NLSY79 Codebook Supplement 
Geocode File
1979-2008

Center for Human Resource Research
The Ohio State University
921 Chatham Lane Suite 100
Columbus, Ohio 43221
614-442-7366
usersvc@postoffice.chrr.ohio-state.edu

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Introduction

The geocode codebook on the CD provides the following detailed information on each geocode variable: reference number, variable description, coding information, frequency distribution, file name, variable name, and source of the variable (whether it is a direct questionnaire pickup or a created variable). Included are references to pertinent attachments and appendices providing supplementary coding and variable creation procedures. Variables are grouped within the geocode codebook according to the year with GEO79 variables followed by GEO80 and so forth. Note: Hardcopy versions of the geocode codebook and numeric index are not provided to CD users since the disc software allows users to generate their own documentation.

Table of Contents

• Appendix 10: Geocode Documentation provides background information on how the original 1979-82 geocode tape and subsequent updates were created and how those data were modified to form the 1979-2008 release.
  
  
• Attachment 100: Geographic Regions provides a listing of those states that comprise each of the four regions used in such variables as region of residence and south-non-south place of birth/place of residence at age 14.
  
  
• Attachment 101: Country Codes provides the foreign country codes used to code the respondents' country of residence from 1979-92 and in 1993-2004, and country of parents' birthplace.
  
  
• Attachment 102: State FIPS Codes lists codes that are used to code respondents' state of birth and state of residence. 
  
  
• Attachment 104: SMSA Codes contains the coding information utilized to classify SMSA, MSA, CMSA, or PMSA of residence at each interview date. 
  • Attachment 104, Part A: 1981 Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSAs) 
  • Attachment 104, Part B: 1983 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) 
  • Attachment 104, Part C: 1983 Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas (CMSAs) and Associated Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas (PMSAs) 
  • Attachment 104, Part D: 1983 Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas (PMSAs) and Associated Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas (CMSAs) 
  • Attachment 104, Part E: 1988 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas (CMSAs), and Associated Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas (PMSAs) 
  • Attachment 104, Part F: 2004 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas (CMSAs), and Associated Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas (PMSAs)
  • Attachment 104, Part G: 2006 Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs)
    
    
• Attachment 105: Addendum to FICE Codes contains the supplementary identification numbers for those colleges and universities not listed in the Education Directory--Colleges and Universities (1981-82 and 1982-83 supplement) published by the National Center for Educational Statistics.
• Note: Those wishing to use the FICE code data should be aware that some discrepancies and undocumented codes were detected in the codes originally assigned to some colleges and universities. CHRR has reconciled these discrepancies and has added a series of revised FICE code and FICETYPE variables to the Geocode files for survey years 1984-2008. The original FICE code variables with the discrepancies remain in the data files as well. For details on revisions to FICE codes variables, see Appendix 13: Introduction to 1993 through 2008 CAPI Questionnaires and Codebooks in the 1979-2008 Codebook Supplement for the main NLSY79 data file, and Attachment 105: Addendum to FICE Codes in this 1979-2008 Geocode Codebook Supplement.
  
  
• Appendix 7: Unemployment Rates provides an explanation of how the continuous and collapsed versions of the variable, unemployment rate for labor market of current residence were created.

Users may also wish to refer to Appendix 6: Urban-Rural Variables in the public-use file Codebook Supplement for additional information on public-use geographic variables.

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