Data Alert for RAND HRS Ver G (July-2007)

We released Version G of the RAND HRS dataset at the end of April-2007. Since then we have discovered some inconsistencies that that have now been corrected. Many thanks to the users who brought them to our attention.

The RAND HRS data files, including the codebook, have NOT been updated on the HRS web site in the data download area. We are providing the corrections in their own data files, which can be downloaded here (Download fix files). You will need to merge the changes into your existing file. Sample programs for such a merge are provided in SAS, Stata, and SPSS.

We also found that the 1992 income imputations had not been updated on Version G of the RAND HRS dataset, and thus remain the same as they were in Version F. In order for the values to match, the Version F fat file for 1992 income (incf92 or incm92f1) should be used with the Version G RAND HRS file. You may download the files from here, or we can send you a replacement Version G Fat File CD.

We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. Please let us know if you have any questions by emailing RANDHRSHelp@rand.org.

The corrections are:

Income imputations were inadvertently not updated, 1992
Corrections to number of children and counts of sisters and brothers, 1996-2004
Corrections to risk aversion, 1998-2004

Income imputations were inadvertently not updated, 1992

Consequently, these remain the same in Version G as they were in Version F. The changes that did not get incorporated were relatively minor adjustments to one covariate, and some fine-tuning of the allocation of Social Security income to disability or retirement for a few cases.

Therefore, if you are using or plan to use the 1992 income fat files, you should replace those files with the prior version (F), which we have made available for download below.

Corrections to number of children and counts of sisters and brothers, 1996-2004

Many of the counts of children variables for Waves 3 to 7 were missing. If counting the household-member- child roster resulted in missing values, then cover sheet variables providing numbers of resident, non-resident, and total children of either the respondent or spouse were used, providing the cover sheet counts did not conflict with:

number of living children born to respondent or spouse as reported in the same wave, from the demographics section
number of children reported in other waves, taking into consideration changes in coupleness or spouse

The change also corrected counts of sisters and brothers for a much smaller number of cases. The variables corrected include the following:

Household variables:
H3CHILD to H7CHILD

Respondent variables:
R4LIVBRO to R6LIVBRO
R3LIVSIS to R6LIVSIS
R3LIVSIB to R6LIVSIB

Spouse variables:
S3LIVBRO to S6LIVBRO
S4LIVSIS to S6LIVSIS
S3LIVSIB to S6LIVSIB

Corrections to risk aversion, 1998-2004

The 6-category risk aversion variables were coded incorrectly. Specifically, the coding was such that categories 5 (2nd most risk averse) and 6 (most risk averse) were swapped. Using Wave 4 as an example...

if F4614 = 1 & F4617 = 1 & F4718 = 2 then R4RISK6 = 5; ** We used to code this as 6 **
if F4614 = 1 & F4617 = 1 & F4718 = 1 then R4RISK6 = 6; ** We used to code this as 5 **

...where 1 = ?Take first Job?, and 2 = ?Take second Job?. The least risk averse response is to take job 1 (of 2) at all choices. The variables corrected include the following:

Respondent variables:
R4RISK6 to R7RISK6

Spouse variables:
S4RISK6 to S7RISK6

Fix files for download

These data are encrypted. To unencrypt, please use the passphrase provided in the unlock_cd.txt file found on the HRS data download page under RAND Contributions.

SAS fix data, includes SAS sample program
Stata8 fix data, includes both a Stata8SE sample program and separate wave-specific Stata8I sample programs (rndfix3g1.do, rndfix4g1.do, rndfix5g1.do, rndfix6g1.do, and rndfix7g1.do)
SPSS fix data and SPSS sample program

Download replacement for 1992 Income Fat File

The following data are zipped and encrypted:

To unzipped, please use WinZip V10 or higher to unzip the file. You can download WinZip from www.winzip.com. To unencrypt, please use the passphrase provided in the unlock_cd.txt file found on the HRS data download page under RAND Contributions, or request a CD with the replacement file by emailing: RANDHRShelp@rand.org. Please include your name, address (no PO Box), phone number, and the format for the data (SAS, Stata, SPSS).