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Dataset: Panel Survey of Income Dynamics (PSID)

Basic Information
Dataset Full Name Panel Survey of Income Dynamics
Dataset Acronym PSID
Summary The Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) is a longitudinal household survey that began collecting annual data in 1968, and has done so every two years since 1997. It follows a nationally representative sample of over 18,000 individuals living in 5,000 families in the U.S.; as of 2016, the sample had grown to 24,000 individuals in 10,000 families. Information on these individuals and their descendants has been collected continuously for nearly 50 years. The PSID collects data regarding employment, income, wealth, expenditures, health, marriage, childbearing, child development, philanthropy, education, and numerous other topics.
Key Terms Family, Family member, Family units, Well-being
Study Design Longitudinal
Data Type(s) Survey
Sponsoring Agency/Entity National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute on Health and Human Development, the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, and the U.S., Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Health Conditions/Disability Measures
Health Condition(s)

1999-current: Alzheimer's/dementia, Arthritis, Cancer, Cardiovascular conditions, Diabetes, Heart attack, Pulmonary disorders, Stroke

2005-current: Allergies, Anxiety disorders, Bipolar disorder, Depression, Epilepsy or seizure disorder, Migraine or frequent headaches, Schizophrenia
Disability Measures
1968-current: Work limitation

1999-current: Ambulatory disability, Cognitive disability, Functional limitations (ADLs and/or IADLs), Independent living disability, Mental health disability, Self-care disability

2005-current: Communication impairment, Special equipment use/assistive technology

2009-current: Visual disability
Measures/Outcomes of Interest
Topics Income, employment, assistance program participation, economic opportunity
Sample
Sample Population

Stratified multi-stage sample of U.S. families and their members living in households
Sample Size/Notes More than 24,000 individuals in 10,000 families
Unit of Observation Individual
Continent(s) North America
Countries

United States
Geographic Coverage United States
Geographic Specificity
  • State
  • Truncated Beale rural-urban code categories (1985-1997)
  • Geospatial block-level data (restricted access)
Data Collection
Data Collection Mode Survey
Years Collected 1968-current
Data Collection Frequency

1968-1996: Annually

1997-current : Data collected every two years
Strengths and Limitations
Strengths Provides long-running, detailed information on families and economics. Longitudinal data permit the examination of the dynamics of the disability process, including disability onset, duration and consequences. Possible to link to Medicare claims data. Instrument similar to that used in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). A variable cross-walk between the PSID (2001) and HRS (2000) is available here: https://psidonline.isr.umich.edu/Guide/News.aspx
Limitations Prior to 1999, disability information was limited to a work limitation question asked of the head of household and spouse.  Limited data regarding the disability status of other family members. Annual sample size too small to support state level estimates to study specific disability types or children with disabilities. 
Data Details
Primary Website

https://psidonline.isr.umich.edu/
Data Access

https://simba.isr.umich.edu/default.aspx 
Data Access Requirements

Public Use Dataset is available 

Access to other PSID files require a Data Use agreement, No Cost:

Block-level geospatial data; National Death Index mortality data; assisted housing matched to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development data; Medicare claims; and educational characteristics linked the National Center for Education Statistics data.
Summary Tables/Reports NA
Data Components

Each year of data is comprised on 4 main data files (each of which are comprised of several topical sub-files). The following are the main files:

  • Family-level
  • PSID Cross-year individual-level
  • Child Development Supplement (CDS); and
  • CDS Transition to Adulthood
Selected Papers
Other Papers

PSID Main Interview User Manual: Release 2013. Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, July, 2013 https://psidonline.isr.umich.edu/data/Documentation/UserGuide2015.pdf 

Burkhauser, R.V., Weathers, R., & Schroeder, M. (2006, May). A Guide to Disability Statistics from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics.
https://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/edicollect/1207/  
Technical

Technical paper series:

https://psidonline.isr.umich.edu/Publications/Papers
Related Repositories
Repositories

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The Rehabilitation Research Cross-dataset Variable Catalog has been developed through the Center for Large Data Research & Data Sharing in Rehabilitation (CLDR). The Center for Large Data Research and Data Sharing in Rehabilitation involves a consortium of investigators from the University of Texas Medical Branch, Cornell University's Yang Tan Institute (YTI), and the University of Michigan. The CLDR is funded by NIH - National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, through the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research, the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. (P2CHD065702).

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Acknowledgements: This tool was developed through the efforts of William Erickson and Arun Karpur, and web designers Jason Criss and Jeff Trondsen at Cornell University. Many thanks to graduate students Kyoung Jo Oh and Yeong Joon Yoon who developed much of the content used in this tool.

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