Abstract

This chapter describes how traditionally quantitative occupational history calendars (OHCs) have been used in mixed method research by embedding them within qualitative interviews. The calendars are used to collect records of life time careers which are analysed using sequence analysis to group similar work histories. In parallel, the qualitative interviews facilitate in-depth exploration of the factors underlying occupational changes and transitions and later life outcomes. The overall approach allows data to be collated over relatively long periods of time, and enables an examination of the complex interplay between work, family and personal circumstances that shapes working lives. While the method as described in this chapter has been used to examine life time careers, it can be adapted to analyse other types of records collected over multiple time periods, e.g. schooling, fertility and health.