生命史的事間線

訪談後，我們取得初步的資料，都會為受訪者的生命做一些時間線，時間線應該包括什麼？Goodson有很好的建議：

1. Place and date of birth.
2. Family background, birthplace and date.
3. Parents' occupations during the informant's life; general character and interests.
4. Brothers' and sisters' place and date of birth; occupations or school location; general character and interests.
5. Extended family; occupations and character. Informant's childhood: description of home and general discussion of experiences.
6. Community and context: character and general status and 'feel'.
7. Education, preschool experience, school experience: courses taken, subjects favoured, credentials achieved; general character of school experi-ence; peer relations; teachers; 'good' and 'bad' experiences.
8. Occupation, general work history, changes of job, types of school, types of position.
9. Marriage and own family: dates and locations.
10. Other interests and pursuits.
11. Future ambitions and aspirations.

從Goodson的建議可以看出，生命史的時間線包含了不同層次的Self，從關係中的自我、家庭的自我到社群的自我。此外，亦包括構成「自我」的不同因素：情感、工作、教育等。