Variables available within the main NLSY79 data set provide information on the sex of each respondent, their children, and members of their household. Information on the sex of the respondent can be found in (1) a single 1979 variable, ‘Sex of R’ (R02148.), and (2) a set of yearly interviewer remarks variables, ‘Int Remarks - Sex of R.’ The 1979 ‘Sex of R’ variable (R02148.) is derived from R01736., ‘Sample Identification Code,’ a variable which defines each respondent’s membership in one of the subsamples that comprise the NLSY79 (e.g., “cross-sectional male, non-black/non-Hispanic poor,” “supplemental female black,” etc.). Subsample identification was based on information gathered during the 1978 household screening.
During screening, sex was determined by observation and asked directly of respondents only if it was “not obvious” to the interviewer. The respondent’s sex, coded for R01736. and subsequently for R02148., has been changed for 45 cases; see the “User Notes” section below for a list of the identification numbers of these respondents and a short description of the changes. The variable series ‘Int Remarks - Sex of R,’ provides interviewers’ observations of the sex of the respondent for the 1982 survey year and each following year except the 1987 telephone interview. These observations are subject to a small degree of error from erroneous interviewer observation and/or recoding and data entry error. Therefore, when using this series of variables, a small number of respondents may appear to “change” sex across surveys.
Information on the sex of the respondent’s biological children is provided in both edited form (in area of interest “Fertility and Relationship History/Created”) and unedited form (in areas of interest “Birth Record” and “Child Record Form/Biological”). Edited variables, e.g., ‘Sex of 1st Child,’ have been created annually since 1982. For these variables, raw data from various questions related to the child’s sex are combined, cleaned, and checked for consistency during creation of the Supplemental Fertility File (see area of interest “Fertility and Relationship History/Created” and Appendix 5 of the NLSY79 Codebook Supplement). The raw data upon which these edited variables are based are also available. From 1982 to 1985, sex of children was collected separately for male and female respondents, e.g. ‘Female - Sex of 1st Child.’ In 1983 and 1984, sex of the children of all respondents was also included on the Information Sheet. (See area of interest “Last Interview Information” for these survey years.) From 1985 to 1992, sex of children was collected separately for biological (e.g., ‘Sex of Biological 1st Child’) and non-biological children (e.g., ‘Sex of Non-Biological 1st Child’), and listed on separate sections of the Children’s Record Form (CRF). Information on non-biological children, such as sex of the child, is only collected in even-numbered years after 1985, e.g., in 1986, 1988, etc., and can be found in area of interest “Child Record Form/Nonbiological.”Finally, for all survey years, the sex of all individuals in the household was collected in the yearly household interview (e.g., ‘Household Record - Sex Member #1’). Sex of household members was also gathered in the 1978 Household Screener (e.g., ‘Household Screener: Family Member #1 – Sex’).
|
User Notes: Users should be aware that the observations of gender included in the interviewer’s remarks tend to be subject to a small degree of error, as they are recorded and entered as new variables each year. On March 1, 1986, ‘Sex of R’ was changed for 42 cases as a result of inconsistencies generated from interviewer checks for respondent’s sex in the fertility section of the 1982 survey instrument; three additional cases were changed shortly thereafter. Each of these cases was verified by NORC for accuracy. ‘Sex of R’ (R02148.) for the following identification codes (R00001.) was changed: From male to female: 712, 1306, 1933, 2212, 2286, 2287, 2433, 3960, 4157, 6102, 7571, 7645, 7890, 8542, 8690, 8826, 9150, 9713, 10511, and 12676. |
Survey Instruments & Documentation: A copy of the 1978 Household Screener used to collect information on sex of the respondent and other household members can be found in the Household Screener and Interviewer’s Reference Manual (NORC 1978). Interviewer observations are recorded in the final section of each questionnaire, entitled “Interviewer’s Remarks.” Household members’ sex is collected during the administration of the Household Interview Forms. A copy of the Information Sheet, containing sex of respondents’ children, can be found near the beginning of the yearly Question by Question Specifications. The CRF is a separate child “inventory” referenced in the “Fertility” section of the questionnaire; sample copies can be found in the Question by Question Specifications. Finally, a general description of the derivation of the Supplemental Fertility File variables, such as sex of children, appears in the NLSY79 Codebook Supplement.
Data Files: All sex variables discussed above are located on the main NLSY79 data set. ‘Sex of R’ (R02148.) and the ‘Sample Identification Code’ (R01736.) can be found in the “Common” area of interest, while the interviewer remarks variables are located in “Interviewer Remarks.” The Supplemental Fertility File variables have been placed in “Fertility and Relationship History/Created.” Children’s genders, listed separately for biological and non-biological children on the CRF, are in area of interest “Child Record Form/Biological” and “Child Record Form/Nonbiological,” respectively. Variables collected during the household interview can be found in “Household Record,” and variables from the Household Screener are housed in “Misc. 1979.”
Comparison to Other NLS Cohorts: Gender for all biological children born to female members of the NLSY79 is available. Information on gender is also available for the NLSY97. Gender is implicit by membership in the Original Cohorts. Consult the BLS website at http://www.bls.gov/nls or the appropriate cohorts User's Guide for further details.
Mott, Frank L.; Baker, Paula C.; Haurin, R. Jean; Marsiglio, William; and Weaver, David. “Evaluation of Fertility Data and Preliminary Analytical Results from the 1983 (5th Round) National Longitudinal Survey of Work Experience of Youth.” Columbus, OH: CHRR, The Ohio State University, 1985.
Center for Human Resource Research. “Appendix 5: Supplemental Fertility File Variables.” NLSY79 Codebook Supplement. Columbus, OH: CHRR, The Ohio State University.