PRACTICAL SOCIAL INVESTIGATION:

THE SCELI (SOCIAL CHANGE AND ECONOMIC LIFE INITIATIVE)

(MAIN) SURVEY (1986) DATASET

SCELI.SAV contains a small subset of variables generated by the SCELI main survey. Data are included for the respondents in the Coventry travel-to-work area. Many of the variables have been derived from life and/or work history data, which were collected via special schedules on a year-by-year, or event-by-event, basis. For further details see Gallie (1991). Brief details of each variable included in the data file and the original wordings of relevant questions in the survey interview schedule are given below.

Download the data file by clicking here: sceli.sav

Variables contained in the SPSS system file SCELI.SAV:

MAGEM	Respondent's age at first marriage (in months; derived from life history data).
SEX	Respondent's sex.
HQUAL	Respondent's highest qualification (derived from life history data).
RGCLMAR	Respondent's Registrar General's Social Class at marriage (based on own occupation and derived from life/work history data).
GHQ	General Health Questionnaire psychological well-being score (High=Poor; based on Q160 as given below).
TENURE	Current housing tenure (derived from life history data).
RGOLDCLS	Respondent's Goldthorpe class (based on own current/last occupation as derived from work history data).
PGOLDCLS	Respondent's partner's Goldthorpe class (derived from data on current occupation collected by Q171-Q173).
LENFM	Length of (completed) first marriage in months (derived from life history data).
WHYFMEND	Why first marriage ended (derived from life history data).
DS10YRS	Whether divorced or separated within 10 years of first marriage (derived from life history data).
YFMSTART	Year first marriage started (derived from life history data).
PARTNER	Whether respondent has a marriage partner/cohabitee (derived from household information; Q9).
INAREA14	In the (Coventry) area at age 14 years (derived from life history data).
HICLASS	"Highest" Goldthorpe class achieved by the respondent (in terms of their own occupation; derived from work history data).
FGOLDCLS	Father's Goldthorpe class (when respondent was aged 14; derived from occupational data collected by Q166-Q168).
MGOLDCLS	Mother's Goldthorpe class (before she had children; derived from occupational data collected by Q169 and Q170).
AGE	Respondent's age (in years).
EMPSTAT	Respondent's employment status (Q1).
HHINC	Net household income (Q194).
MPGOLD	Male partner's Goldthorpe class (derived from RGOLDCLS, PGOLDCLS and SEX; see above).
FPGOLD	Female partner's Goldthorpe class (derived from RGOLDCLS, PGOLDCLS and SEX; see above).

SCELI questions:

Q1	"Can I just check again, which one of the options on this card best describes your situation in the last seven days?"
Q9	"I'd like to get some details of the other person(s) in your household... What is the relationship to you of each person you've just mentioned?"
Q160	"I'd now like to ask about how you've been feeling in general over the past few weeks. From this card, have you recently... BEEN FEELING REASONABLY HAPPY, ALL THINGS CONSIDERED? BEEN ABLE TO ENJOY YOUR NORMAL DAY TO DAY ACTIVITIES? (Answers: More so than usual; Same as usual; Less so than usual; Much less than usual) "... and using the words on this card, have you recently..." BEEN FEELING UNHAPPY AND DEPRESSED? BEEN LOSING CONFIDENCE IN YOURSELF? (Answers: Not at all; No more than usual; Rather more than usual; Much more than usual).
Q166	"When you were aged about 14, what was your (step) father's job title?"
Q167	"Which group on this card best describes his position in that job at that time, that is, when you were 14?" (Answers relate to employment status/supervisory and managerial role).
Q168	"What did the firm/organisation he worked for actually make/do at the place where he worked?"
Q169	"What was your (step) mother's main paid job before she had children?" IF HOUSEWIFE "What was her main paid job before that?"
Q170	"Which group on this card best describes her position in that job?" (Answers relate to employment status/supervisory and managerial role).
Q171	"Thinking now of your husband's/wife's/partner's current job. What is his/her job title?"
Q172	"Which group on this card best describes his/her position in that job?" (Answers relate to employment status/supervisory and managerial role).
Q173	"What does the firm/organisation he/she works for actually make/do at the place where he/she works?"
Q194	"Thinking of all the members of your household who have income from any source, including yourself, into which of the categories on this card would you estimate the usual total net income of everyone in your household falls, that is, after deductions for tax and national insurance and including any benefits or pensions received?"

REFERENCE

Gallie, D. 1991. Social Change and Economic Life Initiative Surveys, 1986-1987: User Guide, Volume 3. Colchester: ESRC Data Archive.