9E. Explanation of the Difference between Tracker and Core Data Releases
There are some areas where the Tracker File and the core data are different.
Below are some examples. The examples rely on data from the HRS 2008 Core.
LSUBHH - The tracker file assigns a '9' for all new spouses in 2008 for the
previous wave’s SUBHH number. The 2008 Final Release data, however, lists the
SUBHH number of the household that the new spouse married into, since the new
spouse will 'inherit' many of the relationships from that household.
LPN_SP - Even if a spouse did not give an interview in 2008, a spouse PN
(LPN_SP) will exist in the core data. Additionally, for a non-original R’s new
spouse, we assign a spouse PN (LPN_SP) and track the spouse's influence on the
household with that number, even though we will never interview that person. In
contrast, the tracker file will not reference these spouses.
Family and Financial R Assignments - As we keep a record of a non-interviewed
spouse in the core data, we also release their assigned role in the household
(i.e. family or financial R) with a listing for LPN_FIN, and LPN_FAM in the
household sections. The tracker file will simply list the assignments of the
people interviewed. Therefore, for example, the 2008 Core Final data has a blank
line in Section H for a household where '020' was the non-interviewed financial
R. The tracker file would show the same household as not having a financial R.
Marital Status - It is important to note that marital status, as it was assigned
in the 2008 data (LB063) may be different from the marital status variable
(xMARST) in the Tracker file. Please refer to the Cross-Wave Tracker data
for a more detailed description of how marital status was assigned and the
criteria used to reclassify respondents. The marital status variable in the
Tracker file was constructed by looking at several different sources of data,
whereas the marital status variable in the 2008 Core Final data was not changed
using outside sources, in order to preserve the flow through the instrument for
respondents.
9F. Enhanced Face-to-Face Sample Design and Content
In 2006, HRS initiated what is referred to as an Enhanced Face-to-Face
Interview. In addition to the core interview, the Enhanced Face-to-Face
Interview includes a set of physical performance measures, collection of
biomarkers, and a Leave-Behind Questionnaire on psychosocial topics. A random
one-half of households were pre-selected for the enhanced face-to-face interview
in 2006, with the other half of the sample selected for 2008, and the design is
repeated in each subsequent wave. In coupled households, both members of the
couple are selected. Selected respondents who completed a self (as opposed to
proxy) interview, in-person (at least through Section I - the physical measures
and biomarkers section), and who were non-institutionalized at the time of the
interview were eligible for the physical measures and biomarkers
components. This same group of respondents, plus those for whom an in-person
proxy interview was completed, were also eligible for the Leave-Behind
Questionnaire.
Psychosocial Leave-Behind Questionnaire (Section LB_R)
In 2004, HRS added a new feature for data collection in the form of self-
administered questionnaires that were left with respondents upon the completion
of an in-person Core Interview, referred to as the Leave-Behind Questionnaire.
The purpose of the Leave-Behind Questionnaire is to collect additional
information from respondents without adding to the interview length. In 2018,
as in previous data collections since 2006, the Leave-Behind Questionnaire was
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February 2024, Version 1.0