Creating Search Criterion

At the top of the Variable Search tab is the Search Criteria options for selecting variables for extraction. Depending on the study selected, this area may also include a Show Index button, which allows you to select variables from a clickable tree structure. See browse by index for more information.

The following image shows:

1. Search Criteria, where you define the parameters of your search.
2. A menu bar, consisting of three drop-down menus where you select and refine search options.

Setting the search options

Create a search criterion by making a selection in each of the three menu items in the menu bar.

1. Select a category in the Search Types drop-down menu.

   

   Eight main search categories are available:

   • Area of Interest: the main research area of the variable.
     • Pick from list
   • Word in Title: any word that appears in the variable title.
     • Pick from list
     • Enter search term
   • Question Text: any word that appears in the text of the question.
     • Enter search term
   • Question Name: a code assigned to identify each question, which gives the location of the variable in the questionnaire or identifies it as a created variable. When possible, question names are kept consistent across survey years for the same question.
     • Pick from list
     • Enter search term
   • Reference Number: abbreviated RNUM, a letter and number combination uniquely assigned to each variable.
     • Pick from list
     • Enter search term
   • Survey Year
     • Pick from list
   • Codebook: a search for any text appearing anywhere on the codebook page.
     • Enter search term
   • Variable Type: a search for variables defined by a specific variable type (may not be enabled for all cohorts).
     • Pick from list

2. Choose a logic operator, such as equals or doesn't equal, from the Operators drop-down menu.

   

   • Note: The options vary depending on the selection in Search Types. For example, within appears in the Operators drop-down menu only when the Survey Year search type is selected allowing you to enter a range of survey years.

3. Use the Values field to either select from a list or enter text to search. The available field type (textbox or drop-down) depends on the option chosen in Search Types.

   

To the right of the menu bar are three buttons: Add, Reset, and Search.

• Add allows you to combine multiple search criteria by providing an additional menu bar to make additional selections.

  • Note: The Group Operator drop-down menu is located above the Add and Reset buttons and applies AND/OR logic operators to two or more criteria.

    

• Reset clears the search selections to select new criteria.
• Search executes the search process producing a list of variables that match the search criteria.