Types of Variables in NLSY97

David L. Passmore

Four types of variables

Raw — Direct (or raw) responses from a questionnaire or other survey instrument.

Symbol — Usually contains “!”

Roster — Usually identified in codebook

Created — Question name usually starts with “CV” or “CVC”

Raw variables

Example of raw variable

From NLS Investigator

Raw variable follow-up

From NLS Investigator

Symbol variables

Example of symbol variable

From NLS Investigator

Roster variables

Roster variables…

Are lists of variables on one topicThe lists can vary among respondentsSimple example — ages of siblings• Number of siblings varies among

respondents• Respondents, then, can have a varying

number of roster variables• e.g., Mary has 5 siblings, so there are 5 entries as

separate variables in her roster• e.g., John has 1 sister, so there is 1 entry as a

separate variable in his roster

Example of roster variable

Roster variable

Created variables

Example of created variable

Another created variable

Labor Force Status

Population

Labor Force Status

Population

Civilian noninstutional population, 14–24 years

The civilian population is classified according to its attachment to the labor force

Labor Force Status

Population

Civilian non institutional population, 14–24 years

In labor force; civilian labor force; labor force participants

Out of labor force

Labor Force Status

Population

Civilian population, 14–24 years

In labor force; civilian labor force; labor force participants

Out of labor force

EmployedUnemploye

d

Labor Force Characteristics

Population

Civilian population, 14–24 years

In labor force; civilian labor force; labor force participants

Out of labor force

EmployedUnemploye

d

Employed work at least 1 hour per week for an employer for pay or at least 15 hours per week in a family enterprise (even if not for pay)

Labor Force Characteristics

Population

Civilian population, 14–24 years

In labor force; civilian labor force; labor force participants

Out of labor force

EmployedUnemploye

d

Employed work in an occupation within an industry from which they can earn wages and salaries for offering hours of work to an employer or through self-employment

Labor Force Characteristics

Population

Civilian population, 14–24 years

In labor force; civilian labor force; labor force participants

Out of labor force

EmployedUnemploye

d

Unemployed might have been employed in a previous occupation and industry, are unemployed for various reasons, and are unemployed for a period of time (duration)

Labor Force Characteristics

Population

Civilian population, 14–24 years

In labor force; civilian labor force; labor force participants

Out of labor force

EmployedUnemploye

d

Those out of the labor force do not have a job and are not seeking a job

Labor Force Characteristics

Population

Civilian population, 14–24 years

In labor force; civilian labor force; labor force participants

Out of labor force

EmployedUnemploye

d

Most frequently, people out of the labor force are doing their own home housework, going to school, or have stopped looking for work

Labor Force Indicators

Population

Civilian population, 14–24 years

In labor force; civilian labor force; labor force participants

Out of labor force

EmployedUnemploye

d

labor force participation rate = (labor force ÷ civilian population, 14-24) as a %

employed + unemployed as % of the civilian population, 14-24

Labor Force Indicators

Population

Civilian population, 14–24 years

In labor force; civilian labor force; labor force participants

Out of labor force

EmployedUnemploye

d

employment–population ratio = employed ÷ civilian population, 14-24

proportion of the civilian population, 14-24, that is employed

Labor Force Indicators

Population

Civilian population, 14–24 years

In labor force; civilian labor force; labor force participants

Out of labor force

EmployedUnemploye

d

unemployment rate = (unemployed ÷ civilian labor force) as a %

percentage of the civilian labor force that is unemployed

In-Class Task

Use NLS97 data in Excel spreadsheet to calculate labor force indicators for any two of the following three years:

199720002006