Understanding Society User Support

Hello,

(a) For cross-sectional analysis use the weights cW_betaindin_xw for Covid waves 1-4 (W=a,b, c, d), W_indinui for main survey waves 6-8 (W = f,g, h). Note that in Wave 6, if any variable in your estimation model was not asked of IEMB sample, then you should use the weight f_indinub_xw. You should not analyse the baseline pre-Covid (jk) files by themselves, only with the Covid wave data, and so no weights have been included in these jk files.

(b) For the longitudinal analysis I am assuming you are doing a separate analysis using main annual survey waves 6-8 and Covid waves 1-4 separately? For longitudinal analysis you need to use the weight from the last wave and apply that to all waves, as this weight will account for the wave -on-wave nonrespose across all waves. So, for FE analysis using main annual survey waves 6-8 use h_indinui_lw, and for FE analysis using Covid waves 1-4 use d_betaindin_lw.

Best wishes,
Understanding Society User Support Team

(b) In that case there is no appropriate weights. If you were to use Main survey Wave 9 + Covid waves for DID (pre and post covid), then covid longitudinal weights would be appropriate as these build on Main survey Wave 9 weight. See Section "16.6Respondent longitudinal weights" in the user guide.
https://www.understandingsociety.ac.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/documentation/covid-19/user-guides/covid-19-user-guide.pdf