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The qualitative longitudinal case history: practical, methodological and ethical reflections

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 11:16 authored by Rachel ThomsonRachel Thomson
This paper describes the development of ‘case histories’ from a qualitative longitudinal data set that followed 100 young people’s transitions to adulthood over a ten year period. The paper describes two stages in the analytic process: first, the forging of a case history from a longitudinal archive and second, bringing case histories into conversation with each other. The paper emphasises two aspects of a qualitative longitudinal data set: the longitudinal dimension that privileges the individual case, and the cross sectional dimension that privileges the social and the spatial context. It is argued that both aspects should always be kept in play in analysis. The paper concludes by reflecting on the ethical and practical challenges associated with the case history approach, heightened by the growing demand to archive and share qualitative longitudinal data sets.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Social Policy and Society

ISSN

1474-7464

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Issue

4

Volume

6

Page range

571-582

Department affiliated with

  • Social Work and Social Care Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-04-18

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