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SLID Systems

SLIDRet 4.0

 

Creation of a query

Required Information

Type of analysis

The user must choose between cross-sectional and longitudinal. In general, cross-sectional analysis refers to analysis covering only one reference year (or a series of one reference year analysis) whereas longitudinal analysis spans over several years.

Surveys

SLID (Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics) data cover years from 1993 to present.

SCF (Survey of Consumer Finance) data cover years 1976 to 1997.

SLID + SCF data cover 1976 to present.

Analysis unit

 


The unit of analysis identifies the unit of observation for one record on the output file. Not all choices are available for both cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis. The choices are:

 

·   Person: one record for every person

·   Person-job: one record for every job held (Persons with no jobs are not included in this file.)

·   Job absence: one record for every job absence (Persons with no jobs or with jobs from which no absence was taken are not included in this file.)

·   Jobless spell: one record for every period of joblessness (Persons with no such periods are not included in this file.)

·   Marital status spell: one for every marital state held by each person during his/her lifetime (Complete marital history is not collected by SLID for some persons with multiple marriages.)

·   Postsecondary degree, diploma or certificate: one record for every postsecondary degree, diploma or certificate received during each person’s lifetime, with some exceptions for persons with multiple degrees. (Persons without postsecondary educational attainment are not included in this file.)

·   Household: one record for every household

·   Household relationships: one record for every pair of persons in every household (Households with only one person are not included in this file. In general, a household with n persons will have n*(n-1) records on this file.)

·   Economic family: one record for every economic family

·   Census family: one record for every census family

·   Monthly receipt of EI/WC/SA: one record for every type of benefit received by all persons. Benefits covered are Employment Insurance, Workers’ Compensation and Social Assistance. (Persons without receipt of any of these three benefits are not included on this file).

Reference years

For Longitudinal queries only, chose the panel(s).

 

While all combinations of years are accepted, users requesting longitudinal (year) analysis should pay attention to the survey design and panel rotation. Starting with 1993, a panel of respondents is introduced every three years and stays in sample for a six-year period. So it is possible to have one panel for analysis for six years with half the total survey sample or two panels for analysis for three years. So the application will only let you choose from among the following time periods:

 

Three years: 1993 to 1995, 1996 to 1998, 1999 to 2001, etc.

Six years:     1993 to 1998, 1996 to 2001, 1999 to 2004, etc.

 

In addition, one can also select the year prior to these ranges (i.e., 1992) to expand the data available for analysis. Situational data such as province of residence, marital status and family composition are available corresponding to the end of the year prior to the start of the panel.

 

The Select all years option will check/uncheck all of the currently available reference years options.

 

Variable Selection

Themes

Since the SLID database contains many variables, the location and selection of those variables of interest may take some time. SLIDRET uses the same variable classification into themes and sub-themes as the SLID Electronic Data Dictionary (http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=75F0026X). So, if you are familiar with the data dictionary, you will be able to follow the same path in SLIDRET. SLIDRET also allows you to search for a variable, and to select it for your query at the same time. To select what you want in SLIDRET, ßclick on themes and variables of interest.

 

Variables

The Variables pane title is that of the selected theme/sub-theme. The pane’s contents are variables applicable to the theme/sub-theme selected in the themes pane. If no theme is selected the Variables pane will display all variables applicable to the chosen Analysis unit.

 

Variables can be selected, one at a time, by either single or double clicking (depending on how the corresponding option is set in the options page) the checkbox next to a variable name. Single or double clicking (depending on how the corresponding option is set in the options page) a checked variable un-checks (de-selects) a variable.

 

Checking the Select all visible variables checkbox will check all variables that are currently viewable (whether they are currently visible or not), that is to say all variables belonging to the currently selected theme are selected. Conversely un-checking the Select all visible variables checkbox will un-check all variables that are currently viewable (whether they are currently visible or not), that is to say all variables belonging to the currently selected theme are de-selected.

 

Selected Variables

The Selected Variables pane displays the entire list of currently selected variables. As they are selected from within the variables pane, variables will appear in the Selected Variables pane. Conversely, as variables are de-selected from the variables pane they are removed from the Selected Variables pane.

