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Advancing Dynamic Family Theories: Applying Optimal Matching Analysis to Family Research
Author(s) -
Martin Todd F.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of family theory and review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.454
H-Index - 17
eISSN - 1756-2589
pISSN - 1756-2570
DOI - 10.1111/jftr.12120
Subject(s) - cohabitation , optimal matching , life course approach , matching (statistics) , normative , context (archaeology) , family life , social psychology , psychology , computer science , sociology , epistemology , mathematics , political science , statistics , law , biology , gender studies , philosophy , paleontology
Dynamic theories are centered on explaining the influences of social context and institutional structures on the life course of individuals and families. Life course development theory addresses both normative social patterns and nonnormative deviations. Life course researchers view trajectories as theoretically superior to single time‐point measures because the former look at life‐transition events in the surrounding social context, not in isolation. This article discusses advancing dynamic family theories through the methodological advancement of optimal matching analysis, a form of sequence analysis. Optimal matching analysis is compared to other event‐transition methods and is illustrated by a cohabitation‐based research question that applies optimal matching analysis to the relationship between premarital cohabitation and later marital stability.