Understanding Society User Support

Many thanks for your enquiry. The Understanding Society team is looking into it and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

We aim to respond to simple queries within 48 hours and more complex issues within 7 working days. While we will aim to keep to this response times due to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) related situation it may take us longer to respond.

Best wishes,
Understanding Society User Support Team

Hello,

We introduced the variable w_addrmov_dv a couple of years ago which should be suitable for your purposes. See https://www.understandingsociety.ac.uk/documentation/mainstage/dataset-documentation/variable/addrmov_dv

Here is an excerpt from the 2019 user guide section on Revisions made in the November 2019 (W1-9) data release that discusses these variables:
Distance Moved by Respondents
Two variables have been added to w_indresp.dta relating to distance moved by respondents since the last wave. In i_indresp.dta this will relate to the distance moved since wave h, in h_indresp.dta this will relate to the distance moved since wave g and so on. The new variables are: w_distmov_dv, Distance participant moved since last wave (km), and w_addrmov_dv, Participant changes address postcode since last wave. Distances calculated are in kilometres “as the crow flies” and the centre location of the postcode area is used, not the actual location of an individual property. The distances are calculated from postcodes so these variables are only applicable for moves between different postcodes. Moves within the same postcode cannot be identified using these variables. Where one or other postcode is not known or is not valid then both variables will be set to -1, Don’t know.

Hope this helps.

Best wishes,
Understanding Society User Support Team