A variable can also be removed from the Selected Variables pane by first selecting it and by then press the  button.

Pressing the Clear variables button will remove all variables from the Selected Variables pane.

 

Variables Details

The pane which spans the lower right of the Variable Selection tab displays details regarding the last selected variable (the last variable name that was clicked on in the Variables or the Selected Variables panes). The contents of this pane are for information purposes only and as such are read-only.

Summary

Selected Variables

Displays a summary listing of all selected variables in the Variable Selection tab. Further details on the selected/highlighted variable can be found below the list. Contents of this tab cannot be modified. Any changes must be made at the original data entry location.

 

Analysis Type

Displays the Analysis Type as selected in the Required Information tab. Contents of this tab cannot be modified. Any changes must be made at the original data entry location.

Analysis Unit

Displays the Analysis Unit as selected in the Required Information tab. Contents of this tab cannot be modified. Any changes must be made at the original data entry location.

Themes and Entities

Displays the Themes and Entities displays a list of all themes and entities covered by current query. Contents of this tab cannot be modified. Any changes must be made at the original data entry location.

Selected years

A listing of all the years as specified in the Required Information tab. Contents of this tab cannot be modified. Any changes must be made at the original data entry location.

 

Restrict variables

Restrictions

Displays the restrictions (if any) that have been applied to this query. Its contents are managed through the Line editor. To modify or remove a restriction, select it and perform the corresponding action (modify or remove) in the Line editor.

Line editor

Allows for the following management of restrictions.

·         Add:          
Specify the required fields and press the Add/Modify button.

·         Modify:     
Select the desired restriction from the Restrictions table, make desired changes in the Line editor, and press the Add/Modify button.

·         Remove:    
Select the desired restriction from the Restrictions table and press the Remove button

 

Selected variable description

Provides a detailed description for the variable selected in the Line editor.

Run Query

Query Output

Allows specification of the desired file output formats from among:

·        Univariate statistics (.ust):
Produces statistics on the distribution of the data in the resulting dataset. For numerical variables, ranges will be established based on the weighted  mean of all valid, non‑zero values of the variable. The distribution of valid, positive, non‑zero values of numerical variables follows this pattern:

§  (   0, B1 = mean divided by 2.00]

§  (B1, B2 = mean divided by 1.50]

§  (B2, B3 = mean divided by 1.25]

§  (B3, B4 = mean divided by 1.10]

§  (B4, B5 = mean]

§  (B5, B6 = mean multiplied by 1.10]

§  (B6, B7 = mean multiplied by 1.25]

§  (B7, B8 = mean multiplied by 1.50]

§  (B8, B9 = mean multiplied by 2.00]

§  (B9, Maximum valid value of the variable]

NOTE: Univariate Statistics are not available for Longitudinal data
NOTE: Generating Univariate Statistics can greatly increase the time required to complete a query.  It is recommended that this option only be selected if it is absolutely required.


NOTE: All files, once created, do not maintain any link to the actual data in SLIDRet. The files are a temporary snapshot of the SLIDRet data represented by the query at the time they were created. Changes made to SLIDRet data will NOT be automatically reflected in the files you have created. Likewise, changes made to your query will NOT be automatically reflected in the files you have created until you run the modified query.

Output files language

Specifies the language used in the output file for application generated headings or messages. This does not affect the language of such items as variable names or variable values.

Weight

Specifies the weight to be used with the query. Only weights applicable to your chosen Type of Analysis, Survey, Analysis Units and Reference Years will be available. Weights are covered further in the Weights section later in this document.

Output

Once the query is run information regarding its progress will be displayed here.

Run

Processes the query (the selected fields from records matching the specified criteria are output in the specified formats).
At this point the user is prompted to save the query where he may chose to save it. The default query location is provided however the user may chose a different

Output folder

Opens the default query location folder (specified in the options section) for your output files so that you may quickly access these files.

Preview

Note: This window will only display data if you generated a CSV File.

 

Displays a summary view (8000 records) of the query results. Pressing the Previous Page button will load the previous page (previous 8000 records) of data (assuming the user is not already at the first page). Pressing the Next Page button will load the next page (next 8000 records) of data (assuming the user is not already at the last page of data)