Understanding Society User Support: Issueshttps://iserredex.essex.ac.uk/support/https://iserredex.essex.ac.uk/support/support/favicon.ico?15995719382024-02-20T14:23:07ZUnderstanding Society User Support
Redmine Support #2056 (Feedback): Which weights to use when combining the mainstage and Covid-19 waves of...https://iserredex.essex.ac.uk/support/issues/20562024-02-20T14:23:07ZJames Laurence
<p>Hi there,</p>
<p>I have been reading through the forum support on weighting when using the Covid-19 data and Mainstage data combined, but I was hoping to just get some clarification on a couple of points.</p>
<p>I am conducting a study which looks at trends over time in adult mental health across UKHLS Mainstage surveys 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, and the Covid-19 survey 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 (only the web survey). I end at Mainstage survey wave 9 (survey period Jan 2017-May 2019) as that appears to be the last Mainstage wave that doesn’t cover the pandemic period. My data is in long format and I’m using Stata.</p>
<p>However, I am unsure of which weights to use precisely for my aims.</p>
<p>The first thing I would like to do is to treat the data as pooled cross-sectional data to look at how mental health changes over time (between wave 2 of the mainstage and wave 8 of the Covid survey). So, I’d like to see the level of mental health in the UK at each wave of the UKHLS. Ideally, I would like to model all the waves together. Am I right in thinking that to do so I would need to create a new ‘weight’ variable, which is the self-completion cross-sectional weight for each wave? I’ll explain below…</p>
<p>So, for wave 2 of the Mainstage survey, the new ‘weight’ variable would have the value of b_indscub_xw<br />For wave 3 it would have the value of: c_indscub_xw<br />For wave 4 it would have the value of: d_indscub_xw<br />For wave 5 it would have the value of: e_indscub_xw<br />For wave 6, it seems there are two self-completion, cross-sectional weights (_ub and _ui): would it be <br />f_indscub_xw or f_indscui_xw?<br />For wave 7 it would have the value of: g_indscui_xw (as there is no _ub version)<br />For wave 8 it would have the value of: h_indscui_xw (again, as there is no _ub version)<br />For wave 9 it would have the value of: i_indscui_xw (again, as there is no _ub version)</p>
<p>Then, turning to filling in the COVID-19 survey values of the new ‘weight’ variable it would be:<br />For wave 1 of the COVID-19 survey it would have the value of: ca_betaindin_xw <br />For wave 2 of the COVID-19 survey it would have the value of: cb_betaindin_xw <br />…<br />For wave 8 of the COVID-19 survey it would have the value of: ch_betaindin_xw<br />For wave 9 of the COVID-19 survey it would have the value of: ci_betaindin_xw</p>
<p>So, the Stata code would look something like this to give you an idea of what I mean:</p>
<p>gen weight = b_indscub_xw if mainstage_wave==2<br />replace weight = c_indscub_xw if mainstage_wave==3<br />replace weight = d_indscub_xw if mainstage_wave==4<br />…<br />replace weight = i_indscui_xw if mainstage_wave==9<br />replace weight = ca_betaindin_xw fi cv19survey_wave==1<br />…<br />replace weight = ch_betaindin_xw fi cv19survey_wave==8<br />replace weight = ci_betaindin_xw fi cv19survey_wave==9</p>
<p>So, it would be one new ‘weight’ variable, where each wave within each pidp had a weight value which corresponds to the cross-sectional weight for that wave.</p>
<p>- Is that the correct approach to take in to treat the data as repeated cross-section data and look at levels of mental health in each wave? <br />- Am I handling the COVID-19 weights correctly, and can I combine the Mainstage (waves 1-9) and Covid-19 surveys (waves 1-9) in this way?<br />- I’m not sure I fully understand the switch between _ub (waves 1-6 mainstage) and _ui (waves 7-9 mainstage). I can only use _ub up to wave 5 and only _ui from waves 7 to 9. Is it correct to take the approach I’ve outlined above, looking at _ui in some waves and _wub in others? <br />- Also, for wave 6, which self-completion cross-sectional weights should I use? The _ui or _ub?</p>
<p>I hope this makes sense and please do let me know if you require any further clarifications.</p>
<p>Best wishes,</p>
<p>James</p> Support #2038 (Resolved): Merging family level and individual level data https://iserredex.essex.ac.uk/support/issues/20382024-01-24T09:58:54ZTed Porter
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I am looking to create a panel data set using the main survey from Understanding society. Most variables I need are contained within the indresp file, however a couple I want are in the hhresp file. Is there a way to create a panel data set, i.e using multiple years of data, with a data set combining both hhresp and indresp variables.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p> Support #2035 (Resolved): Inquiry on the Travel to work area special license datahttps://iserredex.essex.ac.uk/support/issues/20352024-01-20T09:22:28ZXinyu Tao
<p>Dear officer,</p>
<p>We wonder if data on postcodes of the travel to the work area are available.</p>
<p>Many thanks for your time and help.</p>
<p>Best regards,<br />Karen</p> Support #2033 (Resolved): Derived variable on income / earnings of each benefit unithttps://iserredex.essex.ac.uk/support/issues/20332024-01-18T20:03:04ZThomas Stephenst.c.stephens@lse.ac.uk
