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.

Best wishes,
Understanding Society User Support Team

Hello Isaac,

I recommend using calendar year data because you will need to pool information from 3 waves. For year 2020, you will need information from Waves 10 to 12, and for 2021, data from Waves 11 to 13. Calendar year 2020 is identified with Study number SN:8988 , and Calendar year 2021 with SN:9193 .

COVID-19 survey data can be linked to the main UKHLS annual survey data or Calendar year data using the variable PIDP, which is included in all data files. Please refer to sub-section 10.7 in the User Guide for more details.

For the interview date variables you may explore w_istrtdaty, w_istrtdatm and w_istrtdatd. For Covid-19 Wave 1, you’ll need variables cb_ff_intd, cb_ff_intm and cb_ff_inty which are on Wave 2 because they measure the date of the last monthly interview the respondent completed. From Wave 2 onwards, you may choose between variables cw_surveystart and cw_surveyend or cw_ff_intd, cw_ff_intm, and cw_ff_inty. Just keep in mind that if you want information from Wave 1, the latter variables are found in Wave 2, and so forth.

I hope this information is helpful.

Best wishes,
Roberto Cavazos
Understanding Society User Support Team