psidread (version 1.0.3)

psid_str: Construct the table of PSID data structure

Description

The psid_str() function provides a simplified solution to build a table of data structure for your PSID dataset with your customized variable names.

Usage

psid_str(varlist, type = "separated")

Value

A data frame of the data structure of your PSID dataset, with each row represents the year and each column represents the variable

Arguments

varlist

A vector of string values or a single string value, including user's self-defined variable name and the year and variable code from PSID website.

type

A string value of either "separated" or "integrated", indicating the type of varlist

Details

This function is influenced by the methodology implemented in the psidtools package developed by Professor Ulrich Kohler. To utilize it, users only need to provide either a string vector (which is recommended) or a single value (if copying and pasting from their .do file). Minimal additional formatting is needed, and users can easily copy and paste year-variable names directly from the PSID website's codebook.

• This data frame only contains cross-year variables selected by the user to include in their panel dataset. Do not specify ALL-YEAR variables here (e.g., individual's sex, individual's birth order).

• The recommended approach for providing the variable list is to separate them into distinct character values and then wrap them within a vector. For example: c(" hh_age || [13]ER53017 [17]ER66017", " p_age || [13]ER34204") hh_age and p_age are self-defined variable name. It is up to you! The final data output will show this variable name instead of the variable code like ER34204. The [YY]VARCODE sequence can be found from the code book of PSID. You do not need to make any changes on them. Please ensure proper separation between the user-defined variable name and the [YY]VARCODE using "||". Each variable sequence should be placed in a separate string value. If this method is used, users should set the type argument to "separated".

• This function also offers an option for users who wish to copy and paste their code directly from Stata. Simply copy and paste your code into a single string value without making any alterations. For instance: "|| hh_age /// [13]ER53017 [17]ER66017 /// || p_age /// [13]ER34204///" Note the different position of "||" between the two input methods. If you utilize this input method, please specify the type argument as "integrated."

The output of this function will be utilized by psid_read() for reading the dataset into the environment and by psid_reshape() for renaming and reshaping the panel dataset. Therefore, it is recommended to execute this function prior to running other functions within this package.

Examples

# Example 1: Separated string input
psid_varlist = c(" hh_age || [13]ER53017 [17]ER66017",
                 " p_age || [13]ER34204")
psid_str(varlist = psid_varlist, type = "separated")

# Example 2: Integrated string input
psid_varlist <- "|| hh_age ///
                [13]ER53017  [17]ER66017 ///
                || p_age ///
                [13]ER34204///" # DO NOT CHANGE ANYTHING
psid_str(varlist = psid_varlist, type = "integrated")