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Creating a panel dataset [message #4083] Fri, 27 March 2015 04:08 Go to next message
karlo
Messages: 9
Registered: December 2014
Member
Dear all,

I'll be working on a difference-in-differences analysis using two DHS data set. By any chance, does Measure DHS provide guide how to set this up?

Thanks!
Re: Creating a panel dataset [message #4086 is a reply to message #4083] Fri, 27 March 2015 15:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Reduced-For(u)m
Messages: 292
Registered: March 2013
Senior Member

Karlo,

There is no guide (I am almost positive) because this is not precisely the kind of analysis the DHS were designed for, which is essentially within-survey analysis (as opposed to analysis between surveys). That said, there are a number of important points that have come up in the past on the forum, and I can summarize most of that here:

1 - you have to think about your survey weights in one form or another, either using the standard de-normalization procedure (see the Weighting threads), by making them sum up to 1 within a survey, or at least checking that the sum of weights between the two rounds is similar (so as not to weight one survey against another improperly).

2 - you have to adjust your PSU variables to get good inference. Standard practice is to create new PSU numbers that are unique across survey rounds so that you cluster at the right levels. That said, if you are saying "difference-in-difference across two surveys" then I'm guessing you'll be using some sort of geographic regions to define treated/not-treated groups, in which case it is more common to cluster at the region level across both surveys.

3 - just a quick note that confuses some people and has come up a lot: you don't "merge" the two datasets you are using, you "append" them, and it is very easy.

4 - you have to make sure your regions and region numbers are the same across survey rounds, otherwise you are matching regions across time improperly.

I think those are the key bits for doing DnD using DHS that aren't just key bits you should know about setting up any DnD problem, so that should get you started.
Re: Creating a panel dataset [message #4090 is a reply to message #4086] Sun, 29 March 2015 23:18 Go to previous message
karlo
Messages: 9
Registered: December 2014
Member
Hello!

Thanks for your reply! This would would sure help me a lot in my analysis!
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