ABSTRACT

Background data items, in which individuals are asked to recall and report their typical behaviors or experiences in a referent situation likely to have occurred earlier in their lives (Mumford & Owens, 1987), represent a standardized paper-and-pencil technique for collecting life history information ( Nickels, 1994). An item might ask, “How many books have you read in the last year?” or “How often have you fixed broken appliances?” To answer these questions, people choose the answer from a predefined list of alternatives that provides the best description of their past behavior and experiences.