NEW: SEPARATE FILES FOR MAIN RESPONDENTS AND SPOUSES, WITH UNIQUE VARIABLE NAMES FOR VARIABLES ON THE SPOUSE FILE
NOTICE (3 May 2005): WE HAVE RESTORED THE MAIN DATA FILE INCLUDING THE MISSING SPOUSE CASES. (IF YOU DOWNLOADED THE FILE IN THE PAST 2 WEEKS, YOU SHOULD DISCARD THE FILE AND DOWNLOAD IT AGAIN. THE FILE WAS MISSING A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF SPOUSE CASES, AND MAY HAVE BEEN CORRUPTED IN OTHER WAYS.)
Users unfamiliar with NSFH should read NSFH 2 readme file and NSFH Working Paper No 1 (pdf).
Wave 3 Documentation and Outcome Codes
Main Respondent and Spouse
Data and Codebook (Apr 8, 2005)
Union History
Content Overview
Focal Children
Data and Codebook (Mar 11, 2005)
Union History
Content Overview
Wave 3 Documentation and Outcome Codes
We recommend reading the file called Wave 3 Sample. Because of fiscal constraints, the T3 sample does not include respondents under age 45 unless they had an eligible focal child. While most analyses will not be affected, users must take into account this sample limitation.
Cohabitation and marriage histories have been combined across all three waves in a union history file. We advise using the union history file instead of all of the union history items in the main file since they reflect the complex structure of the interview sequences.
At this time the data files are spss system files (.sav). Follow the "Data file" link to download the main respondent and spouse data and the focal child data. For all other files, use right click and, depending on your browser, 'save as', 'save target as', or 'save link target as'. Check back for updates.
We are releasing the data at this time in order to avoid further delay. We will be proceeding with a number of corrections and variable constructions. Please let us know (nsfhhelp@ssc.wisc.edu) if you find any errors/anomalies.
IN PROCESS:
Documentation:
Outcome codes:
Main Respondent and Spouse
Data and Codebook
Respondents and spouses are in the same file (‘R’ and ‘S’ cases, variable name 'type') unlike wave 2.
Union History
You may need to open cbk (codebook) files in Word Pad.
Union history files (Dec 29, 2004):
Content Overview
Detailed household composition
R’s children living elsewhere
Names, live how far away, how often R sees them
If > 16: martial status,
educational status, number of children
If < 18: who currently
living with
Spouse/partner’s children living elsewhere (other than children already
mentioned)
If > 16: martial status,
educational status, number of children
If < 18: who currently
living with
Time spent by R, spouse/partner, others in household over 5 years of age
Children on household roster at previous interview and on current household
roster
If ever lived away: how many times lived apart, when and why
If <18: who child lived
with
Children on current but not previous household roster
When began living together, why, ever lived apart since that time
Children on household roster at previous interview and current away
roster
If ever away: when began
living apart
If < 18: who lived with,
ever lived together since then
Children on away roster at both previous and current interview
If ever lived with R since
that interview: when and why
Spouse/partner’s children on both previous and current roster
When began living apart
If < 18: who lived with,
ever lived together since then
Spouse/partner’s children on away roster at both times
If ever lived with R since
then: how many times
Long-term physical and mental conditions of household members
If > 55: activities of daily
living
R given/received personal care in last 12 months to/from anyone not living
with them and to/from anyone living with them (may or may not be living
with R at time of interview); most serious condition
If > 1 person: who gave/received most help
Mother, father, spouse/partner’s mother and father, step-parents
If living: age or date died,
health (not for step), relationship with, marital status, where live
How often see; frequency of communication by phone, letter, or email
Mother, father: ever live with sib, ever in nursing home or long-term
care facility
Help given/received (includes parents-in-law), which parents, how many hours
Hospitalization, help getting around, memory problems, too little income
If yes: which parents
R in parent’s household at previous interview
If still living w/ parents:
anytime not living there
If not still living w/parents:
when stopped living there
R not in parent’s household at previous interview but is now
When started living there
R not living in parent’s household now
Whether lived in parents
household since previous interview
Children 19 and older, includes R’s and spouse/partner’s children in household
or not
Others (not children or parents)
Overall happiness
Satisfaction with various aspects of life
Worry about income
Depression and self-efficacy
Alcohol and cigarette use
Height and weight
Positive aspects of psychological well-being
How far away they live and frequency of seeing; frequency of communication by phone, letter, or email
Age, frequency of stay over night; frequency of communication by phone,
letter, or email
Ever had primary responsibility for raising grandchildren
Changes in marital status since previous interview
Cohabitation/marriage history; characteristics of partners/new spouses
If currently cohabiting:
characteristics of first partner only
Follow-up questions for up to 3 marriages
Likelihood of getting (re)married
Dating and sex
Questions about end of marriage
Dating
Life now compared to before separation
Contact with in-laws and former spouse
Current relationship with former spouse
Living arrangements
Life now compared to if were married
If have steady girlfriend/boyfriend:
satisfaction with relationship
Views about marriage and relationships
Questions about current relationship
Likelihood of marriage
Satisfaction with relationship
Fairness in relationship
Time spent together
Disagreements and arguments
Life now compared to if separated
Trouble in relationship
Chances of relationship ending
Views about marriage and relationships
Satisfaction with relationship
Fairness in relationship
Time spent together
Disagreements and arguments
Life now compared to if separated
Trouble in marriage
Chances of relationship ending
Biological or adopted children since previous interview
If yes: number of children,
when born, planning status, if ever lived apart
Currently pregnant (skipped for females 45 and older and for married
males with wives 55 and older)
When due, planning status
Future birth plans
If had sterilization operation;
intend to have more children
