ABSTRACT
This chapter presents stage-state analysis as a method for studying the probabilistic and causal structure of the course of lives and for examining individual differences in the course of experience. It focuses on a stage-state analysis of the life course, stage-state analyses may also be made of the course of experience within more specific domains, such as within educational careers, occupational careers, or interpersonal relationships. Stage-state analyses are not restricted to any particular substantive domain but may be applied to the analysis of sequences of state transitions within parent-child relationships, educational careers, occupational histories, interpersonal relationships, and the 'natural histories' of psychological disorders, criminal behaviour, or drug abuse. A stage-state framework may also be employed in evaluation research for assessing the sequential effects of intervention programs. In summary, stage-state analysis provides a method for analyzing aspects of the probabilistic and causal structure of diverging life paths.