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I notice that Understanding Society has a useful derived variable which splits households by their benefit unit (buno_dv); <a class="external" href="https://www.understandingsociety.ac.uk/documentation/mainstage/variables/buno_dv/">https://www.understandingsociety.ac.uk/documentation/mainstage/variables/buno_dv/</a>. This appears to be aligned to how the DWP and Family Resources Survey define a benefit unit.</p>
<p>Is there a derived variable on income strictly for those in each benefit unit? This would ideally include several additional variables, distinguishing between income from all sources, earnings, investments, benefit income, pension, e.t.c. I am aware of household income derived variables and individual income derived variables, and have used them in my other analysis,, but I can't seem to see a set of the same derived variables for the benefit unit. Perhaps this exists and I have missed it.</p>
<p>If it hasn't been created, any advice / code on how it has been constructed in other cases would be very welcome of course.</p>
<p>Thanks in anticipation and let me know if any questions or ambiguities.</p>
<p>Best wishes,</p>
<p>Tom</p> Support #2032 (Resolved): hidp missing from hhresp but present in income, egoalt, indresp fileshttps://iserredex.essex.ac.uk/support/issues/20322024-01-18T13:10:31ZChris Grollman
<p>Hi there,</p>
<p>I am taking values of <em>ficode</em> from the <strong>income</strong> file, and want to attach them to the associated household file <strong>hhresp</strong> using a join by <em>hidp</em>.</p>
<p>Across waves f to l I have 4111 unique values of <em>hidp</em> from the <strong>income</strong> file. When I link to <strong>hhresp</strong> using <em>hidp</em> I find that 119/4111 (2.9%) do not link: that is, the <em>hidp</em> in <strong>income</strong> doesn't occur in the <strong>hhresp</strong> file. The proportion where the <em>hidp</em> is not present in <strong>hhresp</strong> varies across the seven waves I am looking at.</p>
<p>I have looked in detail for one <em>hidp</em> in wave j. That <em>hidp</em> occurs in the <strong>income</strong>, <strong>egoalt</strong> and <strong>indresp</strong> files, with a total of four <em>pidps</em> living at that household. But the <em>hidp</em> doesn't appear in <strong>hhresp</strong>.</p>
<p>What is going on?!</p>
<p>Thank you!<br />Chris</p> Support #2027 (Resolved): jbft_dv variablehttps://iserredex.essex.ac.uk/support/issues/20272024-01-08T18:37:58ZYuliya Tavaresy.vanzhulovatavares@qmul.ac.uk
<p>Dear Team Member,</p>
<p>There is a derived variable 'jbft_dv' to identify full or part-time employment. In the last 13th wave there are no observations under this variable. Could you please guide me on which variable identifies full- or part-time employment in the recent wave? My search in the dataset and relevant questionnaire has not been successful.</p>
<p>Thank you in advance.</p>
<p>Kind regards,<br />Yuliya Tavares</p> Support #2025 (Resolved): expenditure in UKHLShttps://iserredex.essex.ac.uk/support/issues/20252024-01-08T13:58:15ZJane Fry
<p>Hi,<br />I am new to Understanding Society/UKHLS but have used the Australian HILDA dataset, which is very similar. I gather there is expenditure data collected in UKHLS but have only managed to find food, alcohol and energy variables. Are there any other types of expenditure included in the survey? If so, where can I find them?<br />Thanks.</p> Support #2024 (Resolved): Death/dead in waves: dcsedfl_dv (Respondent reported as deceased) + dcs...https://iserredex.essex.ac.uk/support/issues/20242024-01-04T18:44:34ZAlexander Labeit
<p>Dear Understanding Society Team,</p>
<p>I want to use the information if a respondent has died in one of the waves. There is no linked death registry data available but at least dcsedfl_dv (Respondent reported as deceased?) + dcsedw_dv (Wave respondent deceased) is available. <br />If I tabulate the frequencies for dcsedw_dv I get:<br />UKHLS Wave 20, UKHLS Wave 21, etc.</p>
<p>The timeline and naming of BHPS and UKHLS waves:<br /><a class="external" href="https://www.understandingsociety.ac.uk/documentation/mainstage/survey-timeline/">https://www.understandingsociety.ac.uk/documentation/mainstage/survey-timeline/</a><br />dcsedfl_dv starts with value labels from UKHLS Wave 1.</p>
<p>There are no UKHLS Wave 20, UKHLS Wave 21 existing and the correct value labels for the variabledcsedw_dv (Wave respondent deceased) would be UKHLS Wave 1, UKHLS Wave 2, etc.</p>
<p>Thanks,<br />Alexander</p> Support #2021 (Resolved): Question about gor_dv variablehttps://iserredex.essex.ac.uk/support/issues/20212023-12-28T16:57:22ZKamil Kadziolka
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>For some reason I cannot see the gor_dv variable in the mainstage variable search, maybe I am going crazy but I tried looking yesterday today and it doesn't come up.</p>
<p>If you could help here that would be great,</p>
<p>Thanks,<br />Kamil</p> Support #2020 (Resolved): Reasons for "-8 Inapplicable" response for life satisfaction variable "...https://iserredex.essex.ac.uk/support/issues/20202023-12-28T11:32:04ZJohn Poole
