Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children
www.aifs.gov.au/growingup
Data dictionary
As part of the meta-data management of LSAC, a Data Dictionary has been developed. The Data Dictionary functions as a meta-database with a web-based front end such that the product is easily accessed by all users. For users wishing to print hard copies of the data dictionary the information is also in the downloadable excel spreadsheets obtainable below.
The Wave 2 Data Dictionary
Access the data dictionary
Excel version: Data Dictionary (Excel 5.5MB)
Glossary for the data dictionary
Topic constructs
An additional database has been developed to contain code provided by users of the data to derive variables not originally on the datasets.
Derived variable code database
The online Data Dictionary functions as a meta-database with a web-based front end such that the product can be easily accessed by all users. It is updated by LSAC staff as the need arises, so can be useful if users do not wish to download the latest version of the full spreadsheet of the data dictionary to get the latest information.
This page provides an overview of the Data Dictionary contents, descriptions of provided views and examples of effective searching strategies. Seen below is an example of the view provided by the Data Dictionary.
Two views are provided on the on-line data dictionary:
- A general view which gives a variable name, question, responses and population information for a number of fields at a time.
- A detailed view which displays all fields, but for only one record at a time.
The on-line data dictionary can be shifted into “find mode” by clicking the magnifying glass near the top left hand corner of the screen. Search terms can be entered into each field, either through drop down boxes or through typing keywords into the field boxes. Clicking the “Perform Find” button will return all the records that match the criteria given. For example if we wanted to find all the Parenting variables completed by Parent 2 for the B-cohort, the figure below shows how this search could be performed by selecting “B” for the “Cohort” field, “Parent 2” for the “Person Label” field and, “Parenting” for the “Topic” field.
Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Variable name | As it appears on the LSAC dataset |
| Variable name without age | Useful for sorting together like variables from different waves and cohorts |
| Topic number | Allows derived items to be sorted in with the input variables them come from |
| Question id (i.e. variable name without age or subject/informant)) | Useful for checking which informats were asked each question at each Wave |
| Position in file order | Mainly useful for sorting questions back into file order (default option) |
| File | Which of the LSAC data files the variable is contained in: either lsacconf0, lsacconf2, lsacconf4, lsacconf6 |
| Wave | Which wave (or waves) data was collected from for the variable |
| Cohort | Indicator of whether the question is asked for the B or K-cohort. |
| Questionnaire position | Location of question within questionnaires |
| Person label | Subject/Informant for the variable |
| Child’s age | Age of child at time information is collected |
| Variable labels | Describes the question/item. |
| Topics | The theme or content area. |
| Construct | This is like a sub-topic, more specific than the topic. (See table below for a list of constructs by topic) |
| Measure | Specific information on the measure that the variable is part of. |
| Question | The actual wording of the question that appears in the LSAC instruments. |
| Response categories | The actual wording of the response categories that appears in the LSAC instruments. |
| Population | Which cases should have valid (non-missing) for the variable |
| SAS format | Format used in SAS to add value labels |
| Derived variable | Is a variable that has been generated/created from other information collected. |
| Item type | This variable is designed to
help users create customised lists of the variables for easier location of
required variables. Fields have been classified into the following types:
|
| Notes | Any other information on the variable that data users should be aware of |
Topic constructs
| Topic | Construct |
|---|---|
| Census linked data | Neighbourhood status |
| Family demographics | Age Change in household Children living elewhere Ethnicity Interview characteristics Medical conditions Non-resident children Other family health Parental education Relationship history Relationships within family Religion Sex Socioeconomic Position Type of family |
| Finances | Financial
stress Financial stress Government benefits Income |
| General development | Behaviour Emotional development Form status General development Language development Outcome Index Physical development School readiness Social development Socioeconomic Position |
| Health behaviour and risk factors | Alcohol
consumption Breastfeeding Current diet Current drinks Early feeding Immunisation Maternal health during pregnancy Nutrition Oral Health Physical activity Smoking Sun exposure |
| Health status | Asthma/wheezing Birth Conception General health Injuries Medical Condition Mental health Other hospital stays Physical development Physical measurements Sleeping problems Vision Whooping cough / bronchiolitis |
| Home education envrionment | Activities
at home Activities outside the home Activities with family Expectations about education Home computer use Parent involvement Parental Involvement Special activities Television at home TV, Computer & Electronic games |
| Housing | Current
housing Home environment Key indicator Neighbourhood status Pets Previous housing |
| Identifiers | Birth Consent Form status Interview characteristics Key indicator Parental behaviour Relationship history Service characteristics Status |
| Learning and cognition outcomes | Approach
to learning Early language and communication General development Language development Numeracy Numeracy Reading Social Competence Temperament Writing |
| NCAC linked data | NCAC Type of family |
| Paid work | Biological
mother's paid work during pregnancy Change over last 2 years Combining work and family Labour force status Leave entitlements Unemployment Working conditions |
| Parental Leave in Australia | Biological
mother's paid work during pregnancy Mother's employment around birth Partner's employment around birth Type of family Working conditions |
| Parental living elsewhere | Child
support Contact with child Contact with Study Child Parenting PLE characteristics PLE status Quality of relationship with P1 Relationship history Type of family |
| Parenting | Consistent
parenting Hostile parenting Inductive reasoning Maternal separation anxiety Parent involvement Parental behaviour Parental efficacy Parental monitoring Parental self-efficacy Parental warmth Parent's childhood experiences |
| Program characteristics | Absenteeism Bullying Current non-parental care Education/care choices Group characteristics Parent/teacher communication Partner care Payment for care Previous care School enjoyment School/care enjoyment Service use Teacher/carer characteristics Time in care Type of program Use of services Work environment |
| Relationships | Couple relationships Family Cohesion |
| Social and emotional outcomes | Behaviour Child self perceptions Emotional development General development SDQ hyperactivity Social development Temperament |
| Social capital | Attachment Contact Neighbourhood status Services Social support |
| Teaching practices | Activities
with child Classroom management Classroom resources Parent/teacher communication Relationship with SC Teaching style |
