I have an SPSS file that has cases with missing data for certain variables. I have a second file that has those cases with the missing data for certain variables . Is there a way to combine the files so that the one file fills in the missing data of the other file? I know I could rename the variable of the second file, merge the files by adding that variable, and then combine them through computing a new variable, but this would take an awfully long time.
Hi John, Have you used any variable for identification of your cases for sorting? Further, are data on single variable missing or data on many variables are missing? Knowing the missing pattern will be needed before any shortcut method can be suggested.
Further I suggest you create Microsoft Excel Sheet. Dealing with missing values is much easier in excel than in SPSS.
The first issue is whether you have a unique identifier on which you can merge two files. If you do not, then you will need to account for linkage error. The second issue is whether a variable from a first source, say income1, is the same as a variable from a second source, say income2. If the two variables are almost always the same, then you are likely ok. If the two variables sometimes differ by 10% or more, then how do you deal with the discrepancies?
John, I wonder if you are looking for the UPDATE command. See the link below.
http://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSLVMB_24.0.0/spss/base/syn_update_overview.html
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