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SHS Lite - User Guide: A guide to using the Scottish Household Survey simplified dataset
The variables numcars and recycle both have 3 possible values giving a total of 9 combinations. We need to represent these combinations of recycling and car use (one combination for each cell in the crosstab) to compute the new variable. These are:
Table 1 - Combinations of recycling and car use
1 | No car, never recycles | numcars = 0 and recycle = 3 |
2 | No car, infrequent recycling | numcars = 0 and recycle = 2 |
3 | No car, frequent recycling | numcars = 0 and recycle = 1 |
4 | One car, never recycles | numcars = 1 and recycle = 3 |
5 | One car, infrequent recycling | numcars = 1 and recycle = 2 |
6 | One car, frequent recycling | numcars = 1 and recycle = 1 |
7 | Two or more cars, never recycles | numcars = 2 and recycle = 3 |
8 | Two or more cars, infrequent recycling | numcars = 2 and recycle = 2 |
9 | Two or more cars, frequent recycling | numcars = 2 and recycle = 1 |
To create a new variable we use the compute command:
Figure 117 - Numeric Expression set to 1
Figure 118 - If cases
! Note | The Viewer window will open automatically when you select the OK button. We do not need this window just now so simply close it without saving the changes. |
This creates the first of our 9 combinations. We have to create the other conditions in the same way.
Figure 119 - Edited expression
Figure 120 - Change existing variable
! Note | The Viewer window will open automatically again when you select the OK button. As before, simply close it without saving the changes. |
We are now going to repeat these steps by recalling the Compute Variable dialog box to create the remaining 7 combinations which are listed in Table 1 on page .
! Note | Remember to change the Numeric Expression to 3, 4 etc. |
Once you have created all nine of the combination expressions, we are going to create Value Labels for them.
- Scroll down to the car-rec variable
! Note | car-rec will be displayed as the last variable in the list. You can press  on the keyboard to navigate to it. |
- Select the values cell
for the car-rec variable - Click
to open the Value Labels dialog box - Enter the Value 1
- Enter the Value Label No car, never recycles (see Figure 121)
Figure 121 - First value label to be added
Figure 122 - All value labels added
This variable can now be used for further analysis.
We are now going to create a frequency table using the car-rec variable and the values should match the entries in Table 1 on page .
The Viewer window now opens to display the Frequency table (see Figure 124).
Figure 124 - Recycling and Car Access Frequency
From the table above, you can see that not only is there a relationship between recycling and access to a car, but also there is a relationship with the sex of the respondent.
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