» CUMULATIVE DATA FILE - CODEBOOK INFORMATION

The following example describes the general format for Cumulative Data File
codebook variable documentation. 

1  ==============================
2  VAR CF0310    HOW INTERESTED WAS R IN POLIT CAMPAIGNS
3                COLUMNS XX   - XX
4                NUMERIC
5                MD EQ 0 
6  
7       Some people don't pay much attention to political campaigns.  How
8       about you, would you say that you have been/were very much interested,
9       somewhat interested, or not much interested in following the political
10      campaigns (so far) this year?
11      -------------------------------------------------------------------
12
13      USE WEIGHT VARIABLE VCF0009/VCF0009A/VCF0009B.
14
15      In 1988 and 1992, this question was present in both the pre and post.
16      The pre version is represented here.
17
18             1.  Not much interested
19             2.  Somewhat interested
20             3.  Very much interested
21             9.  DK
22
23             0.  NA; INAP, no pre IW (1952,1960); question not used
24
25      1952:  44         1956:  97         1958:  75
26      1960:  98         1962:  39         1964:  157
27      1966:  87         1968:  130        1970:  201(type 0)
28      1972:  163        1976:  3031       1978:  43
29      1980:  53         1982:  58         1984:  75
30      1986:  59         1988:  97         1990:  62
31      1992:  3101       1994:  124        1996:  960201
32      1998:  980201



Line 2 - VARIABLE NAME.  Note that in the codebook the variable name
         (which usually includes a 'number', e.g. CF0310) does not include
         the "V" prefix that is used in the release SAS and SPSS data
         definition files (.sas and .sps files).  For example, the
         variables "VERSION" and "CF0310" in this codebook are "VVERSION" 
         and "VCF0310" in the data definition files.

Line 2 - VARIABLE LABEL.  This is the variable label used in the SAS and
         spss data definition files (.sas and .sps files).  

Line 3 - COLUMNS.  Columns in the ASCII data file (.dat file).

Line 4 - CHARACTER or NUMERIC.  If numeric and the variable is a decimal
         rather than integer variable, the numer of decimal places is 
         also indicated (e.g. "NUMERIC  DEC 4"), unless 0.

Line 5 - Values which are assigned to missing by default in the Study's
         SAS and and SPSS data definition files (.sas and .sps files).
         [If not present in this version of the codebook, inclusion is 
         planned in future].

Line 7 - Actual question text for survey variables or a description of 
         non-survey variables (for example, congressional district number).

Line 11- A dashed line separates question text from any other documentation
         which follows.

Line 15- When present, annotation provided by Study staff is presented
         below the question text/description, preceding code values.
         Specification of weights usable with the variable is always
         provided.

Lines 18-23
         Code values are listed with descriptive labels.  Valid codes
         (those not having 'missing' status in line 5) are presented
         first, followed by the values described in line 5.  For
         continuous variables, one line may appear providing the range
         of possible values.  A blank line usually separates the 'valid'
         and 'missing' values.

Lines 25-32
         The variable numbers from source individual studies are provided.
         Data in these variables from the individual NES time-series studies
         were combined to produce the Cumulative Data File variable.
         For years not listed, the question was not administered /the
         non-survey variable was not constructed (in that year).  
         SPECIAL NOTE:  these variable numbers in most instances have not
         yet been updated to the new NES 'numbering' system, for example 
         variable "44" for 1952 data actually signifies V520044.
         (For a description of the NES 'numbering' system in general use
         for variables within all NES datasets, see the annotation
         preceding variable documentation in this codebook).