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Secondary Analysis of Large Survey Database
Author Bio
Why Conduct Secondary Anaylsis
Advantages of Survey Data
Avoiding the Pitfalls
Start with the Research Question
Determine Variables of Interest
Identify and Evaluate the Data Source
Get the Data
Survey Design
Sampling Frame
Telephone Surveys
Followback Surveys
Multistage Cluster Samples
What is a Panel Design
Mode of Survey Administration
Survey Instruments
Currently Selected Section: CodeBooks
Online Exploratory Analysis
Potential Sources of Error
Cultural Nonequivalence
Analysis of Survey Data
Cluster and Stratified Samples
Using Sample Weights
Missing Data
Power Calculations
Linking Data Sources
Multiple Comparisons
Getting Help
Giving Feedback
Conclusion
Chapter 20: Secondary Analysis of Large Survey Database: CodeBooks
          

Codebooks for many surveys are also available on the web. Those for MCBS, for example, contain:

  • Variable name;
  • Descriptive label;
  • Position in the record;
  • Numeric or character code type;
  • Applicable field input format; and
  • Questionnaire number that generated the measures.

The codebook lists continuous variables, such as inpatient reimbursement, but does not give descriptive statistics for these variables. However, the codebook displays the actual codes, frequency counts, and code labels for categorical variables.

Click here for an example of the MCBS codebook (click here to download the Adobe Acrobat pdf reader).
Click here for an example of the MEPS codebook.

 

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