RAND Family Data Files, supported by NIA and HRS

The RAND HRS Family data is a user-friendly version of HRS family data. The data contain a cleaned, processed, and streamlined collection of variables related to the respondent's family. The files include a subset of available characteristics of all children of HRS respondents and spouses, data on children-in law, and data on grandchildren of the respondent. The variables included in the file are gender, birth year, and marital status. Also variables pertaining to intergenerational financial transfers and help given by children, e.g., with ADLs and IADLs will be included in the file. All is elaborately documented, with special attention to comparability of variables across survey waves.

As of 2011, eleven HRS waves are available for study. The RAND HRS Family data Early Released Version A contains data for the years 1998, 2000, and 2002. The file only incorporates the core interviews. It does not include exit interview or any restricted data.

The files are longitudinal files that link HRS kid families within wave and link HRS kids across waves. They contain consistent variable names across waves and easily merge with other HRS data, like the RAND HRS and RAND-enhanced Fat files. There are two files, one with respondent observations with summary variables and one with respondent-child observations with variables specific to parent-child pairs.

To access the data:

• You must first register with HRS, if you haven't already. Registration is free. You will receive a password from HRS within 24 hours, usually much sooner. When you receive your password, you can return here to continue.
• If you've already registered, login to the HRS Public File Download System.
• Once you have logged in, follow the "Datasets and Files" link.

For more detailed information, please see the following documents:

For more information, questions or comments please email us at RANDHRSHelp@rand.org.