MEMO #43

Date:   November 24, 1981
RE:     The variables EXPER and TENURE

 In the Fall of 1977 Tom Daymont created one of the early versions of
the EXPER and TENURE variables to be used with the merged Social 
Security-SWL20 data tapes.  He called these variables activity and
intensity scores.  The listing of the cards with the activity-intensity
scores used by Daymont to create MACC #3119 is filed in the folder for
COR #301.  Tom did not use these variables because the extreme delay
in receiving the merged tape from the Social Security Administration
caused him to change his dissertation topic.  The versions of EXPER and
TENURE on MACC #3119 have never been used or checked.

 In the Spring of 1978 EXPER and TENURE variables were introduced in
COR #299 and COR #301 by Wendy Wolf and Harold Varnis and added to the
SWL20 master tape in COR #302.  This version of EXPER and TENURE was
described in MEMO #43 by Wendy Wolf.  These variables were
used in "Sex and Authority in the Work Place," by Wendy C. Wolf and
Neil D. Fligstein, American Sociological Review 44(April 1979):235-252.

 In 1981 Mette Sorensen updated the variables EXPER and TENURE by coding
respondents who were not in the labor force at the time of the 1975
interview.  The main difference between the Sorensen version and preceeding
versions is the increased sample (to pick up a large number of women) and a
more conservative estimate of EXPER.  (See COR #331 for details.)

ADDENDUM TO MEMO #43
FEBRUARY 6, 1986

When the SWL22 Master Tape was created in COR #336, the variables NEWEXPER and
NEWTEN which had been created in COR #331 were added to the new master.  It
appears that an error was made during the execution of COR #336 and these
variables were not correct.  The people who were non-respondents in 1975 were
assigned values for NEWEXPER and NEWTEN other than the missing data codes of
9999 and 999 respectively.  It was necessary that users select STAT75=01 
when using either NEWEXPER or NEWTEN.  This would select only those who
responded in 1975 and the variable should be correct. 

ADDENDUM TO MEMO #43 - 9/99

THE ABOVE ERRORS WERE CORRECTED SHORTLY AFTER 1986.