Addressing new research questions using

the Netherlands Kinship Panel Study

Pearl A. DykstraErasmus University Rotterdam

6th International Conference of Panel Data Users in Switzerland

Lausanne, June 8 – 9, 2011

Aat LiefbroerEva-Maria Merz

Trudie KnijnAafke Komter

Claartje Mulder

Matthijs Kalmijn

Pearl Dykstra

Funding:

• Major investments

• Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences

• Participating institutes

New research questions:

• from the start

• as opportunities presented themselves

Three central research questions:

1. nature and strength of family ties, and changes

over time (solidarity)

2. differences: how to explain?

3. differences: implications for individuals, families,

and society

(questions of inequality, cohesion, modernization,

and identity)

26 September 2006

24 January 2007

23 March 2007

6 October 2007

7 December 2007

25 January 2008

Ingrid DoortenThe Division of Unpaid Work in theHousehold: A Stubborn Pattern?

15 September 2008

26 May 2009

26 June 2009

25 September 2009

6 November 2009

12 February 2010

17 May 2010

2 December 2010

8 December 2010

14 January 2011

25 January 2011

New research questions from the start

Netherlands Kinship Panel Study:

A multi-actor,

multi-method, go to

panel study go to

on solidarity in family relationships

Anchor(17<age<80) Current Partner

Children (max. 2) (age>14)

Parent 1

Sibling 1 (age>14)

Parentin-law 1

Sibling n (age>14)Sibling 3

(age>14)Sibling2 (age>14)

Parentin-law 2

Grandparents

Parent 2

Ex-partner

Friend

Family members in the NKPS

Grandchild

Child n (age>14)Child 4

(age>14)Child 3 (age>14)

Multi-actor (1)

Discrepancies in parent’s and child’s reports

(Mandemakers & Dykstra, JMF 2008)

Hypotheses:

• generational stake

• self-enhancement*

• family obligations*

• dissatisfaction*

• relationship quality*

Multi-actor (2)

Intergenerational transmission of kinship norms

(De Vries, Kalmijn & Liefbroer, SSR 2009)

Hypotheses (sibling model)

• direct norm transmission*

• socialization of obedience*

• shared background back

Multi-method (1)

• combination CAPI / CAWI / CATI

• qualitative studies supplementing quantitative

analyses

Multi-method (2)

Selected topics qualitative studies

• black sheep in the family

(Komter, Voorpostel & Pels, JFI 2010)

• non-standard work schedules

(Mills & Täht, JMF 2010)

• ethnicity and intergenerational solidarity

(Schans & Komter, JAS forthcoming)

• young and late parenthood

(Rijken & Knijn, DR 2009)

• etc. back

Wave 1 Wave 2 Wave 3

Year 2002-04 2006-07 2010-11

N (main sample) 8161 6026 4390

Response 45% 74% 73%

Method

CAPI 100% 95% 18%

CATI 3% * 27% **

CAWI 1% * 55% **

* option only at later stage; ** option from the start

New research questions as opportunities

presented themselves

• collaboration with historians

• record linkage

• Generations and Gender Programme

Historical Sample of the Netherlands (HSN)

• life history information taken from population

registers (a.o. fertility, residential, employment)

• HSN: cohorts ≤ 1922

• NKPS: cohorts ≥ 1923

• span past and present

E.g.: Long-term changes in the living arrangements

of children in the Netherlands

Van Gaalen & Van Poppel, JFI 2009

Changes in privacy regulations

• linkage of survey data with registry information

(via NCBS)

• in wave 2: 93% of respondents provided

permission for linkage

• 99% of respondents identified in registers

• registry information: a.o. social security benefits,

taxable income, health care usage

E.g. Family care and public care. Schenk, Dykstra,

& Maas, A & S forthcoming

NKPS: model for GGP (PAU –UNECE)

• GGP is successor of Family & Fertililty Surveys

• 20 countries participating at present

• combination of survey and contextual data

• wave 1 data currently available for 11 countries

• NKPS = Dutch GGP

New questions

• how are interactions in families shaped

by welfare state provisions?

• can our theoretical paradigms be

transplanted to Eastern Europe?

• are social trends characterized by

convergence?

In conclusion, the NKPS

• has put Dutch family scholars on the academic map

• has been a training ground for young scholars

• serves as a source of information for policy makers

• exemplifies that families are about both the young

and the old

For further information:

dykstra@fsw.eur.nl

www.nkps.nl

www.ggp-i.org