Derived variables

In order to get the best use out of their census or survey data, countries often need variables that are combinations and variations of other variables. For example, the item on economic activity status (see chapter IV, sect. D.1) is already a combination of several collected variables on the census. Rather than having to develop a program to recode the information each time the national statistical/census office wants a special tabulation, data processing specialists can write a program to make the recode once, store the recoded information on the person’s record, and then use it for further tabulations. National statistical/census offices need to decide how often the recodes will be used in tabulations and how relevant a particular recode will be when they determine whether or not to produce and store the information. It is important to remember that the recodes also take up room on the person records. The larger the population size, the more space will be used.

Related Subject(s): Population and Demography