Review of Data Processing Steps

MICS3 Data Analysis and Report WritingWorkshop

Step 1: Enter main data

Enter the main data

Creates files such as hh001M.dat, hh002M.dat, etc.

Step 2: Structure check

Run the check programs for each cluster to identify structure problems

Step 3: Correct structure problems

Correct the identified structure problems

Step 4: Verification

Assign verification to a second operator

Creates files such as hh001V.dat, hh002v.dat, etc.

Step 5: Compare data

Compare the main data and the verification data, and identify differences

Step 6: Correct differences

Correct for differences in the two sets of data

Corrections may have to be made either in the main data or verification data

Step 7: Compare data

Compare main data and verification data again, and continue comparing and correcting as many times as needed, until there are no differences

Step 8: Secondary editing

Run secondary editing

Step 9: Correct problems

Correct all problems identified during secondary editing

There may be some warnings you will not be able to correct for, make sure to document these

Step 10: Export data

Export clean data files by using the “Export” procedure in the Supervisor’s Menu

Creates 4 SPSS data files (mych.dat, myhh.dat, myhl.dat, mywm.dat) and 4 SPSS syntax files (mych.sps, myhh.sps, myhl.sps, mywm.sps) in the MICS\SPSS directory

Step 11: Import data into SPSS

In SPSS, run my*.sps files

The my*.sps files import the data into SPSS and create SPSS-format data files, with variable labels, value labels etc.

At the end of each run, save your work in data files as hh.sav, hl.sav, wm.sav and ch.sav

Step 12: Run frequency distributions

Open SPSS and run frequency distributions for all of the variables in all 4 files

Detect any unexpected codes or inconsistencies, and if necessary, return to CSPro and make corrections. Then, repeat step 10

Step 13:Calculate weights

Obtain distribution of interview results by the unit based on which you intend to calculate unique sample weights:

- using the weights_table.sps syntax file, if calculation at stratum level, e.g.regions and area

- using the weights_table_alt.sps syntax file, if calculation at cluster level

Calculate weights cont.

Calculate final sample weights

- using weights.xls, if calculations are carried out at stratum level- weights_alt.xls, if calculations are carried out at at the cluster level

Calculate weights cont.

Once calculations in weights.xls or weights_alt.xls have been completed, save the “Output” workbook as a .csv (comma separated file)

In SPSS, run weights.sps or weights_alt.sps to create an SPSS data file with the weights which will be saved as weights.sav

Step 15: Append sample weights

Append sample weights to the exported SPSS files (hh.sav, hl.sav, wm.sav and ch.sav), by using the SPSS weights_merge.sps or weights_merge_alt.sps syntax file

Step 16:Customize wealth.sps

Customize the wealth.sps syntax file that calculates wealth index values, together with the survey coordinator/technical manager, according to the items included in your questionnaire

Step 17:Run and append wealth

Run the SPSS syntax from step 16 to calculate wealth index values, and append these to the 4 exported data files, using the SPSS wealth_merge.sps syntax

Step 18:Customize make*.sps

Customize the make*.sps syntax files, in accordance with the contents of your questionnaires.

Take out any variables and associated syntax which are not included in your questionnaire, or modify the variables according to your response categories (one example is categories of ethnicity)

Step 19: Run make.sps

Run make.sps to recode all additional variables needed for the tabulations

Make.sps is provided as a batch file which calls and runs each of the make*.sps files in turn

Step 20: Customize each syntax

Customize all tabulation syntax files in accordance with the contents of your survey Delete the syntax which are used to obtain tables on topics which are not included in your survey

Step 21:Run all tables.sps

Once all tabulation syntax files are customized and free of errors, customize all tables.sps

all tables.sps calls and runs all tabulation syntax files, and produces an output which includes all tables

If any of the tabulation syntax files have errors, the program will stop and you will have to correct the tabulation syntax file. Then re-run all tables.sps

Ngagne Diakhate ndiakhate@unicef.org