Toolbox: Collecting Data

Life histories

Example Life History Database, based on Ugandan 'Q2' Research - David Lawson, David Hulme and James Muwonge
May 2006 

The purpose of the example database is to highlight how following up a quantitative panel data set with life history data collection of the same households can assist in understanding some of the main propagators, maintainers and interrupters of chronic and transitory poverty. Here life history data collection was based on two wave, nationally representative, Ugandan quantitative panel data.

• Overview (pdf)
• Example of chronically poor household (pdf)
• Example of household moving into poverty (pdf)
• Example of household moving out of poverty (pdf)
• Example of never poor household (pdf)

• Sample semi-structured life history questionnaire (pdf)

See Report on CPRC Workshop on Panel Surveys and Life History Methods (eds. Baulch and Scott, 2006).

Click here to link to Financial Diaries, research work undertaken in Bangladesh within the context of Finance for the Poor and Poorest research project. The Financial Diaries are theresult of 42 in-depth case studies undertaken via fortnightly interviews over one year, and incorporate a life history element.

Resources on life history and oral testimony methods.