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Re: st: factor variables may not contain negative values
From
William Buchanan <[email protected]>
To
"[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Subject
Re: st: factor variables may not contain negative values
Date
Fri, 16 Aug 2013 06:08:23 -0500
There is no reason for the categories to contain negative values. In this case, it would probably be more appropriate to reconsider your coding scheme. I would strongly consider using the extended missing values in this case since you know why the valid response does not exist:
recode x (-9 = .a)(-6 = .b)
la def labelsx .a "Does Not Know" .b "In Progress" 1 "Yes" 2 "No"
la val x labelsx
In either case, there is no reason to use negative values for this variable if the numeric values have no inherent meaning about the scale/unit of measurement.
HTH,
Billy
Sent from my iPhone
On Aug 16, 2013, at 5:52, malay biswas <[email protected]> wrote:
> Dear All,
> Could please tell meas to how stata operates in the following situation.
>
> I have data set containing codes for missing data and other contingencies.
>
> Yes= 1
> No = 2
> Do Not Know = -9 (Minus)
> Still in Progress= -6(Minus)
>
> When conducting interaction with other variables having similar coding
> arrangements, I get stata notification that "factor variables may not
> contain negative values."
>
> Could you please tell me what is happening?
>
> Thank you for your continued support.
> Regards
> Malay
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