Harmonize Variables ¶

Contents

Harmonize Variables

Overview ¶

Colectica allows you to harmonize variables that measure the same information at different times or among different populations. Colectica uses three levels of items to describe how variables from different points in time or different datasets correspond to each other.

Item Type	Description
Variable	A column in a dataset
Represented Variable	Describes how a variable is measured; the data type. This may be consistent across rounds, or may change.
Conceptual Variable	Describes a measurement of a person, firm, or other thing, without specifying the data type. The most generic way to describe something that is measured.

Consider a dataset that measures marital status in three different years: 2000, 2005, and 2010. The dataset may look like:

ID	marstat2000	marstat2005	marstat2010
1	Married	Divorced	Married
2	Divorced	Divorced	Divorced
3	Married	Married	Widowed

In the first two years, the data was represented by two choices: Married and Divorced. In the third year, the data contain a new option: Married, Divorced, and Widowed. Two different representation types are used for this variable over time.

This dataset can be documented with three variables (aside from the ID): marstat2000, marstat2005, marstat2010. Since a variable corresponds to a single column in a single data file, three variables are necessary.

Since there are two representation types, we will use two represented variables; let’s call them marstat and marstat-plus.

Finally, a conceptual variable is used to describe the common information among the three variables. This can be named marstat, and should be referenced by both the represented variables.

The following diagram visualizes these items and their relationships.

Harmonize Variables in Colectica Designer ¶

To assign a represented variable to a variable:

Navigate to the variable editor for the variable.
On the Concept tab, search for a represented variable to assign, or create a new one.

See also

For instructions on assigning or creating the represented variable, see Reference a Single Item.
Assign the same represented variable to any other variables, as appropriate.
Drill into the represented variable.
Using the represented variable’s editor, assign or create a conceptual variable.
After assigning represented and conceptual variables, you can view the list of all harmonized variables by using the Links view from the represented variable.