4D. Datasets Including SSUBHH and OPN as Primary Identifiers

When working with datasets including SSUBHH and OPN as primary identifiers --

household-member-and-child-level, it is essential to use SSUBHH to distinguish

other persons.

Sometimes records with the same HHID and OPN will be separate reports about the

record where HHID is 890121, SSUBHH is 1, and OPN is 101 is the report about the

child from the mother, and the record where HHID is 890121, SSUBHH is 2, and OPN

is 101 is the report about the same child from the father.

At other times records with the same HHID and OPN will be reports about

different persons. For example, a couple divorces, one respondent remarries,

and both split-off households have new members. When a couple divorces and both

split-off households have new members, the record where HHID is 871231, SSUBHH

is 2, and OPN is 151 is for the ex-wife’s mother, while the record where HHID is

871231, SSUBHH is 1, and OPN is 151 is for the ex-husband’s new stepchild.

5. Distribution Files and Directory Structure

5A. Distribution Files

The files are packaged for download from our Web site in two different ways – as

one large .zip file that contains six smaller .zip files, one .pdf file, and one

.txt file, or the six smaller files available individually for separate

download. The combined file is H22core.zip.

The individual .zip files for separate download are:

ASCII data files

H22da.zip contains data files.

Program statements and “ready-to-use” files

H22sas.zip contains SAS program statements (.sas) and “ready-to-use”

files (.sas7bdat)

H22sps.zip contains SPSS program statements (.sps) and “ready-to-

use” files (.sav)

H22sta.zip contains Stata program statements (.do), dictionary

statements (.dct) and “ready-to-use” files (.dta)

Documentation files

H22cb.zip contains the codebook.

H22qn.zip contains the questionnaire.

H22dd.pdf - this document.

5B. Directory Structure

While a particular setup is not required for using HRS files, we have

traditionally suggested a directory structure. By using this directory

structure, you will not have to change the path name in your program statement

files. If you use a different structure, just change the directory references

in the program statement files.