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Glossary

Wave

A wave is a round of data collection in a particular longitudinal survey (for example, the age 7 wave of the National Child Development Study refers to the data collection that took place in 1965 when the participants were aged 7). Note that the term sweep often has the same meaning.

Source: Closer Learning Hub (Panel studies).

Weighting

Weighting is a statistical adjustment made to survey data to improve accuracy of survey estimates. Weighting can correct for unequal probabilities of selection and survey non-response.

Source: SAGE Research Methods.

Wide-format data

In wide format data, each subject’s responses are listed in a single row, with different variables spread across multiple columns. Longitudinal data in wide format would contain one row of information per person, and measurements of the same variable at different time points would be contained in different variables. Contrast with long-format data.