Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Handbook of Quantitative Criminology pp 289–312Cite as

The Life Event Calendar Method in Criminological Research

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

The life events calendar (LEC), used in a number of fields for collecting retrospective data on one or more aspects of individuals’ lives, has been variously referred to as the “life history calendar,” “event history calendar,” “life chart interview,” “calendar method,” “calendar interviewing,” and “timeline followback” method. Regardless of the name, the method capitalizes on what is known about the storage of autobiographical memory and involves entering key time markers on a calendar in order to facilitate the recall of events and life circumstances.

With increased use of the LEC across a variety of disciplines, more attention has been focused on this method and on the quality of data resulting from its use. Early reviews of the method and its utility were provided by Freedman et al. (1988) and by Caspi et al. (1996). More recently, Belli and colleagues have written extensively about the method’s theoretical foundations and have conducted important research comparing the LEC to more traditional methodological approaches (Belli 1998; Belli et al. 2001, 2007, 2009).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    In the interest of facilitating the collection of data on the situational aspects of violence, the National Consortium on Violence Research (NCOVR) funded three projects to adapt the Nebraska computerized calendar for use in new data collection efforts. One project focused on validation of the calendar method with a group of mental patients with a history of violence (Roberts et al. 2005). In a second project the calendar developed for male inmates was adapted for use in the Women’s Experience of Violence (WEV) study (Principal investigators Julie Horney, Rosemary Gartner, Candace Krutschnitt, and Sally Simpson), in which jailed women in three cities were interviewed. In the third NCOVR-funded project, an adaptation of the calendar was used by Richard Trembley and his colleagues in The Quebec Longitudinal Study of Kindergarten Children (QLAKC) when their respondents were age 20 in order to capture details about respondents’ lives for the 5-year period since the previous wave of data collection.

  2. 2.

    “Intensive follow-up of violent patients,” funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); Edward Mulvey, Ph.D. and Charles W. Lidz, Ph.D., co-principal investigators.

References

  • Agrawal S, Sobell M, Sobell L (2008) The timeline followback: a scientifically and clinically useful tool for assessing substance use. In: Belli R, Stafford F, Alwin D (eds) Calendar and time diaries: methods in life course research. Sage, Los Angeles, CA. pp 57–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong GS, Griffin ML (2007) The effect of local life circumstances on victimization of drug-involved women. Justice Q 24:80–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Axinn WG, Pearce LD, Ghimire D (1999) Innovations in life history calendar applications. Soc Sci Res 28:243–264

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barsalou LW (1988) The content and organization of autobiographical memories. In: Neisser U, Winograd E (eds) Remembering reconsidered: ecological and traditional approaches to the study of memory. Cambridge University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck A, Gilliard D, Greenfeld L, Harlow C, Hester T, Jankowski L, Snell T, Stephan J, Morton D (1993) Survey of state prison inmates, 1991. Bureau of Justice Statistics, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Bellair PE, Sutton J (2006) Test-retest reliability of self-reports among prison inmates, Paper presented at the meetings of the American Society of Criminology. Los Angeles, CA

    Google Scholar 

  • Belli RF (1998) The structure of autobiographical memory and the event history calendar: potential improvements in the quality of retrospective reports in surveys. Memory 6:383–406

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belli RF, Shay WL, Stafford FP (2001) Event history calendars and question list surveys: a direct comparison of interviewing methods. Public Opin Q 65:45–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belli RF, Shay WL, Stafford FP (2005) Errata. Public Opin Q 69:172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belli RF, Smith LM, Andreski PM, Agrawal S (2007) Methodological comparisons between CATI event history calendar and standardized conventional questionnaire instruments. Public Opin Q 71:603–622

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belli RF, Stafford FP, Alwin D (eds) (2009) Calendar and time diaries: methods in life course research. Sage, Los Angeles, CA

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradburn NM, Rips LJ, Shevel SK (1987) Answering autobiographical questions: the impact of memory and inference on surveys. Science 236:157–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brewer WF (1986) What is autobiographical memory? In: Rubin, DC (ed) Autobiographical Memory. Cambridge University Press, New York, pp. 25–49

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Brown RA, Burgess ES, Sales SD, Whiteley JA, Evans DM, Miller IW (1998) Reliability and validity of a smoking timeline follow-back interview. Psychol Addict Behav 12:101–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caspi A, Moffitt TE, Thornton A, Freedman D, Amell JW, Harrington H et al (1996) The life history calendar: a research and clinical assessment method for collecting retrospective event-history data. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res 6:101–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conway MA (1996) Autobiographical knowledge and autobiographical memories. In: Rubin DC (ed) Remembering our past: studies in autobiographical memory. Cambridge University Press, New York, pp 67–93

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Fals-Stewart W, Birchler G, Kelley M (2003) The timeline followback spousal violence interview to assess physical aggression between intimate partners: reliability and validity. J Fam Violence 18:131–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fals-Stewart W, O’Farrell T, Freitas T, McFarlin S, Rutigliano P (2000) The timeline followback reports of psychoactive substance use by drug-abusing patients: psychometric properties. J Consult Clin Psychol 68:134–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freedman D, Thornton A, Camburn D, Alwin D, Young-DeMarco L (1988) The life history calendar: a technique for collecting retrospective data. Sociol Methodol 18:37–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffin ML, Armstrong GS (2003) The effect of local life circumstances on female probationers’ offending. Justice Q 20:213–239

