BW wanted to recode a variable:
<=1 coded 1 (<= i.e. meaning less than or equal to)
>1 to <=2 coded 2
>2 to <= 5 coded 3
>5 to <=10 coded 4
>10 coded 5
- and that gave rise to quite a few comments and useful suggestions.
However, I was surprised by Nick's dislike of -recode- which he wrote
was not meant to be used for continuous variables. To me, it works
perfectly, and I find it more transparent than any of the other
suggestions. For BW's example it is:
recode x (min/1=1)(1/2=2)(2/5=3)(5/10=4)(10/max=5) , generate(newx)
If intervals overlap, the first interval specification wins, so if you
want 1, 2, 5 and 10 in the upper groups, just reverse the sequence:
recode x (10/max=5)(5/10=4)(2/5=3)(1/2=2)(min/1=1) , generate(newx)
-recode- also lets you define value labels at once:
recode x (min/1=1 "(0-1]")(1/2=2 "(1-2]") ... , generate(newx)
So, my conclusion is that -recode- is VERY good to create grouped
variables from continuous variables.
As stated by others, the -generate()- option is extremely important. To
prevent accidents it might have been wise to require a -replace- option,
if the user wants to overwrite an existing variable. But that is
probably too late now.
Svend
__________________________________________
Svend Juul
Institut for Folkesundhed, Afdeling for Epidemiologi
(Institute of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology)
Vennelyst Boulevard 6
DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
Phone: +45 8942 6090
Home: +45 8693 7796
Email: [email protected]
__________________________________________
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