1. U.S. Census Bureau International Programs Center www.census.gov/ipc/www Microcomputer Processing of Census and Surveys (using CSPro)

2. Data File Design How are data stored in the data file? What is a case? What is on a record? How many records?

3. Objectives: 1.Understand elements of a data file 2.Describe a field, record, and questionnaire 3.Describe data file structures 4.Learn how the CSPro data dictionary defines these elements

4. Needed information about data file Need identification fields Need information / data fields Need “SIZE” [how many characters] Need valid values/codes

5. Data File Structure ASCII/text ALL data on ONE record/line Different types of data on DIFFERENT record/lines

6. Data Processing/Data File Terminology Item/variable/field Record Questionnaire (Case) Data file

7. Item/variable/field Is a single piece of information Has the attributes of: Size Type Numeric/Alphanumeric Age 51 Sex M Income -987.65

8. Record a collection of related items forming a single line of information. For example: Housing Record contains information about the house Population Record Contains information about each person in the house

9. Case/Questionnaire all the records of all types for a processing unit such as a household

10. A data file is a collection of all the questionnaires (cases)

11. CSPro Data Dictionary 1.Field names/labels 2.Field size 3.Field location 4.Field attributes 5.Record names 6.Record types 7.Records ID’s 8.Records allowed by type

12. Questionnaire sections

13. One Section ==> One record

14. From the questionnaire to the data file (one record type)

15. From the questionnaire to the data file (What are the data?)

16. From the questionnaire to the data file (Where are the data?)

17. Data Dictionary describes the data file