- classifying / coding
Classifying Responses
- creation of classification system à Imposes order on data
- political / cultural – eg apartheid system – classifying by race
- human constructions
- precoding à forced response
- post coding à open ended
o systematic pre existing
o based on responses
- importance of coding for tracking changes over time (consistency
- standardized coding
Allocating Codes to each variable
- multilevel classification schemes
- what level of detail is required
- developing set of codes from responses
- multiple answers
- coding multiple responses to closed questions
o Example – 12 qualities of children
§ multiple dichotomy
· 12 variables
o respond yes or no to each quality
o requires 12 variables
§ multiple response
· respondents pick say, two most important qualities
o variables
§ choice1
§ choice2
- multiple responses to open questions
o using multiple response approach can lead to some difficulties with analysis
§ eg, how many people selected one particular quality
§ would have to look at information in both variables
- coding numerical data
- coding missing data
o not required
o not ascertained
o refused to answer
o did not know answer / no opinion
Allocating Column Numbers to each Variable
Producing a Codebook
- exact wording of question
- name of variables
- data type
- first / last column number
- valid codes for question
- missing data codes
- special coding instructions
Checking for Coding Errors
- valid range checks
- filter checks – ie don't ask an unemployed person about job satisfaction
- logical checks – age of child given age of parent
Entering Data
Issues That Complicate Coding
- multivariable questions
- several questions being used to code one variable
o scaling
GW Comments
- human constructions à bra example
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