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Cited by 185Survey Methodology and NonresponseSurvey Sampling and Estimation TechniquesMemory Processes and Influences

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Applications of calendar instruments in social surveys: a review

Open access
Glasner, Tina, van der Vaart, Wander·2009·Quality and Quantity
DOI 10.1007/s11135-007-9129-8PMC PMC2798968
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Abstract

Retrospective reports in survey interviews and questionnaires are subject to many types of recall error, which affect completeness, consistency, and dating accuracy. Concerns about this problem have led to the development of so-called calendar instruments, or timeline techniques. These aided recall procedures have been designed to help respondents gain better access to long-term memory by providing a graphical time frame in which life history information can be represented. In order to obtain more insights into the potential benefits of calendar methodology, this paper presents a review of the application of calendar instruments, their design characteristics and effects on data quality. Calendar techniques are currently used in a variety of fields, including life course research, epidemiology and family planning studies. Despite the growing interest in these new methods, their application often lacks sufficient theoretical foundation and little attention has been paid to their effectiveness. Several recent studies however, have demonstrated that in comparison to more traditional survey methods, calendar techniques can improve some aspects of data quality. While calendar instruments have been shown to be potentially beneficial to retrospective data quality, there is an apparent need for methodological research that generates more systematic knowledge about their application in social surveys.

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Metadata

Authors
Glasner, T., & van der Vaart, W.
Affiliations
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (NL)
Corresponding author
Glasner, Tina
ORCID
Venue
Quality and Quantity
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2007-10-05
Volume
43
Issue
3
Pages
333-349
ISSN
  • 0033-5177 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-7845
DOI
10.1007/s11135-007-9129-8
PMC
PMC2798968
OpenAlex
W2148883179
Cited by
185
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 8
FWCI
9.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Quality & Quantity (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Survey Methodology and Nonresponse
  • Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Survey Sampling and Estimation Techniques
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
Keywords
retrospective recall, recall errors, data quality, life course research, life history data, survey design, social surveys, family planning

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Applications of calendar instruments in social surveys: a review. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1007/s11135-007-9129-8
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Glasner, T., & van der Vaart, W. (2009). Applications of calendar instruments in social surveys: a review. Quality and Quantity. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-007-9129-8