Are item names provided, or are they the entry sequence numbers?

 

INUMB=Y

a name is given to each item based on its sequence number in your data records. The names are "I0001", "I0002", ..., and so on for the NI= items. This is a poor choice as it produces noninformative output.

 

INUMB=N, the standard

Your item names are entered (by you) after the "&END" at the end of the control variables. Entering detailed item names makes your output much more meaningful to you.

 

The rules for supplying your own item names are:

1. Item names are entered, one per line, generally directly after &END.

2. Item names begin in column 1.

3. Up to 300 characters (or ITLEN=) in each item name line will be used, but you may enter longer names in the control file for your own record keeping.

4. The item names must be listed in exactly the same order as their responses appear in your data records.

5. There should be the same number of item names as there are items specified by NI=. If there are too many or too few names, a message will warn you and sequence numbers will be used for the names of any unnamed items. You can still proceed with the analysis.

6. Type END NAMES starting in column 1 of the line after the last item name.

 

Example: An analysis of 4 items for which you supply identifying labels.

 

; these lines can start at any column

  NI=4  four items

ITEM1=10 responses start in column 10

INUMB=N item names supplied (the standard)

  &END

My first item name ; must start at column 1.

My second item label

My third item identifier

My fourth and last item name

END NAMES  ; must start at column 1, in capital letters

Person A 1100 data records

 |

Person Z 1001