What's New

IFSS releases Pregnancy Interval data

The Integrated Fertility Survey Series (IFSS) project at ICPSR is pleased to announce its fifth data release: the Pregnancy Interval file. The Pregnancy Interval file is a pregnancy-level data set that contains information on outcomes of each pregnancy, along with variables regarding timing, wantedness, prenatal care, breastfeeding, and finances for each pregnancy. Additional variables about contraceptive use in the interval and at the time of conception are also included. This data set can be merged with the previously released respondent-level data to provide an in-depth look at childbearing and contraceptive behavior over time.

To accompany the release of the Pregnancy Interval file, we have also updated and improved the IFSS User Guide to include instructions on merging the Interval data with the Respondent data, among other things.

Comparability notes describing particular issues relating to each harmonized variable are available by clicking on the variable name on the Harmonized Data Extracts page.

The Pregnancy Interval data are available for download on the Data and Documentation page, can be explored and extracted from the Harmonized Data Extracts page, and can be analyzed online using SDA. Please note that all IFSS data releases are beta versions provided for users to begin using the data before the final version is released in 2012. As such, they are subject to change and may contain inconsistencies. If you notice any problems with the data, please contact the IFSS team at IFSSGroup@umich.edu so that we may fix them.

2012-03-21

IFSS workshop at PAA 2012

An introductory workshop on the new Integrated Fertility Survey Series (IFSS) data set will be held on Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012 from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. at the annual meeting of the Population Association of America in San Francisco, CA.

The IFSS is a harmonized data set containing data from ten nationally representative U.S. surveys of family and fertility spanning nearly fifty years. The surveys include the 1955 and 1960 Growth of American Families (GAF); the 1965 and 1970 National Fertility Survey (NFS); and the 1973, 1976, 1982, 1988, 1995, and 2002 National Survey of Family Growth (Cycles 1-6 of the NSFG). Altogether, the IFSS includes data on over 71,000 women, their spouses or partners, families, fertility histories, contraceptive practices, and attitudes about childbearing.

This introductory workshop includes an overview of the data, provides examples of research questions that can be analyzed with the data, and demonstrates how to navigate the IFSS website. Please see our brochure or website for more details about the IFSS.

The workshop is appropriate for graduate students as well as more experienced researchers. It will also provide an excellent networking opportunity for demographers interested in fertility and family-related topics.

While registration is not required, for planning purposes please email sarah.hayford@asu.edu if you would like to attend.

2012-02-14

IFSS announces fourth harmonized data release

The Integrated Fertility Survey Series (IFSS) project at ICPSR is pleased to announce the release of its fourth harmonized dataset, adding fertility intention, infertility diagnosis and treatment, HIV, and other medical diagnosis variables to previously harmonized pregnancy summary, sociodemographic and union history variables. The dataset combines information from 10 surveys and over 71,000 respondents spanning 1955 to 2002 into harmonized variables for easy analysis.

The fourth release data are available for download on the Data and Documentation page, can be explored and extracted from the Harmonized Data Extracts page, and can be analyzed online using SDA.

Please note that all IFSS data releases are beta versions provided for users to begin using the data before the final version is released in late 2012. As such, they are subject to change and may contain small inconsistencies. If you notice any problems with the data, please contact the IFSS team at IFSSGroup@umich.edu so that we may fix them.

2011-08-25

Changes to authentication

Beginning Wednesday, May 18, ICPSR users will have additional options for logging in to ICPSR. Visitors wishing to download data or access other ICPSR functions that require authentication will be able to use their Google or Facebook account.

The new login screen will look like this:

Benefits of making third party authentication available:

Users will not have to remember yet another login/password combination.
If users are logged into their Google or Facebook account and then go to ICPSR, they will already be logged in.

2011-05-18

Integrated Fertility Survey Series (IFSS) announces third data release and new variable filters

The Integrated Fertility Survey Series (IFSS) project at ICPSR is pleased to announce the release of its third harmonized dataset, adding pregnancy summary variables and variables related to adoption and non-biological children to previously harmonized sociodemographic and union history variables. The dataset combines information from 10 surveys and over 71,000 respondents spanning 1955 to 2002 into harmonized variables for easy analysis.

