ID Variables

NOTE: Data from Rounds I-IV cannot be merged with Rounds V-XIII data since entirely different samples were used for RLMS Phase I (Rounds I-IV) and Phase II (Rounds V-XIII). The attempt to merge data sets from Phase I with those from Phase II will generate erroneous results.

In each of the RLMS data sets, the unit of analysis is either a household, a household member, or a survey site, depending upon whether you are looking at household-, individual-, or community-level data. Please note that Person 1 is not necessarily the head of the household.

Rounds I-IV

In Rounds I-IV, the variables SITE and FAMILY identify a unique household and SITE, FAMILY, and PERSON identify a unique individual. SITE is a geographic descriptor; there are up to 360 families within each SITE. The numbers for FAMILY are repeated from site to site and the numbers for PERSON are repeated from family to family. To prevent errors in merging data, use SITE as a primary sort key and FAMILY as a secondary sort key for household-level data and SITE, FAMILY, and PERSON as sort keys for individual-level data.

In Rounds I-IV, as in all subsequent rounds, a code of "1" for gender indicates that the respondent is male, while a code of "2" indicates a female respondent. For birth years, a code of "00" means that the respondent was born in 1900. A code of "99" means that 1899 was the respondent's year of birth.

Round V

In Round V, the variables SITE5 and FAMILY5 identify a unique household and SITE5, FAMILY5, and PERSON5 identify a unique individual. As in Round I, SITE5 is a geographic descriptor and the numbers for FAMILY5 and PERSON5 are repeated within their respective broader categories. To merge Round V with Round VI, Round VII, Round VIII, Round IX, Round X, Round XI, or Round XII, use the merge variable AID (at either the household- or individual-level) from the data sets. Do NOT try to merge Round V with Round VI, Round VII, Round VIII, Round IX, Round X, Round XI, or Round XII using any other combination of variables. To do so will generate erroneous results.

Round VI

In Round VI, an additional variable is required for unique identification of a household or person. The variables SITE, CENSUSD, and FAMILY identify a unique household and SITE, CENSUSD, FAMILY, and PERSON identify an individual. As in Round I, SITE is a geographic descriptor and the numbers for CENSUSD, FAMILY, and PERSON are repeated within their respective broader categories. To merge Round VI with Round V, use the merge variable AID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round VI with Round VII, Round VIII, Round IX, Round X, Round XI, or Round XII, use the merge variable BID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. Do NOT try to merge Round VI with Round V, Round VII, Round VIII, Round IX, Round X, Round XI, or Round XII using any other combination of variables. To do so will generate erroneous results.

Round VII

In Round VII, the variables SITE7, CENSUSD7, and FAMILY7 identify a unique household and SITE7, CENSUSD7, FAMILY7, and PERSON7 identify an individual. As in Round I, SITE7 is a geographic descriptor and the numbers for CENSUSD7, FAMILY7, and PERSON7 are repeated within their respective broader categories. To merge Round VII with Round V, use the merge variable AID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round VII with Round VI, use the merge variable BID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round VII with Round VIII, Round IX, Round X, Round XI, or Round XII, use the merge variable CID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. Do NOT try to merge Round VII with Round V, Round VI, Round VIII, Round IX, Round X, Round XI, or Round XII using any other combination of variables. To do so will generate erroneous results.

Round VIII

In Round VIII, the variables SITE8, CENSUSD8, and FAMILY8 identify a unique household and SITE8, CENSUSD8, FAMILY8, and PERSON8 identify an individual. As in Round I, SITE8 is a geographic descriptor and the numbers for CENSUSD8, FAMILY8, and PERSON8 are repeated within their respective broader categories. To merge Round VIII with Round V, use the merge variable AID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round VIII with Round VI, use the merge variable BID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round VIII with Round VII, use the merge variable CID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round VIII with Round IX, Round X, Round XI, or Round XII, use the merge variable DID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. Do NOT try to merge Round VIII with Round V, Round VI, Round VII, Round IX, Round X, Round XI, or Round XII using any other combination of variables. To do so will generate erroneous results.