(biological, step, adopted or foster, living or not living w/ R, spouse/partner’s
children included)
Difficulty or ease in raising
Long-lasting physical condition, mental or emotional problem
Dropped out of school
Repeated a grade, suspended, expelled
In trouble with police
Skipped school
Gotten (someone) pregnant while not married
Seen a therapist for emotional problems
Difficulty or ease in raising
Long-lasting physical condition, mental or emotional problem
Dropped out of school before completing high school
In trouble with police
Gotten (someone) pregnant while not married
Seen a therapist for emotional problems
Time spent together
Open disagreements
Avoid talking about certain topics
Global relationship
How disagreements handled
Relationship quality
How happy with child’s schooling, relationships, occupation
How likely to talk with child
How tries to influence child
If child living there: how it works out, pay for room or board, amount
Expenses paid by R
Lived anywhere else
If address changed: different addresses/cities or towns (up to 5 different
cities)
# of moves
Religious preference, how often attend services, how religious
Education history
Has R attended school since previous interview
Types of school attended
If under age 45: on active duty since previous interview and when
Work history since previous interview
Pensions and retirement
Whether worked last week
Hours worked, pay (“main job” if more than 1 job)
Kind of work, main activities, duties
If older than 60: kind of work doing at age 50
If worked weekends, work unexpectedly
Second job if more than one job
Weeks worked last year
If < 52: weeks unemployed
If not currently employed: earnings, kind of work, main activities
at last job
If older than 60: kind of work doing at age 50
Weeks worked in past year
If less than 52: weeks unemployed
Hours worked last week; full time/part-time
Income
Income (household members over age 16)
Income from wages and salaries in past 12 months
Other Income Sources in past 12 months
Whether R or others in household receive income from 7 other sources
If received public assistance: years received
If R owns house: does another randomly selected family member work, pay
household expense
Does R pay any of person’s
expenses
If R lives in household of relatives - does R pay any household expenses
If purchased home since previous interview: when, amount paid
Inheritances since previous interview
From whom, amount
Did R (and/or spouse if married) give gift or receive loan from people
not living in household in past 12 months
If yes: from or to whom
R (and/or spouse if married) mortgage payments, value of savings and investments and debts (amount owed each month)
Family related attitudes
How often spend time in various social activities
Focal Children
Data and Codebook
In a small number of cases there was an erroneous skip in the education sequence. We are looking into this.
Union History
You may need to open cbk (codebook) files in Word Pad.
Union history files (Dec 29, 2004):
Content Overview
Whether living in a dorm or military barracks
R’s marital status, cohabitation status
If not living in group quarters: name and relationship of members of
household
Ever separated from bio mother and father before age 18
If yes: how many times, how old, how long, why, where lived
If parents not mentioned on current roster): when left first left parent’s
home, how far away lived, why left
If currently lives with parent: ever lived away, when left, when returned
Other spells of leaving and returning home
If ever married: how many times, dates of marriages and separations, characteristics of spouses
Dates of cohabitations and separations, characteristics of partners
If received High school diploma or G.E.D.: dates received
If still in high school: level
Educational aspiration and grades received in high school
Types of schools, dates attended each type, grades received
Degrees received and dates
Financial aid received, assistance from family, tuition cost
Number of dates, dating partners
If steady boy/girl friend, how often see
Satisfaction with relationship with boy/girl friend, views about marriage
and living together
Biological or adopted children since previous interview
If yes: number of children,
when born, planning status
Ever adopted
If yes: number and when
Currently pregnant
Future birth plans
How often see; frequency of communication by phone, letter, or email
Disagreements
Arguing and fighting
Global relationship
Feelings about aspects of relationship
How happy with schooling, relationships, occupation
How likely to talk with parent
How tries to influence
Military service and dates
Dates of work history (when began working when not primarily a student)
and periods of unemployment
If currently employed: hours work, occupation, rate of pay
If unemployed: looking for job, occupation at most recent job, rate
of pay
If married or cohabiting: spouse/partner’s current employment
Feelings about work
Income from wages, salaries and other sources in past 12 months for R and
spouse/partner
Savings, investments, debts
Health Insurance
Time R and other household members spend on household tasks
How often see; frequency of communication by phone, letter, or email
Disagreements
Arguing and fighting
Global relationship
Feelings about aspects of relationship
How happy with schooling, relationships, occupation
How likely to talk with parent
How tries to influence
Overall relationship quality and satisfaction with spouse
Disagreements
Trouble in marriage, likelihood of separation
Overall relationship quality and satisfaction with partner
Disagreements
Trouble in relationship, likelihood of separation
Leisure time with friends
Friends and family can talk to
Religious preference and attendance
Life satisfaction
Overall health and health indicators
Depression
Self-Mastery and positive aspects of psychological well-being
Age first had intercourse, number partners, frequency in past 30 days
Age first smoked, number cigarettes per day in last 30 days
Age first drank, days drank in 30 days, number of drinks
Age first used, number of times used, when last used
If yes: who
Ever lived with step-parent
How often see; frequency of communication by phone, letter, or email
Disagreements
Arguing and fighting
Global relationship
Feelings about aspects of relationship
How happy with schooling, relationships, occupation
How likely to talk with step-parent
How tries to influence
Number siblings, how far away live; how often see; frequency of communication by phone, letter, or email
How often see; frequency of communication by phone, letter, or email
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