Comparison of Variables in Versions 1, 2, 3, and 4

Comparison of Variables in Versions 1, 2, 3, and 4

HRS 1996 Core (Final V4.0)

09/24/2003

Version 4 of the 1996 HRS Core Final Data Release incorporates a number of minor changes.

• Some variables previously included in the respondent-level coversheet file are now provided in a household-level coversheet file instead.
• A number of other variables were added. Included in version 4 are four variables from Section A that were not included in previous versions:

  
          E709      A26a.HAVE YOU ALWAYS LIVED AT RES
          E710      A26b. LIVE GEN AREA BEFORE
          E711      A26c.YEARS LIVED MAIN HU AREA
          E712      A26c.SINCE YEAR LIVE MAIN HU
  
  

• Also added in version 4 are a number of variables that, while not of particular substantive interest, are references in assignment statements or in INAP text.

Retrospectively, major differences in Versions 1, 2, and 3 are summarized below.

• Version 1 of the HRS 1996 Final Core Data Release included only sections CS, A, B, F, J, N and R.
• Version 2 included all sections, but did not include variables identified as "family" variables most of which are located in sections D and J.
• Version 3 included all sections and all variables.

In brief, the major differences in variables included in versions 1, 2, and 3 were:

• Many household family variables added to section D in version 3.
• Household financial variables added to section J in version 3.
• Bracket components included in version 3.
• Bracket summary variables not included in version 3.
• "Standard" IDs included in version 2 and version 3.
• Continue variables only included in version 2.
• Timestamp variables only included in version 1.

See Detailed Listing of Variables in Versions 1, 2, 3, and 4 for a complete listing variables not included in all four versions.