Data Manipulation
Recoding Variables
Recoding is a substantive measurement decision, not just a cosmetic change to labels or numbers.
Page 1 of 7 · Big Picture
The big picture: Recoding Variables
How can a raw variable be transformed into an analytically meaningful measure?
Why a policy analyst should care
Recoding turns stored values into analytical categories, so every cutoff and reference category becomes a substantive decision that must be defensible.
Follow the idea from the opening question to a practical decision. These are the conceptual moves this module will develop:
1 Question Why recode this variable?
2 Explore Make a health-policy measure explicit
3 Formalize Map source values to analysis values
4 Transfer Audit a recoded variable
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