SPSSX Discussion - Re: Creating a new variable by combining two categorial variables

Re: Creating a new variable by combining two categorial variables

Posted by MLIves on May 07, 2014; 1:28pm
URL: http://spssx-discussion.165.s1.nabble.com/Creating-a-new-variable-by-combining-two-categorial-variables-tp5725785p5725870.html

I suspect there is some clarification still needed.

The statement ‘if student had either an IEP or 504 defined as 1 and not have either an IEP or 504 defined as 2‘ is not logically possible.

If they have an IEP and not a 504 (meets first part), but at the same time would fail the second part since 504 would be 2.

I see that JS has provided syntax for a student having either IEP or 504. Did that answer your question.

Or are you looking for a 4 level categorical that represents IEP, 504, both, neither?

That could be done easily (assuming the values are numeric not string) by:

COMPUTE SPECED=(IEP*10)+504.

Val labels speced

11 ‘Both’

12 ‘IEP only’

21 ‘504 only’

22 ‘Neither’.

From: SPSSX(r) Discussion [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Mary McIntosh
Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2014 10:41 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: [SPSSX-L] Creating a new variable by combining two categorial variables

I am new to this and have a question

I need to combine two categorical variables in SPSS to one categorical variable

IEP or not where has an IEP is defined as 1 and not have an IEP is 2

504 plan or not where has 504 plan is defined as 1 and not have 504 plan is 2

For my analysis I want to create a new variable: special education SPECED

this would be if student had either an IEP or 504 defined as 1 and not have either an IEP or 504 defined as 2

(note a student does not have both-- an IEP is a type of support for a more serious learning disabiilty, a 504 plan for less serious; in the school system they have one or the other if it is needed. They have neither if it is not needed

SO, how do I go about creatiing this new variable?

Thank you for your time

Mary

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