What are the most effective methods for doing life course research? The field's founders and leaders answer this question giving readers tips on: the art and method of appropriate research design; the collection of life history data; and the search for meaningful patterns found in the results. Readers who are interested in collecting or analyzing for themselves the varieties and themes of life course patterns and paths will find that Methods of Life Course Research provides the keys to planning, organizing, analyzing, and interpreting life events data.