine Lemière & Laurence Lizé & Patrick Rousset, 2013. "The Feeling of Discrimination and Job-Market Entry in France," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) hal-00943434, HAL.
    7. Michael Koch & Bernard Forgues & Vanessa Monties, 2017. "The Way to the Top: Career Patterns of Fortune 100 CEOS," Post-Print hal-02051118, HAL.
    8. Sabbath, Erika L. & Mejía-Guevara, Iván & Noelke, Clemens & Berkman, Lisa F., 2015. "The long-term mortality impact of combined job strain and family circumstances: A life course analysis of working American mothers," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 111-119.
    9. Olivier Joseph & Séverine Lemière & Laurence Lize & Patrick Rousset, 2013. "The Feeling of Discrimination and Job-Market Entry in France," Brussels Economic Review, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles, vol. 56(1), pages 5-42.
    10. Thomas King, 2013. "A framework for analysing social sequences," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 47(1), pages 167-191, January.
    11. Helena Corrales Herrero & Beatriz Rodríguez Prado, 2011. "Characterizing Spanish Labour Pathways of young people with vocational lower-secondary education," Post-Print hal-00712379, HAL.
    12. Lukas Held & Andrea M. Herrmann & Allard Mossel, 2018. "Team formation processes in new ventures," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 51(2), pages 441-464, August.
    13. Alexandra Killewald & Xiaolin Zhou, 2015. "Mothers' Long-Term Employment Patterns," Upjohn Working Papers 15-247, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
    14. Barbara Zimmermann & Simon Seiler, 2019. "The Relationship between Educational Pathways and Occupational Outcomes at the Intersection of Gender and Social Origin," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(3), pages 79-94.

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