title: Recovering event histories by cubic spline interpolation.
abstract: If event data are recorded in discrete intervals of time, errors are introduced when the data are converted from the unit in which they were recorded, such as date, to another unit such as age or duration.  The problem is illustrated by the inconsistent age at marriage schedules published by 2 recent US censuses.  This paper develops a general method for treating problems of this type using cubic spline interpolation.  The method is used to adjust US age at marriage schedules, explaining a substantial part of the discrepancy in the 1960 and 1970 censuses.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bergstrom
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000569:Americas; D019352:Censuses; D003710:Demography; D019049:Developed Countries; D008393:Marriage; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009656:North America; D011153:Population; D011154:Population Characteristics; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012106:Research; D012107:Research Design; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States
keywords: Americas; Census; Demographic Factors; Developed Countries; Error Sources; Marriage; Marriage Age; Marriage Patterns; Mathematical Model; Measurement; Models, Theoretical; North America; Northern America; Nuptiality; Population; Population Dynamics; Population Statistics; Research Methodology; Time Factors; United States