We have also updated the Harmonized Data Extracts page, adding the option to filter the variables by availability in multiple years, by variable group, and by search terms.

The third release data are available for download on the Data and Documentation page, can be explored and extracted from the Harmonized Data Extracts page, and can be analyzed online using SDA.

2011-04-26

IFSS goes to PAA

IFSS will be at the PAA annual meetings in Washington D.C. March 31-April 2. Look for us at the ICPSR booth!

2011-03-25

Integrated Fertility Survey Series (IFSS) publishes second data release

The Integrated Fertility Survey Series (IFSS) project at ICPSR is pleased to announce the release of its second harmonized dataset, which updates the first release and adds variables related to union history, cohabitation and husband/partner sociodemographics. The dataset combines information from 10 surveys and over 71,000 respondents spanning 1955 to 2002 into harmonized variables for easy analysis.

The harmonized data are available for download on the Data and Documentation page, and can be explored and extracted from the Harmonized Data Extracts page. Online analysis via SDA is coming soon.

2011-02-07

Collins takes over as IFSS project manager

Emily Gray Collins has been appointed the new project manager for the Integrated Fertility Survey Series project at ICPSR, taking over from Christopher Ward.

She will lead the next stages of the IFSS project, continuing the process of harmonizing data from 10 independent surveys on fertility and family issues taken over five decades.

“I’m truly excited to be part of this historic effort to provide a unique, readily accessible, and easy to use collection of data on fertility and the family that allows users of all skill levels to study changes in family life over the last 50 years,” Collins said. “IFSS will be a valuable resource for the research community for years to come.”

Collins’ research has focused on fertility issues including current work on the effects of the 1965 Supreme Court case Griswold v. Connecticut, which overturned a law against contraceptive use by married couples, and the affordability and use of the birth control pill using evidence from the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.

Collins holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematical economic analysis and computational and applied mathematics from Rice University; a general course certificate from the London School of Economics; and master’s degrees in industrial and operations engineering and in economics from the University of Michigan. She is a Ph.D. candidate in economics at U-M.

Collins can be reached at emgray@umich.edu.

2011-01-11

IFSS Documentation, Search Available

The IFSS project is pleased to announce the availability of its first release of sociodemographic variables. Documentation for the first release is available under the "Data & Documentation" section, and users may create data extracts under "Harmonized Variable Search."

2010-04-30

Integrated Fertility Survey Series unveils first data release, new Web site

The Integrated Fertility Survey Series (IFSS) project at ICPSR is pleased to announce the release of its first dataset and updates to its Web site. The data, consisting of more than 90 sociodemographic variables spanning 10 studies, five decades, and more than 71,000 respondents, have been harmonized to facilitate easy comparisons between the component surveys. Online analysis functionality is available for this release. In addition, the revised IFSS Web site includes updated documentation and search tools to navigate the harmonized variables and their accompanying comparability notes.

With funding from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the IFSS project seeks to 1) develop a harmonized data file and accompanying metadata for use by researchers, graduate students, policymakers, and other parties interested in changes in fertility and the family; 2) create, archive, and distribute clean, standardized electronic data files and documentation for the 10 component surveys; 3) equip IFSS studies with online data analysis tools to allow for quick analyses; and 4) offer complete documentation, tutorials, and other user support for those who want to use data from the harmonized or individual component files.

2010-04-29

1982 NSFG Re-Released

The 1982 National Survey of Family Growth has been re-released and is now available for download from ICPSR. Users should also note that the Survey Documentation Analysis (SDA) application for the study has been updated to reflect corrections to the data set. Questions regarding the update may be sent to ifss@icpsr.umich.edu

2009-06-09

Error in 1982 NSFG

Erratum: An error has been identified in the 1982 National Study of Family Growth. The variable F9, mother's main occupation when respondent was of ages 5 to 15, should contain a three-digit Census occupation code for the respondent's mother, but an error in processing truncated the variable to two digits. The dataset will be re-released in the near future with corrected data.

2009-04-10

IFSS Data Now Available

Standardized versions of all IFSS component surveys have been publicly released and are available under the "Data and Documentation" section. The harmonization process is now underway.

2009-01-15