Round IX

In Round IX, the variables SITE9, CENSUSD9, and FAMILY9 identify a unique household and SITE9, CENSUSD9, FAMILY9, and PERSON9 identify an individual. As in Round I, SITE9 is a geographic descriptor and the numbers for CENSUSD9, FAMILY9, and PERSON9 are repeated within their respective broader categories. To merge Round IX with Round V, use the merge variable AID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round IX with Round VI, use the merge variable BID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round IX with Round VII, use the merge variable CID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round IX with Round VIII, use the merge variable DID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round IX with Round X, Round XI, or Round XII, use the merge variable EID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. Do NOT try to merge Round IX with Round V, Round VI, Round VII, Round VIII, Round X, Round XI, or Round XII using any other combination of variables. To do so will generate erroneous results.

Round X

In Round X, the variables SITEJ, CENSUSDJ, and FAMILYJ identify a unique household and SITEJ, CENSUSDJ, FAMILYJ, and PERSONJ identify an individual. As in Round I, SITEJ is a geographic descriptor and the numbers for CENSUSDJ, FAMILYJ, and PERSONJ are repeated within their respective broader categories. To merge Round X with Round V, use the merge variable AID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round X with Round VI, use the merge variable BID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round X with Round VII, use the merge variable CID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round X with Round VIII, use the merge variable DID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round X with Round IX, use the merge variable EID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round X with Round XI or Round XII, use the merge variable FID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. Do NOT try to merge Round X with Round V, Round VI, Round VII, Round VIII, Round IX, Round XI, or Round XII using any other combination of variables. To do so will generate erroneous results.

Round XI

In Round XI, the variables SITEK, CENSUSDK, and FAMILYK identify a unique household and SITEK, CENSUSDK, FAMILYK, and PERSONK identify an individual. As in Round I, SITEK is a geographic descriptor and the numbers for CENSUSDK, FAMILYK, and PERSONK are repeated within their respective broader categories. To merge Round XI with Round V, use the merge variable AID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round XI with Round VI, use the merge variable BID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round XI with Round VII, use the merge variable CID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round XI with Round VIII, use the merge variable DID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round XI with Round IX, use the merge variable EID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round XI with Round X, use the merge variable FID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round XI with Round XII, use the merge variable GID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. Do NOT try to merge Round XI with Round V, Round VI, Round VII, Round VIII, Round IX, Round X, or Round XII using any other combination of variables. To do so will generate erroneous results.

Round XII

In Round XII, the variables SITEL, CENSUSDL, and FAMILYL identify a unique household and SITEL, CENSUSDL, FAMILYL, and PERSONL identify an individual. As in Round I, SITEL is a geographic descriptor and the numbers for CENSUSDL, FAMILYL, and PERSONL are repeated within their respective broader categories. To merge Round XII with Round V, use the merge variable AID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round XII with Round VI, use the merge variable BID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round XII with Round VII, use the merge variable CID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round XII with Round VIII, use the merge variable DID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round XII with Round IX, use the merge variable EID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round XII with Round X, use the merge variable FID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round XII with Round XI, use the merge variable GID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. Do NOT try to merge Round XII with Round V, Round VI, Round VII, Round VIII, Round IX, Round X, or Round XI using any other combination of variables. To do so will generate erroneous results.

Round XIII

In Round XIII, the variables SITEM, CENSUSDM, and FAMILYM identify a unique household and SITEM, CENSUSDM, FAMILYM, and PERSONM identify an individual. As in Round I, SITEM is a geographic descriptor and the numbers for CENSUSDM, FAMILYM, and PERSONM are repeated within their respective broader categories. To merge Round XIII with Round V, use the merge variable AID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round XIII with Round VI, use the merge variable BID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round XIII with Round VII, use the merge variable CID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round XIII with Round VIII, use the merge variable DID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round XIII with Round IX, use the merge variable EID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round XIII with Round X, use the merge variable FID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round XIII with Round XI, use the merge variable GID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. To merge Round XIII with Round XII, use the merge variable HID (at either the household- or individual-level) from both data sets. Do NOT try to merge Round XIII with Round V, Round VI, Round VII, Round VIII, Round IX, Round X, Round XI, or Round XII using any other combination of variables. To do so will generate erroneous results.