Recomposing persons: Scavenging and storytelling in a birth cohort archive

Birth cohort studies can be used not only to generate population-level quantitative data, but also recompose persons. The crux is how we understand data and Recomposition entails scavenging for various (including unrecognised) data. It foregrounds the perspective subjectivity of survey participants, without forgetting partiality incompleteness accounts that it may generate. Although interested in singularity individuals, attends historical relational embeddedness personhood. examines multiple complex temporalities suffuse people’s lives, hence departing from linear notions life course. implies involvement, as well reflexivity, on part researchers. embraces heterogeneity transformations over time scientific archives interpretive possibilities, incompleteness, birth Interested unfolding lives time, shines light meaningful biographical moments.