Longitudinal study of the life patterns of college-educated women

This is a longitudinal study of the class of 1964 at a prestigious women's college in the eastern United States. A major purpose of the study was to determine the effects of personality and situation on the life outcomes of college-educated women. This study built upon a larger 1960 study in which Thematic Apperception Tests (TATs) were administered to 244 first-year women.

In 1974, 10 years after graduation, the first follow-up of the class of 1964 was conducted. A life patterns questionnaire, containing both open-ended and precoded questions, was sent to all members of the initial sample for whom addresses could be obtained from the Alumnae Office (N=210). This questionnaire elicited information regarding background, college experience, activities since graduation, and future aspirations. Responses were obtained from 122 of the original respondents. The interviews were semistructured and open-ended, and focused on stressful life periods. A sample of men from the corresponding brother college (N=97) completed a similar life patterns questionnaire in 1974. TATs were also collected from 176 students of the class of 1964 at a second women's college.

In 1976, 96 women participated in a follow-up. Measures for this wave included an open-ended recent activities questionnaire, a recent life changes questionnaire, and a health questionnaire. The questionnaires included precoded items regarding health and life changes during the preceding two years.

Computer-accessible data from all three waves are available. Available paper data include TATs for the class of 1964 from the two women's colleges and open-ended questions for the 1974 (women and men) and 1976 (women only) waves.