I am trying to identify interracial couples in the IPUMS data. How can I use the SPLOC to connect partners with each other using STATA?
The easiest way to do this would be to use the “attach characteristics” feature. Once you’ve selected your variables and samples and chosen to create a data extract, you choose the “attach characteristics” button and you can choose to attach the RACE of the spouse to each person’s record. This will make a new variable in your dataset called RACE_SP. Note you need to have RACE in your extract in order to add spouse’s race (and you can add other characteristics of the spouse, too, if you have the variable in your extract). This capability is all based on SPLOC, buts IPUMS has done the hard work for you.