Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Topics
Data & Maps
Surveys & Programs
Resource Library
Playing with Matches: An Assessment of Accuracy in Linked Historical Data
Playing with Matches: An Assessment of Accuracy in Linked Historical Data
Working Paper Number CARRA-WP-2016-05
Abstract
This paper evaluates linkage quality achieved by various record linkage techniques used in historical demography. I create benchmark, or truth, data by linking the 2005 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement to the Social Security Administration’s Numeric Identification System by Social Security Number. By comparing simulated linkages to the benchmark data, I examine the value added (in terms of number and quality of links) from incorporating text-string comparators, adjusting age, and using a probabilistic matching algorithm. I find that text-string comparators and probabilistic approaches are useful for increasing the linkage rate, but use of text-string comparators may decrease accuracy in some cases. Overall, probabilistic matching offers the best balance between linkage rates and accuracy.
Others in Series
Working Paper
Measuring The Effects Of The Tipped Minimum Wage Using W-2 Data
Estimates the effects of tipped minimum wages on the wages and hourly tips of servers, as well as server employment and hours worked.
Working Paper
How State Policies Changed Advanced Tax Refund Payments
Examines the impact of state-level regulation of Refund Anticipation Loans on the increase in the use of Refund Anticipation Checks and on taxpayer outcomes.
Working Paper
Evaluating the Use of Commercial Data to Improve Survey Estimates
Evaluates the potential to use commercial data to reduce respondent burden, study survey response error and improve adjustments for survey nonresponse.
Page Last Revised - October 8, 2021
✕
Is this page helpful?
Yes
No
Yes
No✕
NO THANKS
255 characters maximum
255 characters maximum reached
255 characters maximum reached
✕
Thank you for your feedback.
Comments or suggestions?
Comments or suggestions?
