Understanding Society User Support

Specifically for between wave job changes look at the bw_johist files and the variable bw_jhstat variable.

Note #1215 is a similar query. It may be useful to sign up for our JISC mail for data users to discuss analysis issues related to our study. To do that email UKHLS-REQUEST@JISCMAIL.COM

sorry, use this: UKHLS-REQUEST@JISCMAIL.AC.UK

Thanks for this helpful reply Alita. I've got a couple of follow-up questions, if that's ok.

Firstly, I'm finding understanding the variables guide pages quite confusing, for example I wanted to understand more about the 'nextstat' variable and so looked it up here https://www.understandingsociety.ac.uk/documentation/mainstage/dataset-documentation/wave/3/questionnaire-module/annualeventhistory_w3. The text of the question on this page is:

"Immediately following that NxtSt = 2period of NxtStElse]NxtSt = 2 and 2nd or subsequent loopperiod of NextStat(i-1)NxtSt = 1job, did you have a period of paid employment or did you do something else?"

Which is quite tough to decipher, is there a more user friendly version of the routing for questions than this? Or somewhere that explains thing like 'loopperiod' and '2period'?

Secondly, I'm also interested in tracking those people who:
a) had a job in the previous wave
b) left the job and had a spell out of work (with empchk==2)
c) but who then are now back in work for the current wave

Do you know how I might do that in Understanding Society?

Thanks,

Dan

Hi Dan,

The best way to understand question routing is to look at the questionnaire.
https://www.understandingsociety.ac.uk/documentation/mainstage/questionnaires
Specifically, look at the "universe" below each question which tells you who was asked this question. Once you write out the routing tree it will become clear how to answer your other questions. A colleague had created this tree. I am trying to locate that and get to you.

But I think you have almost answered your second question ("Secondly, I'm also interested...."). If you look at the questionnaire you will see that empchk is asked of those who were (i) interviewed at prior wave or has been interviewed previously and (ii) were In paid employment at last interview or did no paid work at lastinterview but claims employment or self-employment. Additionally jbstat=2 means currently in paid employment, OR jbhas=1|jboff=1 means was in paid employment in the last 2 weeks prior to interview (in some cases there is a discrepancy between the two approaches as the former is how a person identifies themselves and the latter is about what they do). So, empchk=2 means employed at last wave but was not continuously employed since then, and jbstat=2 means currently employed - that is the group you want to identify.

Best wishes,
Alita