<p>Within the first 12 waves of the main survey, a total of 27,645 observations do not include data on overall life satisfaction using the "sclfsato" variable as the response is "-8 Inapplicable". Could you please give me an indication of why this question was inapplicable to these respondents? I have checked the user manual but the only explanation for a -8 response is a "valid skip" - I don't know why this question would be skipped if it wasn't from a proxy interview. Is it possible that these individuals did not fill in the self-completion questionnaire? Many thanks.</p> Support #2018 (Resolved): Month migrants came to Britainhttps://iserredex.essex.ac.uk/support/issues/20182023-12-20T10:59:26ZMichael Mahony
<p>I wish to use Understanding Society retrospective data to construct life histories of migrants within the Understanding Society survey from their point of arrival within the UK.</p>
<p>The retrospective data is generally provided in monthly format. However, I can only find the year migrants came to Britain (yr2uk4).</p>
<p>Is there a variable capturing the month migrants arrived in the UK?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance for your help,</p>
<p>Michael</p> Support #2017 (Resolved): Inquiry on the setting on variables on volfreq and lactlhttps://iserredex.essex.ac.uk/support/issues/20172023-12-19T12:07:37ZXinyu Tao
<p>Dear officer,</p>
<p>I am looking at the variables indicating the volunteering. I noticed that 'volfreq' collected during waves 2,4,6,8,10 is available when 'volun' is yes, can I set the value of the 'volfreq' for individuals whose 'volun'is no as zero?</p>
<p>also, another variable 'lactl' indicates volunteering frequency during waves BH06, BH08, BH10, BH12, BH14, BH16, and BH18. I am wondering if any other variables indicating the volunteering were collected in the same waves as 'lactl'. In addition, can I set the missing values of 'lactl ' as zero?</p>
<p>Looking forward to hearing from you and many thanks for your time.</p>
<p>Best regards,<br />Karen</p> Support #2016 (Resolved): Family connectionshttps://iserredex.essex.ac.uk/support/issues/20162023-12-19T09:56:11ZStav Federman
<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I have a few questions regarding family connections:</p>
<p>1. I read the user guide for the family matrix (xhhrel) and want to ensure I understand how family connections are formed. As I understand it, information is collected for core sample members and their household members. So if I see a connection between an adult child and a parent, it means that they had to be cohabitating in one of the waves of the survey. Hence, if a person did not cohabit with their parents at any point, I wouldn't have any information regarding this family connection. Is that true? <br />2. Suppose that the core sample member lived alone in waves 1-3, and then cohabited with their adult child in wave 4, and then the child moved out (from wave 5 onwards). Then, is the child being followed for the rest of the waves (4 and onwards), or is he being sampled just for the wave in which he cohabits with the core sample member (wave 4)? <br />3. Does the family matrix contain connections made in the British Household Panel Survey as well, or only connections of family members cohabitating in understanding society?</p>
<p>Thank you</p> Support #2015 (Resolved): Death information and death date + linked health data + US COVID-19 surveyhttps://iserredex.essex.ac.uk/support/issues/20152023-12-19T09:20:17ZAlexander Labeit
<p>Dear Understanding Society Team,</p>
<p>In US death information is available via the variables dcsedfl_dv (respondent reported deceased) and dcsedw_dv (wave respondent deceased). This means death info is only on the wave-level available and some deaths could be missed.</p>
<p>For linked health data<br /><a class="external" href="https://ukllc.ac.uk/datasets">https://ukllc.ac.uk/datasets</a><br />which should be also valid for the Understanding Society COVID-19 survey:<br />death info and date should be available from Civil Registrations of Deaths (England & Wales)<br />If a respondent has permitted health data linkage (info stored in ch_cvhlthlink):<br />For US data linked via the Covid survey death info and date should be available for England after the health data linkage permission date (but not before the permission date because the respondent has already died and cannot given permission anymore).</p>
<p>Is this linked data similar/identical to what is described In linked HES-ONS mortality data?<br /><a class="external" href="https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/data-tools-and-services/data-services/linked-hes-ons-mortality-data">https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/data-tools-and-services/data-services/linked-hes-ons-mortality-data</a></p> Support #2014 (Resolved): Scottish health datahttps://iserredex.essex.ac.uk/support/issues/20142023-12-19T09:02:45ZAlexander Labeit
<p>Dear Understanding Society Team,</p>
<p>your website<br /><a class="external" href="https://www.understandingsociety.ac.uk/documentation/data-releases">https://www.understandingsociety.ac.uk/documentation/data-releases</a><br />states that Linked health data for Scotland will be released in 2023.<br />Is this the case or not valid anymore or for the near future?</p>