Merging multiple record data

[Kathy McKnight]

Hi all,

I have 2 data sets I need to merge. Data set 1 has a separate rating for 2-3
departments within a given school. The school, the department, and the
person who provided the rating are all coded as separate variables. N = 218
for that data set.

Data set 2 has ratings for teacher workgroups within each of those
departments within a given school. The school, the department and the person
who provided the rating are shared variables across the 2 data sets, but
this data set has another identifier which is workgroup name. N = 366 for
this data set.

I'm trying to merge the data sets so that the ratings from Data Set 1 are
aligned with the ratings in Data Set 2. Because there are several workgroups
nested within the departments, those departmental ratings in Data Set 1
would be repeated in Data Set 2.

When I try to merge these data sets, it fails. I've tried this in the past
with other multi-level data and have not been able to merge those types of
data files.

Does anyone know how to do this in SPSS? I've been doing it in R but I'd
rather be able to use just one stats package for data management if I can.

Thanks in advance for your help,

Kathy McKnight

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[Oliver, Richard]

Try looking at the MATCH FILES command, using dataset 1 as a table lookup file (TABLE subcommand).


-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Kathy McKnight
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 2:18 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Merging multiple record data

Hi all,

I have 2 data sets I need to merge. Data set 1 has a separate rating for 2-3
departments within a given school. The school, the department, and the
person who provided the rating are all coded as separate variables. N = 218
for that data set.

Data set 2 has ratings for teacher workgroups within each of those
departments within a given school. The school, the department and the person
who provided the rating are shared variables across the 2 data sets, but
this data set has another identifier which is workgroup name. N = 366 for
this data set.

I'm trying to merge the data sets so that the ratings from Data Set 1 are
aligned with the ratings in Data Set 2. Because there are several workgroups
nested within the departments, those departmental ratings in Data Set 1
would be repeated in Data Set 2.

When I try to merge these data sets, it fails. I've tried this in the past
with other multi-level data and have not been able to merge those types of
data files.

Does anyone know how to do this in SPSS? I've been doing it in R but I'd
rather be able to use just one stats package for data management if I can.

Thanks in advance for your help,

Kathy McKnight

=====================
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[hidden email] (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the
command. To leave the list, send the command
SIGNOFF SPSSX-L
For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the command
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[Justin Meyer-3]

Kathy:

I may be misinterpreting what you are trying to do, but I have merged
files in SPSS before. Typically, I have one file with teacher level data
and another with student level data that I need to merge.

Open the two datasets that you want to merge. Make sure that the "key"
variables that you will be matching on are formatted the same way in
both files. Sort both files the same way: First by school ascending,
then by department ascending, then by person ascending. The files must
be sorted using the same variables, in the same order, always ascending.
Next, click on Data, then Merge Files, then Add Variables. Select the
non-active dataset (dataset 2 if you are working in dataset 1) and
continue. In the new window, check the box "Match cases on key variables
in sorted files." I think that you will want to select "Both files
provide cases" so that all cases from both files are included in the
merged file, but I could be misunderstanding your situation. Finally,
use the arrow to move the variables school, department and person from
Excluded Variables to Key Variables and click OK. This should have
merged the variables from the non-active dataset into the active
dataset.

Is this the process you are using, or have I completely misinterpreted
your question?

____________________________________

Justin Meyer

Rowland Reading Foundation

phone: [phone]  fax: [phone]

____________________________________

-----Original Message-----
From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of
Kathy McKnight
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 2:18 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Merging multiple record data

Hi all,

I have 2 data sets I need to merge. Data set 1 has a separate rating for
2-3
departments within a given school. The school, the department, and the
person who provided the rating are all coded as separate variables. N =
218
for that data set.

Data set 2 has ratings for teacher workgroups within each of those
departments within a given school. The school, the department and the
person
who provided the rating are shared variables across the 2 data sets, but
this data set has another identifier which is workgroup name. N = 366
for
this data set.

I'm trying to merge the data sets so that the ratings from Data Set 1
are
aligned with the ratings in Data Set 2. Because there are several
workgroups
nested within the departments, those departmental ratings in Data Set 1
would be repeated in Data Set 2.

When I try to merge these data sets, it fails. I've tried this in the
past
with other multi-level data and have not been able to merge those types
of
data files.

Does anyone know how to do this in SPSS? I've been doing it in R but I'd
rather be able to use just one stats package for data management if I
can.

Thanks in advance for your help,

Kathy McKnight

=====================
To manage your subscription to SPSSX-L, send a message to
[hidden email] (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the
command. To leave the list, send the command
SIGNOFF SPSSX-L
For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the command
INFO REFCARD

=====================
To manage your subscription to SPSSX-L, send a message to
[hidden email] (not to SPSSX-L), with no body text except the
command. To leave the list, send the command
SIGNOFF SPSSX-L
For a list of commands to manage subscriptions, send the command
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