# Family Relationship **URL:** \ **Category:** CPS\ **Created:** [February 3, 2021, 6:29am UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/family-relationship/3955 "2021-02-03T06:29:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sheldon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@sheldon](https://forum.ipums.org/u/sheldon)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2021, 6:29am UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/family-relationship/3955/1 "2021-02-03T06:29:18Z")
The family relationship variable [famrel](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/FAMREL#codes_section) is only available 1988 onward in ASEC CPS on IPUMS. However in NBER and Unicon ASEC CPS extracts this variable is available for earlier years. Is there a different variable available for 1977-2015 that has the same information as famrel or is there a way to construct a similar variable to famrel from available variables on IPUMS for 1977-1987? ---
**Author:** ![KariWilliams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@KariWilliams](https://forum.ipums.org/u/KariWilliams)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2021, 10:37pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/family-relationship/3955/2 "2021-02-03T22:37:06Z")
The IPUMS CPS team is looking into expanding FAMREL to cover the years you have inquired about. In the meantime, you can access the [unharmonized version](https://cps.ipums.org/cps/unharmonized_variables.shtml) of this variable for the years of interest by including [UH\_FAMREL\_A2](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/UH_FAMREL_A2#codes_section) in your data extract. ---
**Author:** ![sheldon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@sheldon](https://forum.ipums.org/u/sheldon)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2021, 10:45pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/family-relationship/3955/3 "2021-02-03T22:45:19Z")
How long do you think it will take to expand famrel to cover the years I have inquired about? ---
**Author:** ![KariWilliams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@KariWilliams](https://forum.ipums.org/u/KariWilliams)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2021, 8:46pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/family-relationship/3955/4 "2021-02-04T20:46:02Z")
At this point, I do not know of a firm timeline for the work to expand FAMREL in IPUMS CPS. I recommend using the unharmonized version of the variable for these years. ---
**Author:** ![sheldon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@sheldon](https://forum.ipums.org/u/sheldon)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2021, 6:04pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/family-relationship/3955/5 "2021-02-06T18:04:26Z")
Thank you very much! I really appreciate your help! ---
**Author:** ![sheldon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@sheldon](https://forum.ipums.org/u/sheldon)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2021, 8:51pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/family-relationship/3955/6 "2021-09-03T20:51:38Z")
I just wanted to check if FAMREL has been harmonized to expand the year? ---
**Author:** ![Matthew\_Bombyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Matthew\_Bombyk](https://forum.ipums.org/u/Matthew_Bombyk)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2021, 7:22pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/family-relationship/3955/7 "2021-09-08T19:22:35Z")
FAMREL has not yet been harmonized for earlier years. You can find a list of revisions to the IPUMS CPS data here: [https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/revisions](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/revisions) ---
**Author:** ![sheldon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@sheldon](https://forum.ipums.org/u/sheldon)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2021, 7:33pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/family-relationship/3955/8 "2021-09-08T19:33:39Z")
Is there a timeline for harmonizing FAMREL? ---
**Author:** ![Matthew\_Bombyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Matthew\_Bombyk](https://forum.ipums.org/u/Matthew_Bombyk)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2021, 7:42pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/family-relationship/3955/9 "2021-09-08T19:42:08Z")
No, this is pretty low priority at the moment. As @KariWilliams mentioned, this data is available through the unharmonized variable [UH\_FAMREL\_A2](https://cps.ipums.org/cps-action/variables/UH_FAMREL_A2#availability_section). This can be added to your extract just like the harmonized variables. ---
**Author:** ![sheldon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@sheldon](https://forum.ipums.org/u/sheldon)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2021, 7:49pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/family-relationship/3955/10 "2021-09-08T19:49:58Z")
Oh I see. I am using the unharmonized variable and harmonize it my self. So IPUMS would not do anything different than just harmonize the unharmonized variable? I just thought that you are doing something in addition to that? ---
**Author:** ![Matthew\_Bombyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Matthew\_Bombyk](https://forum.ipums.org/u/Matthew_Bombyk)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2021, 7:59pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/family-relationship/3955/11 "2021-09-08T19:59:46Z")
No, that’s basically it. If the harmonization is straightforward (e.g. just recoding), your harmonization should be the same as what IPUMS would do. ---
**Author:** ![sheldon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@sheldon](https://forum.ipums.org/u/sheldon)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2021, 8:07pm UTC](https://forum.ipums.org/t/family-relationship/3955/12 "2021-09-08T20:07:29Z")
Great thanks!