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Sequence analysis: Its past, present, and future
Tim F Liao1, Danilo Bolano2, Christian Brzinsky-Fay3
1University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, USA.
Social Science Research
|September 4, 2022
Summary
Sequence analysis (SA) has significantly advanced in social sciences over four decades, particularly in life course research. Future directions involve enhancing SA
Area of Science:
- Social Sciences
- Quantitative Methods
- Life Course Research
Background:
- Sequence analysis (SA) was introduced to the social sciences four decades ago.
- SA's application, especially in life course research, has grown substantially in the last 15 years.
- This article uses a life course analogy to trace the development of SA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To reflect on the progress of sequence analysis (SA) in the social sciences.
- To review methodological developments and historical contexts of SA.
- To explore future directions and challenges for SA in theory-making.
Main Methods:
- Historical review of SA development and applications in social sciences.
- Comprehensive summary of methodological advancements: visualization, complexity/dissimilarity measures, cluster analysis, multidomain/multichannel SA, dyadic/polyadic SA, Markov chain SA, sequence life course analysis, and sequence network analysis.
- Discussion of SA software and its use in diverse social science research.
Main Results:
- Detailed account of SA's evolution from its 'birth' to 'adolescence' in social science research.
- Extensive cataloging of methodological innovations and their applications.
- Identification of current research trends and software tools supporting SA.
Conclusions:
- SA has matured significantly, with numerous methodological developments enhancing its utility.
- Future directions focus on integrating SA with theory-making and addressing existing challenges.
- Encourages further research to advance SA into its 'mature adulthood'.
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