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horney J (2001) Criminal events and criminal careers: an integrative approach to the study of violence. In: Meier R, Kennedy L, Sacco V (eds) The process and structure of crime: criminal events and crime analysis. Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick, NJ, pp 141–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Horney J, Marshall I (1991) Measuring lambda through self reports. Criminology 29:471–495

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horney J, Marshall I (1992) Risk perceptions among serious offenders: the role of crime and punishment. Criminology 30:575–594

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horney J, Osgood W, Marshall I (1995) Criminal careers in the short-term: intra-individual variability in crime and its relation to local life circumstances. Am Sociol Rev 60:655–673

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson BD, Taylor A, Golub A, Eterno J (2002) How accurate are arrestees in reporting their criminal histories?: concordance and accuracy of self-reports compared to official records. US Department of Justice, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Li SD, MacKenzie DL (2003) The gendered effects of adult social bonds on the criminal activities of probationers. Crim Justice Rev 28:278–298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linton M (1986) Ways of searching and the contents of memory. In: Rubin, DC (ed) Autobiographical memory. Cambridge University Press: New York, pp. 50–67

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Loftus E, Marburger W (1983) Since the eruption of Mt. St. Helens, has anyone beaten you up? Improving the accuracy of retrospective reports with landmark events. Mem Cognit 11:114–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacKenzie DL, Li SD (2002) The impact of formal and informal social controls on the criminal activities of probationers. J Res Crime Delinq 39:243–276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morris N, Slocum L (Forthcoming) The validity of self-reported prevalence, frequency and timing of arrest: an evaluation of data collected using a life event calendar. J Res Crime Delinq

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson MA, Chaiken JM, Ebener PA, Honig PA (1982) Survey of prison and jail inmates: background and methods. Rand Corporation, Santa Monica, CA

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts J, Mulvey E (2009) Reports of life events by individuals at high risk for violence. In: Belli R, Stafford F, Alwin D (eds) Calendar and time diaries: methods in life course research. Sage, Los Angeles, CA. pp 191–206

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts J, Wells W (2009) The validity of criminal justice contacts reported by inmates: a comparison of self-reported data with official prison records, unpublished manuscript

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts J, Mulvey EP, Horney J, Lewis J, Arter ML (2005) A test of two methods of recall for violent events. J Quant Criminol 21:175–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rojek DG (1983) Social status and delinquency: do self-reports and official reports match? In: Waldo GP (ed) Measurement issues in criminal justice. Sage, Beverly Hills, pp 71–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubin DC, Kozin M (1984) Vivid memories. Cognition 16:81–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schubert CA, Mulvey EP, Cauffman E, Steinberg L, Hecker T, Losoya S, Chassin L, Knight G (2004) Operational lessons from the pathways to desistance project. Youth Violence Juv Justice 2:237–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shum MS (1998) The role of temporal landmarks in autobiographical memory processes. Psychol Bull 124:423–442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sobell LC and Sobell MB (1992) Timeline follow-back: a technique for assessing self-reported alcohol consumption. In: Litten R, Allen J (eds) Measuring alcohol consumption. Humana, Totowa, NJ, pp 41–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Teplin LA (1994) Psychiatric and substance abuse disorders among male urban jail detainees. Am J Public Health 84:290–293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van der Vaart W, Glasner T (2007) Applying a timeline as a recall aid in a telephone survey: a record check study. Appl Cognit Psychol 21:227–238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weinstock J, Whelan JP, Meyers AW (2004) Behavioral assessment of gambling: an application of the timeline followback method. Psychol Assess 16:72–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weis JG (1986) Issues in the measurement of criminal careers. In: Blumstein A, Cohen J, Roth JA, Visher CA (eds) Criminal careers and “career criminals”. National Academy Press, Washington, DC, pp 1–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Wittebrood K, Nieuwbeerta P (2000) Criminal victimization during one’s life course: the effects of previous victimization and patterns of routine activities. J Res Crime Delinq 37:91–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yacoubian GS (2000) Assessing the efficacy of the calendar method with Oklahoma City arrestees. J Crime Justice 26:117–131

    Google Scholar 

  • Yacoubian GS (2003) Does the calendar method enhance drug use reporting among Portland arrestees? J Subst Use 8:27–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yoshihama M (2009) Application of the life history calendar approach: understanding women’s experiences of intimate partner violence over the life course. In: Belli R, Stafford F, Alwin D (eds) Calendar and time diaries: methods in life course research. Sage, Los Angeles, CA, pp 135–155

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoshihama M, Clum K, Crampton A, Gillespie B (2002) Measuring the lifetime experience of domestic violence: application of the life history calendar method. Violence Vict 17:297–317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yoshihama M, Gillespie B, Hammock AC, Belli RF, Tolman R (2005) Does the life history calendar method facilitate the recall of domestic violence victimization? Comparison of two methods of data collection. Soc Work Res 29:151–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoshihama M, Hammock AC, Horrocks J (2006) Intimate partner violence, welfare receipt, and health status of low-income African American women: a lifecourse analysis. Am J Community Psychol 37:95–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Criminology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA, USA

    Jennifer Roberts

  2. Department of Sociology & Crime, Law and Justice, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Julie Horney

Authors
  1. Jennifer Roberts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Julie Horney
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. College of Criminology, Florida State University, West Call Street 643, Tallahassee, 32306, U.S.A.

    Alex R. Piquero

  2. Inst. Criminology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91905, Israel

    David Weisburd

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Roberts, J., Horney, J. (2010). The Life Event Calendar Method in Criminological Research. In: Piquero, A., Weisburd, D. (eds) Handbook of Quantitative Criminology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-77650-7_15

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation