Merging

[Roger Cupido]

Hello

I need to combine 5 different variables each with different values into one variable combining all value labels of the 5 questions. However value label number 1 in each question have a different answer and the same for number 2 & 3 etc. therefore merging seems impossible so does re-coding into different variables.

If this is possible in SPSS and how do I go about doing it? Any suggestions is appreciated...

Thanks...

[David Marso]

I am not sure what you are attempting to do.  Maybe an example of the inputs and desired result would be useful?
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SPSS_Tech wrote

Hello

I need to combine 5 different variables each with different values into one variable combining all value labels of the 5 questions. However value label number 1 in each question have a different answer and the same for number 2 & 3 etc. therefore merging seems impossible so does re-coding into different variables.

If this is possible in SPSS and how do I go about doing it? Any suggestions is appreciated...

Thanks...

[Roger Cupido]

Hello David

Thank you for the reply.

There are 4 questions asking respondents their region or district.

q0002 In which region or district are you located? {1.00 District A, 2.00 District B, 3.00 District C...}

q0004 In which region or district are you located? {1.00 District D, 2.00 District E, 3.00 District F...}

q0006 In which region or district are you located? {1.00 District G, 2.00 District H, 3.00 District I...}

q0008 In which region or district are you located? {1.00 District J,  2.00 District K, 3.00 District L}

For each question above the answer options or value labels is different. I want to combine all the value labels of the questions above into one new question containing all the value labels from q0002, q0004, q0006 & q0008.

For example:

q0010 In which region or district are you located? {1.00 District A, 2.00 District B, 3.00 District C, 4.00 District D, 5.00 District E, 6.00 District F, 7.00 District G, 8.00 District H, 9.00 District I, 10.00 District J, 11.00 District K, 12.00 District L...}

I hope this clarifies the question...

Thanks,

Roger

[David Marso]

Why ask 4 questions?
Can a respondent answer more than one?
If so then how do you expect this to manifest in a single new variable?
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SPSS_Tech wrote

Hello David

Thank you for the reply.

There are 4 questions asking respondents their region or district.

q0002 In which region or district are you located? {1.00 District A, 2.00 District B, 3.00 District C...}

q0004 In which region or district are you located? {1.00 District D, 2.00 District E, 3.00 District F...}

q0006 In which region or district are you located? {1.00 District G, 2.00 District H, 3.00 District I...}

q0008 In which region or district are you located? {1.00 District J,  2.00 District K, 3.00 District L}

For each question above the answer options or value labels is different. I want to combine all the value labels of the questions above into one new question containing all the value labels from q0002, q0004, q0006 & q0008.

For example:

q0010 In which region or district are you located? {1.00 District A, 2.00 District B, 3.00 District C, 4.00 District D, 5.00 District E, 6.00 District F, 7.00 District G, 8.00 District H, 9.00 District I, 10.00 District J, 11.00 District K, 12.00 District L...}

I hope this clarifies the question...

Thanks,

Roger

[Roger Cupido]

Region question is based on different provinces each respondent will be asked the question once that is the reason for the 4 questions. Going forward there will only be one region question containing all the districts or regions.

[David Marso]

Please paste some actual examples of the data values.
Have you looked at RECODE INTO?
The VALUELABEL function followed by AUTORECODE might be useful.
Always best to post specific example of actual data values and desired outcome.
I still have no idea why you have the data in 4 different columns.
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SPSS_Tech wrote

Region question is based on different provinces each respondent will be asked the question once that is the reason for the 4 questions. Going forward there will only be one region question containing all the districts or regions.