Date:         Sat, 14 Dec 1996 17:17:17 GMT
Reply-To:     David Kurzman <DAVEK@VAX2.CONCORDIA.CA>
Sender:       "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <SPSSX-L@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU>
From:         David Kurzman <DAVEK@VAX2.CONCORDIA.CA>
Organization: j%nki~w RJ3M-26XPLZ8L-BFGD44CT-1EA6BC82
Subject:      Missing vs. Sysmis
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hi there,
 
Ass I create a new data set and use a previous one I began to wonder
wheteher it is better to use a code for missing data (e.g.,  -99) or
simply leave it blank and later add the
 
set blanks = -99
(missing values all (-99)
 
is there any reason why I would want to initially code it as -99
rather than leave it blank?
 
This is especiaiily true given, a data set that I have been given in
which the data entry invloves fields of different length such that the
missing data were enetered as 99, 999, 9999 .... and there are now
many many lines simply to define the missing data.
 
Also, when new data were entered, they decided to now enter the
additional data by simply leaving missing data fileds blank.  does
this combination of defining missing data create problems?
 
 
Lastly,  Is there a way to recode all missing data to a single code in
one step (e.g., recode all missing to -9)?
 
Thanks,
 
David Kurzman
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" David Kurzman                                        |                  "
" Department of Psychology                             |                  "
" Concordia University                                 |                  "
" e-mail: DAVEK@VAX2.CONCORDIA.CA                      |                  "
" s-mail: 6030 Cote St. Luc Rd. #202  Montreal, PQ  H3X 2G7               "
" HTTP://VAX2.CONCORDIA.CA/~DAVEK                                         "
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