DOI: 10.3886/icpsr09365
title: Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) 1987 Panel
title: Archival Version

description: This data collection is part of a longitudinal survey designed
to provide detailed information on the economic situation of households
and persons in the United States. These data examine the distribution
of income, wealth, and poverty in American society and gauge the
effects of federal and state programs on the well-being of families and
individuals. There are three basic elements contained in the survey.
The first is a control card that records basic social and demographic
characteristics for each person in a household, as well as changes in
such characteristics over the course of the interviewing period. The
second element is the core portion of the questionnaire, with questions
repeated at each interview on labor force activity, types and amounts
of income, participation in various cash and noncash benefit programs,
attendance in postsecondary schools, private health insurance coverage,
public or subsidized rental housing, low-income energy assistance, and
school breakfast and lunch participation. The third element consists of
topical modules, which are series of supplemental questions asked
during selected household visits. A topical module was not created for
the first wave of the 1987 panel. The Wave II topical module includes
data on marriage and fertility history, education and training history,
employment and work disability history, migration, family background,
and household relationships. The Wave III topical module concerns child
care arrangements and child care costs. The Wave IV topical module
provides information on assets and liabilities. Included are questions
on loans, IRAs, medical bills, other debts, checking accounts, and
savings bonds, as well as questions related to mortgages, royalties,
other investments, real estate property and vehicles, rental income,
self-employment, and stocks and mutual fund shares. The topical module
for Wave V includes data on educational enrollment and financing.
Variables include enrollment in elementary school, high school, and
college, costs of school attendance for those not attending public
schools, and sources of financial assistance such as grants, loans,
fellowships and scholarships, tuition reduction, and the GI Bill. The
topical module for Wave VI provides information on work schedules,
child care, child support agreements, support for non-household
members, long-term care, disability status of children, and health
status and utilization of health care services. Wave VII topical module
includes data on assets and liabilities.
description: A multistage stratified sampling design was used. The 1987 
 panel consisted of approximately 16,700 households. One-fourth of these 
 households were interviewed each month, and households were 
 re-interviewed at four-month intervals. All persons at least 15 years 
 old who were present as household members at the time of the first 
 interview were included for the entire study, except those who joined 
 the military, were institutionalized for the entire study period, or 
 moved from the United States. Original household members who moved 
 during the study period were followed to their new residences and 
 interviewed there. New persons moving into households of members of the 
 original sample also were included in the survey, but were not followed 
if they left the household of an original sample person.
description: Datasets: 
DS0: Study-Level Files
DS1: Wave I Rectangular Data
DS2: Data Dictionary for Wave I Rectangular File
DS3: Wave II Rectangular Core and Topical Module Data
DS4: Data Dictionary for Wave II Rectangular Core and Topical Module File
DS5: Wave III Rectangular Core and Topical Module Data
DS6: Data Dictionary for Wave III Rectangular Core and Topical Module File
DS7: Wave IV Rectangular Core and Topical Module Data
DS8: Data Dictionary for Wave IV Rectangular Core and Topical Module File
DS9: Wave V Rectangular Core and Topical Module Data
DS10: Data Dictionary for Wave V Rectangular Core and Topical Module File
DS11: Wave VI Rectangular Core and Topical Module Data
DS12: Data Dictionary for Wave VI Rectangular Core and Topical Module File
DS13: Wave VII Rectangular Core and Topical Module Data
DS14: Data Dictionary for Wave VII Rectangular Core and Topical Module File
DS15: User Notes
DS16: User Guide
description: Resident population of the United States, excluding persons
living in institutions and military barracks.