Trajectoires perçues - Une approche quantitative des perceptions de bien-être

Abstract

Perceived Trajectories - A Quantitative Approach to Perceptions of Well-being - In INED's Biographies and Entourage (2001) survey, the life-event histories of 2,830 respondents were collected. In addition to their family, residential and occupational histories, each respondent was asked to identify and explain the successive significant periods, turning points and general tone of their life course and what they viewed as landmark events. We therefore deal with a well-being trajectory made of the successive perceived tones of each period. We undertake a descriptive analysis of these trajectories and turning points: the division of life into periods reveals patterns in terms of the age distribution of turning points and of their coincidence with factual events. From a methodological point of view, taking such an approach which combines facts and perceptions contributes to the questioning of the boundaries between qualitative and quantitative approaches.